Text and Social Context
This series provides in-depth accounts of language use in social life that interrelate fine-grained analysis of texts and extensive analysis of the sociocultural context in which the texts are produced and interpreted. It brings together and consolidates the strengths of various sociolinguistic, textual and critical discourse approaches to linguistic analysis that are often treated in isolation. The series draws explicitly on functional accounts of language-as-action in specific social contexts both to analyse the social meaning of situated texts and to test and develop the theory against these accounts. Books in this series provide a fuller and more adequate description of the social context than is often afforded by existing textual studies. Equal prominence is therefore given to descriptions of context, drawing on methods from disciplines such as ethnography, sociology and psychology, and to the language produced. Titles are expected to discuss not only significant patterns of linguistic choices in texts and their role in construing the context in which the texts function, but also the dynamics of language production and uptake. They typically present and discuss (in any appropriate sequence): (i) a broad account of the context of the study; (ii) a functional linguistic account of the area of language in focus; (iii) analyses of language-in-use in the specific context, drawing on disciplines such as ethnography, sociology and psychology to enhance the interpretation of the linguistic analysis; (iv) suggested theoretical developments to the theory in light of the analyses; (v) suggestions for linguistic intervention in the context described. Books in this series are mainly addressed to researchers, postgraduate students and teachers working within all areas of language in social life, though they will also be of use in specialist undergraduate study. Prospective authors are advised to contact the series editors to discuss a project.
