Includes bibliographical references and index

I. Introduction: geyser, Califont, ascot -- 1.1. On Concepts, Approaches, Methods, and Theories -- 1.2. On Sources -- 1.3. Editorial Principles -- References -- 1. Lexical Sociolinguistics and Social Networks -- 1.1. Introduction to Social Network Theory -- 1.2. Previous Scholarship -- 1.3. Swiss waiter -- 1.4. Sosison Vo Land -- 1.5. Summary -- References -- 2. Lexical Sociolinguistics and Communities of Practice -- 2.1. Introduction to Communities of Practice -- 2.2. Previous Scholarship -- 2.3. Etna -- 2.3.1. Summary -- 2.4. Laugh! -- 2.5. Summary -- References -- 3. The Sociolinguistics of Polysemy -- 3.1. Introduction to the Sociolinguistics of Polysemy -- 3.2. Previous Scholarship -- 3.3. Maroon -- 3.4. Popcorn -- 3.5. Summary -- References -- 4. The Sociolinguistics of Onomasiology -- 4.1. Introduction to the Sociolinguistics of Onomasiology -- 4.2. Previous Scholarship -- 4.3. Direction, address -- 4.4. Kiss Me Quick -- 4.5. Summary -- References -- 5. The Sociolinguistics of Stereotypes -- 5.1. Introduction to the Sociolinguistics of Stereotypes -- 5.2. Previous Scholarship -- 5.3. Goss -- 5.4. Goodwill -- 5.5. Porridge -- 5.6. Fido, Rover -- 5.7. Summary -- References -- 6. Language Regard and Lexical Influcncers -- 6.1. Introduction to Language Regard -- 6.2. Previous Scholarship -- 6.3. Cǎf, Restaurant -- 6.3.1. Restaurant -- 6.3.2. Cǎf -- 6.3.3. Slap-Bang Shop -- 6.3.4. Ordinary -- 6.3.5. Alamode Beefshop -- 6.3.6. Coffee-House -- 6.3.7. Coffee-Palace and Coffee-Tavern -- 6.3.8. Buffet -- 6.3.9. Time-Line of Development -- 6.3.10. Coffee Shop -- 6.4. Summary -- References -- 7. Lexical Sociolinguistics, Indexicality and Enregisterment -- 7.1. Introduction to Indexicality and Enregisterment -- 7.2. Previous Scholarship -- 7.3. Drage -- 7.4. Tinned Salmon -- 7.5. Rather! -- 7.6. Summary -- References -- 8. Lexical Sociolinguistics and Spatial Spread -- 8.1. Introduction to Spatial Spread -- 8.2. Previous Scholarship -- 8.3. Monkey Parade, Shopping Parade -- 8.3.1. Summary -- 8.4. Sunnyside -- 8.5. Summary -- References -- 9. Lexical Appropriation -- 9.1. Introduction to Lexical Appropriation -- 9.2. Into -- 9.3. Baggonet -- 9.4. Burgoo -- 9.4.1. What Is Already Known About burgoo -- 9.4.2. Further Data Assembled in Date Order -- 9.4.3. Polysemous Senses of burgoo -- 9.4.4. Onomasiological Sets -- 9.4.5. Spread of burgoo in Physical Space -- 9.4.6. Spread of burgoo in Social Space -- 9.4.7. Perceived Space and Authority Constraints -- 9.4.8. Evidence of Indexicality and Enregisterment -- 9.4.9. Stereotypical Properties -- 9.4.10. Language Regard and Lexical Appropriation -- 9.5. Summary -- References -- 10. Future Directions -- References

"The Social Life of Words: A Historical Approach explores the rise and fall of the social properties of words, charting ways in which they take on new social connotations. Written in an engaging narrative style, this entertaining text matches up sociolinguistic theory with social history and biography to discover which kind of people used what kind of word, where and when. Social factors such as class, age, race, region, gender, occupation, religion and criminality are discussed in British and American English. From familiar words such as popcorn, porridge, cǎf, to less common words like burgoo, califont, etna, and phrases like kiss me quick, monkey parade, slap-bang shop, The Social Life of Words demonstrates some of the many ways a new word or phrase can develop social affiliations. Detailed yet accessible chapters cover key areas of historical sociolinguistics, including concepts such as social networks, communities of practice, indexicality and enregisterment, prototypes and stereotypes, polysemy, onomasiology, language regard, lexical appropriation, and more" --