Language, the Singer and the Song: The Sociolinguistics of Folk Performance

The relationship between language and music shares many similarities, such as rhythm, structure, sound, and metaphor. This book explores the phenomena of song and performance through a sociolinguistic model, arguing that folk songs are more communal or inclusive in their performance than other genres. Folk songs are characterized by their participatory nature, making them ideal for sociolinguistic analysis as they are the product of specific types of developing social interaction and can lead to the development of sociocultural registers and a communal stance towards meaningful events in everyday lives.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 390 pages
Publication date: 28 October 2021
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

The profound connection between language and music reveals numerous shared aspects, including rhythm, structure, sound, and metaphor. This captivating book delves into the realm of song and performance, offering a sociolinguistic framework for analyzing these phenomena. Building upon the assertion of ethnomusicologist John Blacking that any song performed communally qualifies as a folk song, regardless of its generic origins, the book argues that folk songs stand out as particularly inclusive and communal in their performance. The defining characteristic of folk songs as multifaceted manifestations of music and language lies in their participatory nature, rendering them highly suitable for sociolinguistic investigation. In this context, a folk song emerges as the outcome of specific types of developing social interactions, with the primary objective of constructing a temporally and locally based community. Through repeated iterations, these interactions give rise to diverse communities of practice, which, over time, develop sociocultural registers and a collective stance toward significant aspects of everyday events that become characteristic of a discourse community.

Weight: 574g
Dimension: 152 x 230 x 30 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781107533042