Language, Youth and Identity in the 21st Century: Linguistic Practices across Urban Spaces

The language of young people is a key area of sociolinguistic research, and this volume explores and compares linguistic practices of young people in multilingual urban spaces from a global perspective. It includes examples from cities in Europe, Africa, Canada, and the US and investigates how linguistic practices intersect with age, ethnicity, gender, and class.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 368 pages
Publication date: 16 May 2019
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

The study of young people's language holds a pivotal position in sociolinguistic research, as it is widely recognized for its innovative nature and its ability to provide valuable insights into linguistic change and the role of language in society. This comprehensive volume brings together a distinguished team of scholars who engage in a comparative analysis of linguistic practices among young people in multilingual urban contexts. Spanning a wide range of topics, from grammar to ideology, the chapters in this book offer insightful examinations of how young individuals express their identities through language in diverse settings.

Through captivating examples drawn from cities across Europe, Africa, Canada, and the United States, the authors demonstrate how young people utilize language to shape their social identities and engage with their communities. From hip-hop lyrics to new social media platforms, the language of young people serves as a powerful tool for self-expression and cultural representation.

What sets this book apart is its global perspective, which explores how linguistic practices among young people intersect with factors such as age, ethnicity, gender, and class. By examining these intersections, the authors shed light on commonalities and differences in how young people navigate the contemporary social, cultural, and linguistic complexity of the twenty-first century.

This groundbreaking work is the first to comprehensively address the topic of young people's language from a diverse range of cultural and geographical backgrounds. It provides valuable insights into the complex interplay between language, identity, and society, and will be of interest to scholars, researchers, and educators alike.

Weight: 542g
Dimension: 153 x 228 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781108718738