"Written by an established scholar who arguably knows as much about the subject as anyone alive and a brilliant, up–and–coming young linguist, the quality and encyclopedic scope of this book will make it a standard reference for years to come." –– Ralph Fasold, Georgetown University This book provides an up–to–date description of language variation in American English, covering regional, ethnic, and gender–based differences. The author describes situations ranging from historically isolated, rural dialects to developing, urban ethnic varieties as they consider the descriptive, theoretical, and applied ramifications of dialects in American society. An appendix of major dialect structures in American English and a glossary of terms for non–specialists are included.