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Research Methods in Language Variation and Change

Research Methods in Language Variation and Change

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Manfred Krug
Cambridge University Press
Edition: Illustrated, 10/24/2013
EAN 9780521181860, ISBN10: 0521181860

Paperback, 538 pages, 24.4 x 17 x 3.1 cm
Language: English

Methodological know-how has become one of the key qualifications in contemporary linguistics, which has a strong empirical focus. Containing 23 chapters, each devoted to a different research method, this volume brings together the expertise and insight of a range of established practitioners. The chapters are arranged in three parts, devoted to three different stages of empirical research: data collection, analysis and evaluation. In addition to detailed step-by-step introductions and illustrative case studies focusing on variation and change in English, each chapter addresses the strengths and weaknesses of the methodology and concludes with suggestions for further reading. This systematic, state-of-the-art survey is ideal for both novice researchers and professionals interested in extending their methodological repertoires. The book also has a companion website which provides readers with further information, links, resources, demonstrations, exercises and case studies related to each chapter.

Introduction
investigating language variation and change Manfred Krug, Julia Schlüter and Anette Rosenbach
Part I. Collecting Empirical Data
Section 1. Fieldwork and Linguistic Mapping
1. Collecting ethnographic and sociolinguistic data Daniel Schreier
2. Using participant observation and social network analysis Lynn Clark and Graeme Trousdale
3. Computer mapping of language data William A. Kretzschmar, Jr
Section 2. Eliciting Linguistic Data
4. Designing and conducting interviews and questionnaires Manfred Krug and Katrin Sell
5. Obtaining introspective acceptability judgements Thomas Hoffmann
Section 3. Alternatives to Standard Reference Corpora
6. Using historical literature databases as corpora Julia Schlüter
7. Using the OED quotations database as a diachronic corpus Günter Rohdenburg
8. Using web-based data for the study of global English Marianne Hundt
Part II. Analysing Empirical Data
Section 4. Corpus Analysis
9. Using 'small' corpora to document ongoing grammatical change Christian Mair
10. Using tag sequences to retrieve grammatical structures Sebastian Hoffmann
11. Categorizing syntactic constructions in a corpus Nicholas Smith and Elena Seoane
Section 5. Phonetic and Phonological Analysis
12. Analysing phonetic and phonological variation on the segmental level Ulrike Gut
13. Analysing phonetic and phonological variation on the suprasegmental level Ulrike Gut
14. Reconstructing stress in Old and Middle English Donka Minkova
Section 6. Combinations of Multiple Types of Data
15. Combining elicitation data with corpus data Anette Rosenbach
16. Using convergent evidence from psycholinguistics and usage Marilyn Ford and Joan Bresnan
17. Applying typological methods in dialectology Lieselotte Anderwald and Bernd Kortmann
Part III. Evaluating Empirical Data
Section 7. Basic Statistical Analysis
18. Quantifying variation and estimating the effects of sample size on the frequencies of linguistic variables Heikki Mannila, Terttu Nevalainen and Helena Raumolin-Brunberg
19. Elementary statistical testing with R Stefan Th. Gries
Section 8. Multifactorial Analysis
20. Analysing and interpreting variation in the sociolinguistic tradition Sali A. Tagliamonte
21. Identifying multidimensional patterns of variation across registers Douglas Biber and Bethany Gray
22. Computing linguistic distances between varieties April McMahon and Warren Maguire
23. Analysing aggregated linguistic data Benedikt Szmrecsanyi.

'This comprehensive and clear volume constitutes a 'one-stop shop' for anyone embarking on a research project in language variation and change and will be essential reading for graduate and advanced undergraduate students.' Joan Beal, University of Sheffield

'This is a very important book providing concrete, useful, and important information on the major research methodologies employed by those doing empirical research in the areas of language variation and change.' Charles F. Meyer, University of Massachusetts, Boston