Sociolinguistic Fieldwork

1. Introduction; 2. Designing the study; 3. Data collection methods; 4. Designing research on style; 5. In the field: finding contacts, finding a place; 6. Recording and record keeping; 7. Giving back to the community.

Natalie Schilling is an Associate Professor of Linguistics at Georgetown University. She has conducted and directed sociolinguistic fieldwork projects in communities ranging from isolated island villages to neighborhoods in the heart of urban Washington, DC, and has taught courses in sociolinguistic fieldwork for more than 15 years.

Advance praise: 'Natalie Schilling learned the 'secrets of sociolinguistic fieldwork' (as she so aptly puts it) in both urban and rural settings. Her hands-on experience gives her book uncommon breadth, and her sensitivity, both scientific and social, gives it unrivalled depth.' J. K. Chambers, University of Toronto Advance praise: '... a detailed blueprint of sociolinguistic fieldwork, from initial study design, to making contacts, to more long term community involvement ... manages to capture wonderfully the often 'messy' experience of data collection in the real world. The 'secrets' of sociolinguistic fieldwork are indeed unlocked in this book.' Jennifer Smith, University of Glasgow Advance praise: 'Perhaps Natalie Schilling has done our little band of scholars a bad service by letting our secrets out in this comprehensive and clearly written account of what sociolinguists do - not just the various ways we go about doing it but, more importantly, the social and linguistic questions (and their interaction) that motivate our doing it, these latter points very well-integrated into the how-tos. A much larger audience will now have access to our mysteries, but, of all the linguistic mysteries that should be revealed to a more general public, sociolinguistics is surely at the forefront in the roles it plays in establishing a more democratic society. In short, on all these fronts, this is a very good place to learn how to do and why we do sociolinguistics.' Dennis R. Preston, Regents Professor, Oklahoma State University