Why have 1500 separate languages developed in the Pacific region? Why do Danes understand Norwegians better than Norwegians understand Danish? Is Ebonics a language or a dialect?
This new edition incorporates new material on current issues in the study of gender as well as other topics such as the linguistic dimension to the ethnic conflict in the Balkans, and the controversy over Ebonics in the United States.

Standard English: The Widening Debate

The debates surrounding "Standard English", grammar and correctness are as intense today as ever and extend far beyond an academic context, as shown by the Ebonics controversy in Oakland, California.