Speaking Culturally: Language Diversity in the United States

by Fern L. Johnson

Overview

In Speaking Culturally Fern Johnson probes the rich cultural legacies and deep cultural dimensions underlying discourse in the United States. This culturally rich examination of discourse places the changing demographics of the United States in linguistic perspective and draws upon the author's "language-centered perspective on culture" to illuminate the discourses associated with gender and with African Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Asian Americans. Language is placed in the context of the histories, multiplicities, and cultural themes influencing its users.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780803959118
Publisher:	SAGE Publications
Publication date:	10/22/1999
Pages:	384
Product dimensions:	5.92(w) x 9.24(h) x 0.97(d)

Table of Contents

PART ONE: LANGUAGE IN DEMOGRAPHIC AND CULTURAL PERSPECTIVE
The Linguistic Environment of the United States
The Language System in Its Communicative Contexts
Cultural Dimensions of Discourse
PART TWO: LOCATING CULTURAL DUSCOURSES
The Discourses of Gender
African American Discourse in Cultural and Historical Context
Hispanic Peoples and Their Language Patterns
Language and Cultural Complexity in Asian American Identities
PART THREE: LANGUAGE CONSEQUENCES AND CONTROVERSIES
Discourse Consequences
Where Language and Culture Matter
Bilingual Education,Ebonics, and the Ideology of "Standard English "

Editorial Reviews

Placing the changing demographics of the US in linguistic perspective, Johnson (English, Clark U., Worchester, Massachusetts) explores the discourses associated with gender and with African, Hispanic, and Asian Americans. She also considers the implications of language diversity by showing how culturally nuanced language carries consequences in the justice and medical systems, in school, and at work and examines the issues of Ebonics and bilingual education. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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