Understanding Language Contact

• Discusses both how these areas relate to one another and how they correspond to different theoretical fields and methodologies;
• Draws together concepts and methodological/theoretical advances from the related fields of bilingualism and sociolinguistics to show how these can shed new light on the traditional field of contact linguistics;
• Presents up-to-date research in a digestible form;
• Includes examples from a wide range of contact languages, including Creoles and pidgins; Indigenous, minority, and heritage languages; mixed languages; and immigrants' linguistic practices, to illustrate ideas and concepts;
• Features exercises to test students’ understanding as well as suggestions for further reading to expand knowledge in specific areas.

Written by three experienced teachers and researchers in this area, Understanding Language Contact is key reading for advanced undergraduate and postgraduate students approaching bilingualism and language contact for the first time.