Sociolinguistics

Sociolinguistics by R. A. Hudson is an enlightening book that links language to the communities in which we speak. It acknowledges the limitations and successes of non-social linguistics and sociolinguistics. It is fairly easy for someone without an extensive linguistic background to follow. The excitement and importance of this field is entertainingly represented by the author. It is somewhat written like a textbook, with it's sections, noted vocabulary, and summations. However, it is also a cohesive book in that each topic flows into the next. One of it's limitations is that the simple stick figure illustrations do not help much with clarifying points. Also, while there are excellent anecdotal examples of specific languages and cultures, there is a lack of examples to make each linguistic topic easily understood. Even with these limitations this is a fascinating book and will be not only informative, but also enjoyable to anyone who is curious about the role of language in society.