- language and politeness/impoliteness

- language and conflict

- language and power

- language and gender

- discourse markers

- computer-mediated discourse

- counselling in health discourse

- Internet advice columns (on health topics)

- YouTube

- personal narratives

- grammaticalization

- 18th century prescriptive grammars

- World Englishes

 

The first picture was taken on my way to the Loughborough 'politeness and power' conference in 2002. The text is from a paper bag of the National Express Coach Service.

The second picture clearly constitutes a research challenge for all variationists ... (Amman, July 2008)