Abstract
This book is an introduction to variationist sociolinguistics. In comparison to other introductory sociolinguistic books, it shows great ability to combine theoretical issues with practical research requirements.
Both general methodological questions (sampling, data collection etc.) and particular issues of data analysis and interpretation (phonetical, grammatical, stylistic etc.) are considered. The book may be appreciated by general linguists and language theoreticians, and students of linguistics but also by other people interested in the issues of relations between language and society.