Description
Book SynopsisThis collection of specially commissioned essays focuses on the forms, functions, and uses of contemporary German in the period of dynamic change following reunification. Some contributors address broad issueslanguage and national identity, the status of German as an international language, language change and attempts to fix the form of the language, and sociolinguistic variationwhile others examine topics of particular significance in the current sociopolitical climate. These include social change and linguistic variation in Berlin after the Wall, the political language of the Right and Left, the speech of youth subcultures, language and gender, language and television, and language in intercultural communication. Reviews of the hardback edition `This volume fills a void in up-to-date English-language information on German linguistics. Highly recommended for all college and university collections, as well as public libraries.'' Choice, 33: 3, November 1995`The appearance of this coll
Trade ReviewThis volume fills a void in up-to-date English-language information on German linguistics. Highly recommended for all college and university collections, as well as public libraries. * Choice *
The book not only gives a detailed account of the way in which the forms of the German language ... seem to be changing ... but is also a welcome introduction to different approaches to the study of the German language in use ... the quality of the translations is very good ... I believe that, with this volume, Stevenson will once again do what Stephen Barbour and he did so well in Variation in German ... that is, stimulate interest in German (socio)linguistics among non-German-speakers. * Winifred V. Davies, University of Wales, Aberystwyth, MLR, 92.1, 1997 *
Table of ContentsThe Study of Real Language: Observing the Observers ; To What Extent is German an International Language? ; Germanness: Language and Nation ; Norms and Reforms ; Directions of Change in Contemporary German ; After the Wall: Social Change and Linguistic Variation in Berlin ; Theories of Sociolinguistic Variation in the German Context ; Language in Intercultural Communication ; Critical Linguistics and the Study of Institutional Communication ; Political Discourse: The Language of Right and Left in Germany ; Evaluation of Language use in Public Discourse: Language Attitudes in Austria ; Language and Gender ; Jugendsprachen: Speech Styles of Youth Subcultures ; Language and Television
