Trends in Linguistics is a series of books that publishes state-of-the-art work on core areas of linguistics across theoretical frameworks as well as studies that provide new insights by building bridges to neighboring fields such as neuroscience and cognitive science. The series considers itself a forum for cutting-edge research based on solid empirical data on language in its various manifestations, including sign languages. It regards linguistic variation in its synchronic and diachronic dimensions as well as in its social contexts as important sources of insight for a better understanding of the design of linguistic systems and the ecology and evolution of language.
A Reader In Sociophonetics
Dennis R. Preston, Oklahoma State University and Nancy Niedzielski, Rice University
Sociophonetics is a sub-branch that has attracted attention recently. Advances in speech science and technological simulations allow increasingly sophisticated studies of language contact and change. Particularly at the level of pronunciation, these studies show that language variety is robust and socially embedded. Although the book assumes some knowledge of basic acoustics and variationist studies, the general introduction and the chapter and section introductions provide a review of practices in the field, including those of collection, analysis, and interpretation.
