The sociolinguistics of writing /

In The Sociolinguistics of Writing, Lillis (Open Univ., UK), presents a point of view largely missing in much of the literature regarding language and society. Focusing on written rather than spoken speech, the author emphasizes that writing is a multimodal social practice that represents much more than just a visual record of spoken language. Using a highly accessible style, she provides examples from many types of formal and informal writing, from academic papers to social media such as texting, Facebook posts, and online discussion boards. The attention given to these current communication formats will appeal to both undergraduate and graduate students. Scholars and researchers will appreciate the historical contextualization and the discussions of the so-called "closet prescriptivism" that colors much of the view of writing. The book is well organized, proceeding from a coherent statement of the author's aims to an entire chapter dedicated to conclusions and suggestions for further research. Terms and key concepts are highlighted in boxes, and the wide variety of visual aids such as lists, charts, graphs, and photos make the text visually appealing as well as informative. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through faculty, researchers, and professional writers. K. C. Williams Mercyhurst University