17.204, Review: Textbooks/Socioling/Dialectology: Davies (2005)

[LINGUIST List]

LINGUIST List: Vol-17-204. Sat Jan 21 2006. ISSN: 1068 - 4875.

Subject: 17.204, Review: Textbooks/Socioling/Dialectology: Davies (2005)

Moderators: Anthony Aristar, Wayne State U <aristar at linguistlist.org>
            Helen Aristar-Dry, Eastern Michigan U <hdry at linguistlist.org>
 
Reviews (reviews at linguistlist.org) 
        Sheila Dooley, U of Arizona  
        Terry Langendoen, U of Arizona  

Homepage: http://linguistlist.org/

The LINGUIST List is funded by Eastern Michigan University, Wayne
State University, and donations from subscribers and publishers.

Editor for this issue: Lindsay Butler <lindsay at linguistlist.org>
================================================================  

What follows is a review or discussion note contributed to our 
Book Discussion Forum. We expect discussions to be informal and 
interactive; and the author of the book discussed is cordially 
invited to join in. If you are interested in leading a book 
discussion, look for books announced on LINGUIST as "available 
for review." Then contact Sheila Dooley at dooley at linguistlist.org. 

===========================Directory==============================  

1)
Date: 20-Jan-2006
From: Jamie Lee < jamilee at umd.umich.edu >
Subject: Varieties of Modern English: An Introduction 

	
-------------------------Message 1 ---------------------------------- 
Date: Sat, 21 Jan 2006 20:14:11
From: Jamie Lee < jamilee at umd.umich.edu >
Subject: Varieties of Modern English: An Introduction 
 

AUTHOR: Davies, Diane
TITLE: Varieties of Modern English
SUBTITLE: An Introduction
SERIES: Learning About Language
PUBLISHER: Pearson Longman
YEAR: 2005
Announced at http://linguistlist.org/issues/16/16-2692.html 

Jamie Shinhee Lee, Department of Humanities, University of Michigan-
Dearborn

SUMMARY

''Varieties of Modern English'' is intended to serve as an introductory survey 
of English language varieties for readers who are interested in English 
language studies, literature, sociolinguistics of English, and related fields. 
Diane Davies investigates the major modern varieties of English in light of 
linguistic characteristics, users, and uses.

Chapter 1 (pp. 1-13) presents an overview of some of the most essential 
concepts to understand language varieties, such as dialect, accent, and 
variation. Variation is discussed first in terms of individual speech, then of a 
social group and finally of a speech community. In her discussion of social 
class and English, Davies utilizes familiar pop culture characters (e.g. Eliza 
Doolittle in George Bernard Shaw's play ''Pygmalion'') to make her points 
more accessible to general readers. 

Chapter 2 (pp. 14-27) familiarizes readers with fundamental linguistic 
dimensions and analytical scopes in describing language variation. This 
chapter introduces notions that are essential to a systematic linguistic 
analysis and provides a succinct account of different linguistic levels, 
including sounds, words, phrases/sentences, and texts. In illustrating 
sounds, Davies introduces major terms in phonology and phonetics such as 
phonemes, minimal pairs, allophones, and syllable structure. In addition, 
various processes of word formation and vocabulary extension (e.g. 
affixation, compounding, borrowing, compounding, etc.) are illustrated 
with straightforward examples. Basic syntax, discourse, and text related-
technical terms are defined and explicated relatively clearly. 

Chapter 3 (pp. 28-44) situates Modern English in its historical contexts and 
presents a diachronic perspective on the development of Modern English, 
from Early Modern English (1450-1700) through international English in 
the 20th century. This chapter argues that the growth of international 
English has been reinforced by several contributing factors such as film, 
music, broadcasting, travel, and English language teaching. It also briefly 
comments on the increase in borrowing from English in other languages 
and speakers' attitudes toward English usage. 

Chapter 4 (pp. 45-59) elaborates on the global expansion of English. In 
conceptualizing a global landscape of modern English, Diane Davies draws 
upon Kachru's three concentric circles model within the World Englishes 
paradigm. Davies focuses on a single English variety from each of the 
following three circles: the Inner Circle (IC), the Outer Circle (OC), and the 
Expanding Circle (EC) with a brief discussion of features and characteristics 
of a given variety. For instance, American English is presented as an 
example from IC and English from OC is exemplified in South Asian 
English. For EC, Davies features a sketch of English in Japan as a case study. 

In contrast to the earlier chapters, whose discussions center on region-
based variation, chapters 5 and 6 are sociolect-oriented with a specific 
focus on ethnicity and gender. Chapters 5 (pp. 60-75) explores the 
relationship between English and ethnicity and regards pidgins, creoles, 
African American Vernacular English (AAVE), and Chicano English as 
ethnicity-associated varieties of English. Chapter 6 (pp. 76-90) starts out 
with an epigrammatic overview of three major research traditions in the 
study of language and gender: dominance, difference, and performativity. 
Her discussion in chapter 6 incorporates gay, lesbian, and transgender 
discourses going beyond the typical male-female dichotomy.

