Data Collection in Sociolinguistics

“This collection provides a balanced, judicious, forward-looking summation of the ways in which we collect, access and process the data that is the foundation of our enterprise. In its format and its tone, it has the feeling of a symposium involving a select group of sociolinguists sharing their personal experiences as well as their collective wisdom. It is an invaluable sourcebook for researchers and students and also for veteran fieldworkers in the diverse situations we face on entering the community.” -From the foreword, by J.K. Chambers, Professor of Linguistics at the University of Toronto

“Sociolinguistic fieldwork used to be the stuff of late night pints and in-group lore. No longer! The three editors have assembled in this volume a wide-ranging set of insights from junior and senior researchers that speak knowledgeably and intimately to the next generation of researchers. A copy should be on the shelf of every budding sociolinguist or seasoned mentor. The great adventure of the field beckons promisingly!” – Sali Tagliamonte, Professor of Linguistics at the University of Toronto

“This book recognizes that data collection is fully influenced by research design. The editors have gathered together the widest range of sociolinguistic methods. This book is not just about qualitative questions, or even interviews, but also covers experiments and corpora. Data Collection in Sociolinguistics provides a set of standards and possibilities to my students, and in its pages are models for them to follow.” – Kirk Hazen, Professor of English at West Virginia University

Christine Mallinson is Associate Professor of Language, Literacy, and Culture and Affiliate Associate Professor of Gender and Women’s Studies at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County.

Becky Childs is Associate Professor of English at Coastal Carolina University.

Gerard Van Herk is Associate Professor and Canada Research Chair in Regional Language and Oral Text at Memorial University of Newfoundland.