Sociolinguistic Variation in Seventeenth-Century France: Methodology and Case Studies - Hardcover

Ayres-Bennett, Wendy

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 052182088X ISBN 13: 9780521820882

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 2004

Synopsis

This book provides a systematic study of sociolinguistic variation in seventeenth-century France. Drawing on a range of case studies, Wendy Ayres-Bennett makes available data about linguistic variation in this period, showing the wealth and variety of language usage at a time that is considered to be the most 'standardising' in the history of French. Variation is analysed in terms of the speaker's 'pre-verbal constitution' - such as gender, age and socio-economic status - or by the medium, register or genre used. As well as examining linguistic variation itself, the book also considers the fundamental methodological issues that are central to all socio-historical linguistic accounts and, more importantly, addresses the question of what the appropriate sources are for linguists taking a socio-historical approach. In each chapter, the case studies present a range of phonological, morphological, syntactic and lexical issues, which pose different methodological questions for sociolinguists and historical linguists alike.

About this title

Review:

Review of the hardback: '... a truly unique, rich and precise encyclopaedic work ...' Estudios de Sociolinguistica

Book Description:

A systematic study of sociolinguistic variation in seventeenth-century France. Drawing on a range of case studies, it makes available data about linguistic variation in this period, showing the wealth and variety of language usage at a time considered to be the most 'standardising' in the history of French.

About this edition

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 052182088X
• ISBN 13: 9780521820882
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 280