Behind the Bookshelves
ULAB READING LIST
Edited by Alessandra Terranova
Alessandra Terranova, University of Edinburgh The Seventh Function of Language — Laurent Binet ‘Life is not a novel. Or at least you would like to believe so.‘ That’s how Binet starts his book, a postmodern mix of fact, fiction, and philosophy. With Jackobson’s model of communication and its six functions as a background, the novel takes the reader from Paris to Bologna, to Ithaca and Venice, in order to solve a mystery that touches the world of linguistics, semiotics and philosophy of language. This clever novel can be read and enjoyed on multiple levels, but to fully appreciate its complexities other than the drama and murders that drive the plot, be prepared to brush up your Foucault, Eco, and Searle. Binet, L. (2017). The Seventh Function of Language. MPS.
Eloise Parr, University of Birmingham The Routledge Handbook of Language, Gender, and Sexuality — Jo Angouri and Judith Baxter The Routledge Handbook of Language, Gender, and Sexuality is a collection of cutting-edge research and critical discussions about language, sexuality, and gender, specifically related to the English language. The handbook provides the reader with theoretical and methodological discussions and empirical ‘real-world’ studies in a range of (sub)fields including sociolinguistics, corpus linguistics, multimodal analysis and semiotics, discourse studies, and gender studies. Some of the gender and sexuality topics and frameworks discussed include non-binary approaches to gender and sexuality, feminist analyses, and queer theory. This handbook is key reading for anyone undertaking language or discourse analysis about sexuality and gender, or intending to perform a meta-analysis on a related topic. This is especially the case if the methodologies of the intended research complement the ones covered in the chapters of this handbook. Angouri, J., & Baxter, J. (2021). The Routledge Handbook of Language, Gender, and Sexuality. Taylor & Francis Group.
Roma Dhasmana, University of Aberdeen El árbol de la lengua — Lola Pons Rodríguez This book is a broad, accessible introduction to Hispanic linguistics, from phonology and dialectology to a wider discussion of the perils of prescriptivism and how language and society shape each other. The book is structured around the extended metaphor of a tree (el árbol), from its seeds and roots to an entire forest; something that can bring light and shadow to everyone, and something that touches everyone‘s lives. If you speak Spanish, whether you‘re just venturing into sociolinguistics or are a seasoned veteran needing a refresher, I couldn‘t recommend this more! Its structure makes it accessible and clearly laid-out, so you can pick and choose chapters that take your interest. I‘d particularly recommend it if you enjoy Gretchen McCulloch‘s work, as it definitely takes a ‘the kids are alright‘ stance against prescriptivists! Rodríguez, P. L. (2020). El árbol de la lengua (1st ed.). Arpa Editores.
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