Book review : Sociolinguistics in Scotland edited by Robert Lawson

Scott, MR

Abstract

In this edited volume, Robert Lawson brings together scholars with diverse specialisms including phonology, syntax, lexicology and onomastics. Jennifer Smith's Foreword sets the scene by drawing attention to the many varieties of language encountered in twenty-first century Scotland. The complex interplay of Scottish English, Scots, Gaelic and other languages presents scholars with a sometimes bewildering array of linguistic and social variables and communication styles. As many of the studies discussed in this book demonstrate, untangling both the 'what' and the 'why' of language use and change is not always straightforward, but sociolinguists have a wide array of tools for the job. Scotland can be both a fascinating place to study and a proving ground for new methodologies.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jun 1, 2014
• Deposit Date: May 22, 2017
• Journal: The Bottle Imp
• Electronic ISSN: 1754-1514
• Volume: 15
• Publisher URL: http://www.arts.gla.ac.uk/ScotLit/ASLS/SWE/TBI/TBIIssue15/Scott.html
• Related Public URLs: http://www.arts.gla.ac.uk/ScotLit/ASLS/SWE/TBI/index.html