Sociolinguistics by Bernard Spolsky

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Sociolinguistics by Bernard Spolsky. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998. 128 pp. Reviewed by Jodi Nooyen University of California, Los Angeles Sociolinguistics by Bernard Spolsky texts in a series called is one of five introductory to linguistic Oxford Introductions in this series Widdowson. The other books tion by Language Study, edited by H.G. include: Second Language Acquisi- in ial's Rod Ellis (see review by Carleen Curley June 1997 issue), Psycholinguistics by Thomas Scovel, Linguistics by H.G. Widdowson, and Prag- matics by George Yule. In the preface, Widdowson acknowledges that most academic introductory texts in the field are often quite specialized and long, which makes them rather inaccessible to the newcomer. Thus, the purpose of Sociolinguistics, as part of series, is to Oxfords Introductions is to Language Study to the formal study of language. As a brief yet accommodate readers new comprehensive overview, this book texts. intended not to supplant but to support (ix) other sociolinguistic is Spolsky's Sociolinguistics not only a good overview for beginning students of linguistics, but is also easily accessible for the lay reader interested in studying the relation- ship between language and society. Spolsky's book debates. Although it is an overview of sociolinguistic sub-fields, theories and ter- uses simple definitions and few references to introduce it minology and concepts, a provides a comprehensive overview. Opportunities for more in-depth study Spolsky admits are found in the extremely useful supplemental readings, reference, and glossary sections. that any overview of sociolinguistic concepts is 'bound to be a personal view in (p. xi). Due to Spolsky's extensive knowledge and experience various sociolinguistic realms, however, the possible limitations of his per- sonal view are not a concern. Spolsky has previously published works as varied Navajo Reading Materials (1970), Papers on Language Testing (1967-1974), The Languages of Jerusalem (1991), and Influ- ences of Language on Culture and Thought (1991). In addition, the reader is in- as an Analytical Bibliography of formed Israel. in the author's preface of his vast first-hand experiences in the study of in language and culture such places as New Zealand, Montreal, New Mexico, and Sociolinguistics gives an informative overview of the various key concepts involved in this prominent sub-field of it linguistics. Spolsky notes that, in the thirty years or so that has been recognized as a branch of scientific study of language, sociolinguistics has grown into one of the most important of the hy- Issucs in Applied Linguistics ISSN 1050-4273 Vol. 10 No. 1,99-102 1999, Resents of the University of California