Sociolinguistic Variation. Theories, Methods, and Applications. Ed. Robert Bayley and Ceil Lucas. Cambridge University Press, 2007. Pp. xvi + 405. Paper £ 19.99.

• Raymond Hickey

The title of the present volume would suggest that it is a general overview of sociolinguistics with a focus on variation. In one sense this is true, but the volume has not just a focus but a restriction as well, namely, to research into sociolinguistic variation in the United States. The reason for this is that the volume is a scarcely concealed festschrift for Walt Wolfram who is, after William Labov, one of the major sociolinguists in presentday North America (see the brief introduction by Robert Bayley and Ceil Lucas and the personal tribute by Roger W. Shuy ‘Afterword: Walt Wolfram and the study of sociolinguistic variation’). Because publishers in the English-speaking world shy away from using the word ‘festschrift’ in titles, a general title was given to this volume which appears to have been dictated more by publishing considerations. Nonetheless, the volume does have a strong focus which greatly increases its usefulness to both students and scholars alike, something which cannot always be said of more traditional festschriften.

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