Fully updated and expanded for the second edition, this core textbook provides rigorous coverage of the key themes and debates at the cutting edge of sociolinguistics research and brings together many of the most influential scholars in the field. Comprising six distinctive parts and almost fifty individual chapters, it introduces students to a wealth of issues in sociolinguistics, including refashioning linguistic identities, code-switching, language rights and the social functions of small talk. Chapters are richly illustrated with examples and informed by the latest scholarly debates. This is an essential companion for all undergraduates and postgraduates involved in the study of sociolinguistics. It will be an ideal resource for lecturers teaching modules on topics such as language variation, language and gender, language attitudes and multilingualism.