Laura Ahearn s Living Language stands out for its deft integration of disparate approaches to linguistic anthropology, highlighting the field s rich range of intellectual genealogies and contemporary innovations.
This book is deserving of high praise for managing to capture the field s nuance and complexity, while doing so in a way that is accessible, timely, and of interest to both specialists and non–specialists alike. (Journal of Linguistic Anthropology, 5 December 2014)
Overall, this reviewer finds the book balanced, appreciable and well written. (Anthropological Notebooks, 1 October 2012)
In conclusion, we strongly recommend the book for both undergraduate and graduate introductory courses. In conclusion, we strongly recommend the book for both undergraduate and graduate introductory courses. (Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute, 1 November 2012)
“It is a very useful as a library resource and for general readers, as it is well organized, clearly written, and supported with both classic and recent studies. Summing Up: Recommended. General and undergraduate libraries.” (Choice, 1 January 2012)
Living Language: An Introduction to Linguistic Anthropologyis a clear and accessible exploration of the prominent theoretical issues in linguistic anthropology and a student–friendly introduction to the study of language in real–life social contexts around the world. Combining classic studies on language in social contexts and cutting–edge, contemporary scholarship, Ahearn provides a unifying synthesis of research in linguistic anthropology and looks towards future research in the field.
Treating language as inextricably intertwined with culture and social relations Living Language combines theory with examples of contemporary language use to explore the way in which language creates, maintains, challenges, and reconfigures social hierarchies. Chapter topics include gender, race, and ethnicity, language acquisition and socialization, performance, literacy practices, multilingualism, and globalization. Laura Ahearn introduces the fascinating field of linguistic anthropology as well as underlining the value of an ethnographically grounded approach to the study of language.
About the Author
Laura M. Ahearn is Associate Professor of Anthropology at Rutgers University, USA. She is the author of Invitations to Love: Literacy, Love Letters, and Social Change in Nepal.
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