Approaching language as a social practice: reflections on some implications for the analysis of language

Authors

  • Philippe Hambye Université catholique de Louvain Author
  • Jean-Louis Siroux Université catholique de Louvain Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1558/sols.v3i2.131

Keywords:

sociolinguistic theory, social theory, sociology, disciplinary mixing, metatheory, language as social practice

Abstract

In this introduction to the special issue of Sociolinguistic Studies untitled Analysing language as a way to understand social phenomena, we follow Coupland (2001) in his call for a more ‘outward-looking sociolinguistics’ and we reflect on the implications of the much recognised need to engage with social theory. We start our introduction by sketching the major questions addressed by previous works on these issues. Then we argue that these questions emerged from ongoing concerns about the orientations we need to take if we want to face the challenges flowing from a comprehensive analysis of language in social life. We go on to explain what these orientations are and how we can try to follow them. We end by showing how these objectives are aimed by each of the volume’s five papers, and also by the composition of the volume itself.

Author Biographies

  • Philippe Hambye, Université catholique de Louvain
    Philippe Hambye is Professor in the Faculty of Philosophy, Arts and Letters and reseacher in the Centre de recherche Valibel - Discours et Variation (Institute for Language and Communication) at the University of Louvain.
  • Jean-Louis Siroux, Université catholique de Louvain
    Jean-Louis Siroux is post-doctoral researcher in the Groupe interdisciplinaire de recherche sur la socialisation, l'éducation et la formation (GIRSEF) at the University of Louvain.

Published

2010-02-01

How to Cite

Hambye, P., & Siroux, J.-L. (2010). Approaching language as a social practice: reflections on some implications for the analysis of language. Sociolinguistic Studies, 3(2), 131-147. https://doi.org/10.1558/sols.v3i2.131