Language and Power: A Resource Book for Students

Routledge English Language Introductions

by Paul Simpson, Andrea Mayr, Simon Statham

Routledge English Language Introductions cover core areas of language study and are one-stop resources for students. Assuming no prior knowledge, books in the series offer an accessible overview of the subject, with activities, study questions, sample analyses, commentaries and key readings – all in the same volume. The innovative and flexible ‘two-dimensional’ structure is built around four sections – introduction, development, exploration and extension – which offer self-contained stages for study. Each topic can also be read across these sections, enabling the reader to build gradually on the knowledge gained. Language and Power, Second Edition has been completely revised and updated and Language and Power will be essential reading for students studying English language or linguistics.

Genres: Nonfiction, Linguistics, Academic

294 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Antea · Rating 4 out of 5]

First time I’ve approached myself to these kind of topics in an academic field and I must say I am more than happy I did. This book brings you to a very interesting journey by exploring the English language and what it means understanding words and their meaning, how our daily language has a huge impact on other people lives especially when it comes about racism and sexism and how it is used during interviews and political speeches in a manipulative way.

[Bookshire Cat]

Half of the book (chapters A and C) read for class.

[Jean-Pierre]

This is the book I've long been waiting for. Giving students some insight into how language is used as an instrument of power and how people can be swayed into submission by carefully chosen words is one of the several really useful tasks linguists can fulfil in the present-day world.



The authors have digested a mountain of literature, both theoretical and practical, and arranged it in a modular structure that can be used both in class or for individual study. In a field as touchy and controversial as CL and CDA, they have sought to give a well-balanced view of what the disciplines are all about without favouring a particular author or approach. The ten paths (which each address an issue : power, gender, race, etc.) are split up into four six-to-seven page units (A, B, C and D) called Introduction, Development, Exploration and Extension. Unlike other books structured in the same way, this one can be read and used "horizontally" (A1, B1, C1, and so on) giving an increasingly precise understanding of each issue or approach; whereas other (Routledge) books I can think of contain cross-references between units which constantly make one feel one should have read all the more abstract introductory chapters first.



The examples used by the authors are the "classics" of the discipline, which moreover gives many units an air of familiarity and makes them easy to use. There is also a companion website with "strands" that can be followed by students turned on by the book. I am sure there will be many.



Final note,

[Beth Clark]

I read this for uni and as an academic book I found it easy to read and follow and it was interesting. For a text book 5/5 but I wouldn't necessarily have read it just for fun. Good place to start if you have an interest in the English language