Why should we study language? How do the ways in which we communicate define our identities? And how is this all changing in the digital world? Since 1993, many have turned to Language, Culture, and Society for answers to questions like those above because of its comprehensive coverage of all critical aspects of linguistic anthropology. Th

This approachable and absorbing book offers a unique window into Japanese culture and language. Highlighting the overlooked world of the "silent majority," the housewives and mothers who are the mainstay of Japanese society, this work tells the stories of ordinary women in their own voices. An annotated translation of a Japanese bestseller, the volume explores the daily communication of Japanese women and what their words tell us about their relationships and lives in a globalized, post-industrial, yet still often male-dominated Japan. Readers will find that many issues explored here are universal to women everywhere, while others are specific to Japan. With added cultural context and commentary, the book offers a fresh understanding of Japanese society, even for those who have had little exposure to Japan. Students in diverse fields, ranging from anthropology to women's studies and from communications to Asian studies, will find this an insightful and provocative work.

This approachable and absorbing book offers a unique window into Japanese culture and language. Highlighting the overlooked world of the "silent majority," the housewives and mothers who are the mainstay of Japanese society, this work tells the stories of ordinary women in their own voices. An annotated translation of a Japanese bestseller, the volume explores the daily communication of Japanese women and what their words tell us about their relationships and lives in a globalized, post-industrial, yet still often male-dominated Japan. Readers will find that many issues explored here are universal to women everywhere, while others are specific to Japan. With added cultural context and commentary, the book offers a fresh understanding of Japanese society, even for those who have had little exposure to Japan. Students in diverse fields, ranging from anthropology to women's studies and from communications to Asian studies, will find this an insightful and provocative work.

Why should we study language? How do the ways in which we communicate define our identities? And how is this all changing in the digital world? Since 1993, many have turned to Language, Culture, and Society for answers to questions like those above because of its comprehensive coverage of all critical aspects of linguistic anthropology. This seventh edition carries on the legacy while addressing some of the newer pressing and exciting challenges of the 21st century, such as issues of language and power, language ideology, and linguistic diasporas. Chapters on gender, race, and class also examine how language helps create - and is created by - identity. New to this edition are enhanced and updated pedagogical features, such as learning objectives, updated resources for continued learning, and the inclusion of a glossary. There is also an expanded discussion of communication online and of social media outlets and how that universe is changing how we interact. The discussion on race and ethnicity has also been expanded to include Latin- and Asian-American English vernacular.