What Is Sociolinguistics Gerard Van Herk Pdf Verified Jun 2026

A major strength of What Is Sociolinguistics? is its integration of historical and social perspectives. Van Herk argues that all language change begins as variation within a speech community. A new form (e.g., “like” as a quotative: “He was like, ‘no’”) starts among a small group (often younger or innovative speakers) and spreads through social networks. He introduces the concepts of change from above (conscious adoption of prestige forms) and change from below (unconscious, below the level of social awareness). Case studies—such as the Northern Cities Vowel Shift in the U.S. or the spread of “you guys” as a plural pronoun—make these abstract processes tangible.

You can read the introduction and table of contents through official excerpts on Wiley's catalog . what is sociolinguistics gerard van herk pdf verified