Crossing by Rampton, Ben;

Short description:

Focusing on urban youth culture and language crossing, this foundational volume by Ben Rampton has played a pivotal role in the shaping of language and ethnic identity as a domain of study. A vital precursor to later developments in sociolinguistics such as linguistic ethnography and superdiversity, it includes detailed analyses of spontaneous speech data, and integrates the discussion of particular incidents with theories of discourse, code-switching, social movements, resistance and ritual. Now a Linguistics Classic and with a new preface which sets the work in its current context, this remains key reading for all those working in the areas of applied linguistics and sociolinguistics.

Long description:

Focusing on urban youth culture and language crossing, this foundational volume by Ben Rampton has played a pivotal role in the shaping of language and ethnic identity as a domain of study. It focuses on language crossing - the use of Panjabi by adolescents of African-Caribbean and Anglo descent, the use of Creole by adolescents with Panjabi and Anglo backgrounds, and the use of stylized Indian English. Crossing’s central question is: how far and in what ways do these intricate processes of language sharing and exchange help to overcome race stratification and contribute to a new sense of mixed youth, class and neighbourhood community?

Ben Rampton produces detailed ethnographic and interactional analyses of spontaneous speech data, and integrates the discussion of particular incidents with theories of discourse, code-switching, social movements, resistance and ritual drawn from sociolinguistics, sociology, anthropology and cultural studies.

Now a Routledge Linguistics Classic with a new preface which sets the work in its current context, this book remains key reading for all those working in the areas of applied linguistics, sociolinguistics and linguistic anthropology.

"The importance of this book for sociolinguistics cannot be overestimated."

C. Kramsch, 1998, Review, Language and Education　

"Rampton’s book　Crossing　put the sociolinguistic study of style, and of interethnic styling in particular, on a new footing. […] The distinctiveness of Rampton’s work lies in its ethnographic depth, theoretical openness and empirical specificity."

N. Coupland, 2007, Review, Style　

"Ben Rampton has produced a very important study, not only on language and ethnicity among adolescents… but on a range of sociolinguistic topics."

J. Blommaert, 1998, Review, Journal of Sociolinguistics　

"A research monograph which manages to be empirically thorough, methodologically rigorous, and of practical and theoretical interest."

M. Heller, 1997, Review, International Journal of Bilingualism

Table of Contents:

Acknowledgements  Transcription Symbols and Conventions  Preface to the Routledge Linguistics Classics Edition  Part I: Introductory  Introduction  Local Reports of Language Crossing  Part II: Interaction with Adults: Contesting Stratification  Stylised Asian English (i)  Panjabi (i)  Creole (i)  Part III: Interaction with Peers: Negotiating Solidarity  Stylised Asian English (ii)  Panjabi (ii)  Creole (ii)  Part IV: Crossing and Performance Art  Creole and SAE (iii)  Panjabi (iii)  Part V: Conclusions  Crossing and the Sociolinguistics of Language Contact  Crossing, Discourse and Ideology  Educational Discourses on Language  Appendix I  Appendix II  Bibliography  Index  Figures  Numbered extracts, settings and main participants