Social networks -- those informal and formal social relationships of which any human society is composed -- are distinguished by their own patters of language use. Lesley Milroy is concerned with the manner in which patterns of linguistic variation characterise particular groups (social and cultural, geographic, male and female) within a complex urban community.

First published in 1980, Language and Social Networks has had a great influence on the development of sociolinguistics. The second edition incorporates an extensive new chapter reappraising the original research and discussing other sociolinguistic work in the same paradigm.

"An impressive book by any standards, and is likely to take its place as a "classic" of sociolinguistics." R.A. Hudson, Journal of Linguistics