Letter Writing and Language Change : Cambridge University Press : 9781107018648 : 1107018641 : 16 Jul 2015 : "Unlike formal writing, informal writing is much closer to spoken language, so studying letters from the past provides us with clues to the development of nonstandard varieties of English. Led by a team of experts, this book draws on a range of informal letter corpora and outlines the historical sociolinguistic value of letter analysis, both in theory and practice. By looking at specific aspects of the language used by writers, this book aims to discover how they positioned themselves in society and how they attempted, consciously or unconsciously, to construct social identities. This study challenges the assumption that there is only one 'legitimate' and homogenous form of English or of any other language. It questions 'standard' language ideologies andhighlights the importance of non-standard vernacular forms. A valuable addition to the field, this book will be welcomed by soc