Introducing Multilingualism: A Social Approach

This introductory textbook will take a social and critical approach to multilingualism. It will help readers to understand basic assumptions of contemporary sociolinguistics, including language as a social construct, the nature of language variation, the construction and negotiation of identity, the differences between individual and societal multilingualism. Further key issues include language policy in multicultural contexts, as well as the relationship between multilingualism, migration and education. Accessible and engaging, this is an essential text for students on introductory courses in multilingualism and bilingualism, within sociolinguistics, English language and applied linguistics.