This book is intended to provide students with a sound, basic coverage of most of the topics dealt with in courses described as either 'Sociolinguistics' or 'The Sociology of Language.' It assumes very little previous knowledge of linguistics, anthropology, or sociology, and so should prove to be most useful in a first-level course. It may also be used as supplementary text in higher-level course that deals with narrow range of topics but in which the instructor wants students to become familiar with topics not treated in that course. Each of the sub-topics covered here concludes with the 'Discussion' section. The material in these sections is designed to encourage further discussion and research; it may also lead to assignments of various kinds.