Sociolinguistics: a profile of the discipline in Britain

Abstract

There appear to be few courses in Sociolinguistics in Britain if one relies purely on the title of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. However, the study of the intersection and interaction of language and society is more widespread than a cursory survey might reveal. In a number of social science, linguistic and anthropology courses the discipline is thriving as a module or option if not as a core subject. There are a substantial number of PhD students in the discipline. The research areas that are most favoured in Britain and which attract national research funding seem to be language variation among urban groups and attendant issues of identity. European funding supports a wide range of projects ranging from the effect on language of new technologies through emerging European public spheres to questions of cultural inclusion in multicultural societies. British publishing houses have growing lists of work in Sociolinguistics in its widest interpretation.