Researching Language: Issues of Power and Method

168 Pages·1992·6.868 MB·

by  Deborah Cameron, Elizabeth Frazer, Penelope Harvey, M. B. H. Rampton, Kay Richardson

RESEARCHING
LANGUAGE
Issues of Power
and Method
DEBORAH CAMERON, ELIZABETH FRAZER,
PENELOPE HARVEY, M.B.H. RAMPTON,
and KAY RICHARDSON

Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2019 with funding from
Kahle/Austin Foundation
https://archive.org/details/researchinglanguOOOOunse
RESEARCHING LANGUAGE
Research in social science frequently rests on unequal power relation¬
ships. This book discusses the possibilities of developing the research
process so that it benefits the subjects as well as the researcher.
The authors distinguish between ‘ethical’, ‘advocate’ and ‘empowering’
approaches to the relationship between researcher and researched,
linking these to different ideas about the nature of knowledge, action,
language and social relations. They then use a series of empirical case
studies to explore the possibilities for ‘empowering research’.
All qualitative social research depends to some degree on researching
language. The book is the product of dialogue between researchers
from a range of disciplines (anthropology, cultural studies, sociology
and linguistics). It can be read by researchers, teachers and students
across the social sciences, and, through its combination of philosophical
discussion, methodological recommendation and case-study illustration,
it provides guidance that is practical without being simplistic.
THE POLITICS OF LANGUAGE
Series editors: Tony Crowley, University of Southampton
Talbot J. Taylor, College of William and Mary,
Williamsburg, Virginia
‘In the lives of individuals and societies, language is a factor of
greater importance than any other. For the study of language to
remain solely the business of a handful of specialists would be a
quite unacceptable state of affairs.’
Saussure
The Politics of Language Series covers the held of language and cultural
theory and will publish radical and innovative texts in this area. In recent
years the developments and advances in the study of language and
cultural criticism have brought to the fore a new set of questions. The
shift from purely formal, analytical approaches has created an interest in
the role of language in the social, political and ideological realms and the
series will seek to address these new problems with a clear and informed
approach. The intention is to gain recognition for the central role of
language in individual and public life.
kESEARCHING
LANGUAGE11
Issues of power and method
Deborah Cameron, Elizabeth Frazer,
Penelope Harvey, M. B. H. Rampton
Kay Richardson
London and New York
91 nM
•
First published 1992
by Routledge
1 1 New Fetter Lane, London EC4P 4EE
Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada
by Routledge
a division of Routledge, Chapman and Hall, Inc.
29 West 35th Street, New York, NY 10001
© 1992 Deborah Cameron, Elizabeth Frazer,
Penelope Harvey, M. B. H. Rampton, Kay Richardson
Set in 10/12 pt Baskerville by
J&L Composition Ltd, Filey, North Yorkshire
Printed and bound in Great Britain by
Clays Ltd, St Ives
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or
reproduced or utilized in any form or by any electronic,
mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter
invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any
information storage or retrieval system, without permission in
writing from the publishers.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
Researching language: Issues of power and method. —
(Politics of language)
I. Cameron, Deborah II. Series
300.72
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Researching language: issues of power and method / Deborah Cameron ..
[et al.].
p. cm. — (Politics of language)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
1. Linguistics—Methodology. 2. Linguistic informants.
3. Sociolinguistics. I. Cameron, Deborah. II. Series.
P126.R47 1992
410'. 1—dc20 91-30978
ISBN 0-415-05721-3
0-415-05722-1 pb
CONTENTS
Notes on the authors vii
Acknowledgements ix
1 INTRODUCTION 1
2 SCOPE FOR EMPOWERMENT IN SOCIOLINGUISTICS? 29
M. B. H. Rampton
3 BILINGUALISM IN THE PERUVIAN ANDES 65
Penelope Harvey
4 TALKING ABOUT GENDER, RACE AND CLASS 90
Elizabeth Frazer
5 RESPECT, PLEASE!’: INVESTIGATING RACE, POWER
AND LANGUAGE 113
Deborah Cameron
6 CONCLUSION 131
References 139
Index 145
,u u°rofN
nil
irv
-J. ,uc 1o NI
•
.