Conversations with Strangers

This Element traces the evolution of a research program that began in the early 1960s with the author's first investigation of language change on Martha's Vineyard, using interviews with strangers to explore the richness and variety of the American vernacular.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 75 pages
Publication date: 17 August 2023
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

This Element chronicles the evolution of a research program that commenced in the early 1960s with the author's initial exploration of language change on Martha's Vineyard. It traces the development of what has become the fundamental framework for studying language variation and change. Interviews with strangers form the backbone of this research: the ten American English speakers featured herein were all strangers to the interviewer at the time. They were selected as among the most memorable, from thousands of interviews conducted across six decades. The speakers express their ideas and concerns in the language of everyday life, dealing with their way The speakers represent themselves. And you will hear their voices. What they have to say is a testament to the richness and variety of the American vernacular, offering a tour of the studies that have built the field of sociolinguistics.

Weight: 130g
Dimension: 152 x 229 x 7 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781009340939