Political Economy and Sociolinguistics: Neoliberalism, Inequality and Social Class

This book explores how political economy intersects with sociolinguistics, specifically how neoliberalism, inequality, and social class mediate language in society issues. It reviews sociolinguistics research framed as political economic and discusses political economy as a general disciplinary frame, neoliberalism, stratification, inequality, and social class. It also explores two distinct political economy-informed lines of research, the 'neoliberal citizen' and 'discursive class warfare.' The book ends with an epilogue addressing issues arising around political economy in sociolinguistics.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 248 pages
\n Publication date: 08 February 2018
\n Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
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This captivating book delves into the intricate interplay between political economy and sociolinguistics, shedding light on how neoliberalism, inequality, and social class shape language in society. After an introductory preface, Chapter 1 provides a comprehensive yet selective review of sociolinguistics research that aligns with a political economic perspective. The chapter concludes that while these studies offer valuable insights, they often lack a thorough and in-depth exploration of the fundamental concepts and frameworks that underpin them.

In response to this observation, Chapters 2, 3, and 4 delve into the realm of political economy as a broad disciplinary framework, exploring neoliberalism as the predominant form of capitalism in today's world, and stratification, inequality, and social class as inherent aspects of capitalism that have gained prominence in the neoliberal era. These chapters draw upon the background information presented in Chapters 2-4 to provide a rich context for the discussions that follow.

Chapters 5 and 6 then explore two distinct lines of research that are informed by political economy. On the one hand, they examine the concept of the "neoliberal citizen," highlighting the ways in which neoliberal policies and ideologies have impacted individual agency and social mobility. On the other hand, they explore "discursive class warfare," examining how language and discourse are used to perpetuate and challenge social inequalities.

The book concludes with an epilogue that addresses various issues arising around political economy in sociolinguistics. It explores the ways in which political economy influences the production, distribution, and consumption of language, as well as the ways in which language shapes and is shaped by social and economic structures. The epilogue also considers the potential for social change and resistance through language and sociolinguistics.

Overall, this book offers a thought-provoking exploration of the complex relationship between political economy and sociolinguistics, providing valuable insights into the ways in which language and society are interconnected. It is a must-read for scholars and researchers interested in these fields.

\n Weight: 392g\n
Dimension: 159 x 235 x 19 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781474281447\n \n