This book introduces readers to basic concepts of sociolinguistics with a focus on Spanish in the US. The coverage goes beyond linguistics to examine the history and politics of Spanish in the US, the relationship of language to Latinx identities, and how language ideologies and policies reflect and shape societal views of Spanish and its speakers. Accessible to those with no linguistic background, this book provides students with a foundation in the study of language and society, and the opportunity to relate theoretical concepts to Spanish in the US in a range of contexts, including everyday speech, contemporary culture, media, education and policy. The book is a substantially revised and expanded 2nd edition of Spanish Speakers in the USA, including new chapters on the history of Spanish in the US, the demographics of Spanish in the US, and language policy; and expanded chapters on language ideologies, race, identity, media, and education.
Janet M. Fuller is Professor of Language and Society in the Department of European Languages and Cultures, University of Groningen, the Netherlands. Her research interests include multilingualism, language ideologies and social identities.
Jennifer Leeman is Professor of Hispanic Linguistics in the Department of Modern and Classical Languages, George Mason University, USA. Her research interests include language ideologies, census questions on language and ethnoracial identity, and critical pedagogical approaches to teaching Spanish for heritage speakers.
