This book explores key areas of modern society in which language is used to form power and social relations. These are presented in five sections:Language and the MediaLanguage and OrganisationsLanguage and GenderLanguage and YouthMultilingualism, Identity and EthnicityWith a unique combination of selected readings and student-centred tasks in a single volume, the book covers contemporary issues in language and power, ranging from the global to the interpersonal. Each area - and each reading chosen to explore it - is substantially contextualised and discussed through a detailed introduction and then followed up with related activities.Each section comprises:*a substantial, specific introduction which draws students’ attention to key themes and issues relevant to its topic; *a set of four or five selected readings which encourages students to locate critically these issues in context; *a task, or set of tasks, obliging students to undertake ‘hands-on’ linguistic analysis of data and engage in more sophisticated discussion of pertinent issues.*In-depth exploration of a variety of approaches to the study of language and power*Unique combination of advanced readings, student-centred tasks and editorial guidance*Hands-on activities at the end of each chapter

This book is a welcome synthesis of the topic of language and power in our modern world. It succinctly brings together a variety of work that forms an integrated picture of the topics, work that is of theoretical importance and practical use for a critical study of language and power. It will provide a useful resource for a variety of sociolinguistics courses devoted partially or wholly to the issues it covers, as well as an important introduction to the growing field of CDA. This book is a welcome synthesis of the topic of language and power in our modern world. It succinctly brings together a variety of work that forms an integrated picture of the topics, work that is of theoretical importance and practical use for a critical study of language and power. It will provide a useful resource for a variety of sociolinguistics courses devoted partially or wholly to the issues it covers, as well as an important introduction to the growing field of CDA.

Mary Talbot is a Reader in Language and Culture at the University of Sunderland. She has extensive teaching and research experience in discourse, media and gender. Her previous books include Language and Gender (1998), ‘All the World and Her Husband’: Women in 20th-Century Consumer Culture (with Maggie Andrews, 2000) and Language and Power in the Modern World (with Karen Atkinson and David Atkinson, EUP, 2003). Karen Atkinson is Senior Lecturer in Language Studies, Media and Cultural Studies, University of Sunderland David Atkinson is Senior Lecturer in Spanish, University of Limerick