Sociolinguistic Research : Application and Impact

How can sociolinguistics help improve human well-being? What could make sociolinguistics more relevant outside academia? How can public engagement with sociolinguistic research be facilitated? Sociolinguistic Research: Application and Impact presents a range of contemporary sociolinguistic research projects which answer these questions. Spanning contexts including education, government, the justice system, the workplace, and museums, the chapters show sociolinguists achieving significant improvements in the real-world conditions of people’s lives. They also offer critical reflections on the meaning of ‘impact’, as well as clear advice for others pursuing this ascendant priority.

Shortlisted for the LSA Leonard Bloomfield Book Award 2017

Sociolinguistic Research: Application and Impact provides a unique overview of international research projects, showcasing their positive outcomes and offering critical insights and constructive critiques into the meaning of ‘impact’ in contemporary research. The book includes:

• original findings from cutting-edge research from scholars such as Mary Bucholtz, Walt Wolfram and Peter Patrick;
• coverage of organisational contexts including education, government, justice, heritage, and the workplace;
• activities including after-school programmes, workplace training courses, social media campaigns, and video productions;
• application of research to professional practice including teaching (primary school to university), adjudication, police interviewing, and governmental policymaking;
• contributors’ personal reflections on the research process and its outcomes, including constructive critiques of institutional definitions of impact.

With chapters spanning research across five continents, Sociolinguistic Research: Application and Impact is essential reading for sociolinguistic researchers, students embarking on sociolinguistic research, and anyone interested in the practical application of research on language and society.