Corpus-Based Sociocultural Linguistics and the Representation of Linguistic Diversity on Television

Media representations of linguistic diversity matter. In this innovative book, Bednarek uses a case study of Australian television dialogue to introduce novel methods for studying such representations.

The volume examines 16 television series holistically, presenting a new approach called corpus-based sociocultural linguistics. This means applying corpus methods such as keyword analysis, lexical profiling and concordancing, while integrating concepts such as indexicality, enregisterment, and language ideology. In so doing, Bednarek makes a strong case for television dialogue as a rich site for the sociocultural construction of identity and explores self-representations of marginalised varieties (Australian Aboriginal English). What are the possibilities for improved linguistic representations in this context? How are viewers exposed to linguistic variation and diversity? Although the book focuses on a specific Australian context, it seeks to be of relevance to anyone studying media representations of language variation, linguistic diversity, and social identity. It offers a comprehensive corpus-based sociocultural linguistic analysis of television dialogue, showcasing implications for research on indexicality and the integration of corpus linguistics and sociolinguistic perspectives.

This book will appeal to students and scholars in corpus linguistics, sociolinguistics, discourse analysis, language and media, stylistics, and pragmatics.