The Ethnography of Communication
An Introduction
Language in Society
3. Edition November 2002
336 Pages, Softcover
Wiley & Sons Ltd
The Ethnography of Communication presents the terms and concepts which are essential for discussing how and why language is used and how its use varies in different cultures.
* Presents the essential terms and concepts introduced and developed by Dell Hymes and others and surveys the most important findings and applications of their work.
* Draws on insights from social anthropology and psycholinguistics in investigating the patterning of communicative behavior in specific cultural settings.
* Includes two completely new chapters on contrasts in patterns of communication and on politeness, power, and politics.
* Incorporates a broad range of examples and illustrations from many languages and cultures for analyzing patterns of communicative phenomena.
2. Basic Terms, Concepts, and Issues.
3. Varieties of Language.
4. The Analysis of Communicative Events.
5. Contrasts in Patterns of Communication.
6. Attitudes toward Communicative Performance.
7. Acquisition of Communicative Competence.
8. Politeness, Power, and Politics.
9. Conclusion.
References.
Index of Languages.
General Index.
real treasure. For someone new to linguistic anthropology in
general, or to the ethnography of communication in particular, it
provides a thorough and accessible introduction to the basic
contents and concepts, vocabulary, methodologies and theories of
contemporary research in the intertwined topics of language and
culture. For others, it is a refresher course and a briefing on the
progress of the past couple of decades... a thoughtful and
important work." Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural
Development
"If you read one book on the ethnography of communication, read
this one. Its coverage of what has been a major area of study for
scholars in sociolinguistics, communication, and linguistic
anthropology for the past three decades is comprehensive,
insightful, and, in this third edition, completely brought up to
currency with developments in the field." Ron Scollon,
Georgetown University
"This is a fine introductory text and an excellent reference
volume as well. In short, it is a first-rate work by a world-class
scholar." TESOL Quarterly
"The Ethnography of Communication more than meets the
pointed criteria for a good textbook. In addition, it is well
written, interesting, and enlightening." Language and Social
Psychology
