This fully revised textbook is a new edition of Ronald Wardhaugh's popular and accessible "An Introduction to Sociolinguistics". This book provides an accessible, comprehensive introduction to sociolinguistics that reflects new developments in the field. Fully revised, with 130 new and updated references to bring the book completely up-to-date. It includes suggested readings, discussion sections, and exercises. It features increased emphasis on issues of identity, solidarity, and power. It discusses topics such as language dialects, pidgins and creoles, codes, bilingualism, speech communities, variation, words and culture, ethnographies, solidarity and politeness, talk and action, gender, disadvantage, and planning. Designed for introductory and post-introductory students, and ideal for courses including introduction to sociolinguistics, aspects of sociolinguistics, and language and society.