Chapters 7 and 8 deal with English in different contexts, encompassing 
mode (e.g. speech and writing), medium (e.g. email, text-messaging, and 
chat rooms), and register. Chapter 7 (pp. 91-107) surveys different speech 
styles contrasting spontaneous speech with rehearsed speech and 
introduces how to transcribe speech in general. Written English is discussed 
in comparison with spoken English. Davies notes that speech and writing 
are ''interrelated in often complex ways'' (p. 106). She further argues that 
email, text messages, and online discussions have characteristics of spoken 
and written language and therefore could be viewed as 'hybrid media.' 
Davies views 'electronic English' as having ''its own varieties and sub-
varieties'' (p. 106). 

Chapter 8 (pp. 108-121) comments on the intricacy of language in context. 
Hymes' SPEAKING model is introduced to emphasize the significance of 
different components in a speech situation. Davies defines register for her 
readers and demonstrates how to conduct a register analysis. Furthermore, 
she categorizes advertising, literary, and institutional (e.g. company) texts 
as 'multi-vocal' discourses due to their proclivity to ''systematically borrow, 
switch, mix registers for a range of purposes'' (p. 116). 

Chapter 9 (pp. 122-140) treats power as a focal point of discussion. Davies 
addresses power in relation to language in the domains of conversational 
interaction, politics, and media. Chapter 10 (141-151) entertains various 
predictions regarding the future of English as an international language 
and concludes that ''the future of English, in all its international and new 
varieties would not itself be threatened'' despite its declining influence from 
the Inner Circle (p. 150). 

CRITICAL EVALUATION

''Varieties of Modern English'' provides a reader friendly overview with a 
multi-faceted focus covering regional, social, context-and medium-based 
variation. In retelling a topic such as 'variation' that has arguably been 
discussed more extensively than any other topic in the study of English, 
Diane Davies strives for a rare balance between ''good ol' stories'' and 
fresher and more contemporary stories of English. This book will certainly 
enhance an understanding of English as a topic in general and raise 
awareness regarding its diverse and multiple identities around the world. In 
addition to profiling varieties of English that are region or ethnicity specific 
such as African American Vernacular English (AAVE), Chicano English, or 
English in Japan, this book also delves into sociolinguistic variables that 
require in-depth probing beyond regional and ethnic differences. The 
inclusion of a more up-to-date subject such as 'computer mediated 
English'-- also known as 'electronic English'-- is a notable strength of the 
book. 

Considering the current heterogeneous nature of English around the 
world, Chapter 4, entitled 'English from a global perspective', could be 
significantly expanded and would benefit from incorporating extensive 
discussions from major works on world Englishes (see e.g. Brutt-Griffler 
2002, Melchers & Shaw 2003, Smith & Forman 1997) and Asian Englishes 
(see, e.g. Bolton 2002, Kachru 2005, Stanlaw 2004). The plurality in 
Englishes, even within the same circle, can be stressed in a more empirically 
solid manner by representing more varieties from each respective circle. 
Chapter 4 discusses only American English as a variety from the Inner 
Circle. However, it is critical to point out that there is variation among the 
Inner Circle varieties of English. For instance, Australian English differs 
from Canadian English although they belong to the same Inner Circle. The 
concept of 'varieties within a variety' should be made more salient in order 
to have a complete discussion on multiple varieties of English around the 
world. 

One of the most commendable features of the book has to do with the 
section called 'activities' at the end of each chapter. It serves as an excellent 
guide to educational and yet entertaining homework assignments. 
Teachers who adopt this book for their course text could use these 
activities to engage their students in more data-oriented and observation-
driven linguistic projects. The section 'further reading' is also a helpful 
reference for readers to further explore topics since it lists major studies on 
relevant subjects with a convenient topic summary attached. ''Varieties of 
Modern English'' provides an illustrative introduction to the main types of 
variation in the English language in a clear and student-friendly style. 

REFERENCES

Bolton, Kingsley (ed.) (2002) Hong Kong English : autonomy and creativity. 
Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press.

Brutt-Griffler, Janina (2002) World English: A study of its development. 
Clevedon, UK; Buffalo, NY: Multilingual Matters. 

Kachru, Braj (2005) Asian Englishes : Beyond the canon. Hong Kong: Hong 
Kong University Press.

Melchers, Gunnel & Shaw, Philip (2003) World Englishes: An Introduction. 
London: Arnold. 

Smith, Larry E. & Forman, Michael L. (eds.) (1997) World Englishes 2000. 
Honolulu: College of Languages, Linguistics, and Literature, University of 
Hawaii. 

Stanlaw, James (2004) Japanese English: Language and culture contact. 
Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press. 

ABOUT THE REVIEWER

Jamie Shinhee Lee is Assistant Professor of Linguistics at the University of 
Michigan-Dearborn. Her research interests include world Englishes, 
bilingualism, language and popular culture with a specific focus on English 
in Korean and Japanese pop culture, conversation analysis, and second 
language acquisition.





-----------------------------------------------------------
LINGUIST List: Vol-17-204