Language,structure and agency: What can realist social theory offer to sociolinguistics?

The sociolinguistic enterprise raises fundamental questions about the nature of the relationships between social phenomena (such as social class or gender) and linguistic variation, while within social theory a persistent concern is the nature of the relationship between structure and agency. Sociolinguistics can draw on social theory for analysis of the relationship between speaker and system, the role of language in the creation, maintenance and change of social institutions, and the role of human agency in sociolinguistic phenomena. This article summarises the key tenets of a sociological realism, based on the recent work of Margaret Archer (in particular her exploration of analytical dualism) and of Derek Layder (specifically his theory of ‘social domains’). It relates these ideas to sociolinguistics, arguing that language can be seen to have a different significance, depending on which domain is the focus of the researcher's interest. The article considers the distinctiveness of this approach, contrasting it with structuralist and social constructionist accounts and with structuration. It concludes by identifying some methodological implications, suggesting that sociological realism offers a productive theoretical framework for sociolinguistics in dealing with questions of language, structure and agency.     

作为空间理论家的葛兰西

对分析性的范畴加以空间化和历史化,是安东尼奥.葛兰西实践哲学的基本特征。这些理论运作深深地交织在他的“绝对历史主义”之中。对葛兰西哲学中空间性的强调,不仅有助于我们发现其著作中的诸多地理学主题,而且有助于纠正过分强调其历史主义维度的偏颇。葛兰西对空间隐喻的使用和他对南方问题的讨论,表明应当从空间—时间的视角去阐释他的许多关键性概念,而不仅仅是从社会的、物质的视角去阐释。葛兰西的空间、场所和等级等概念与他对语言、天主教会的意义、知识分子的作用、世界主义、阶级和阶级斗争、美国主义和福特主义、意大利国家的性质、国家权力的社会基础、雅各宾派、消极革命和领导权等问题的分析密切相关。葛兰西对空间、场所和等级的兴趣不仅仅是学术的,也跟他对革命形势的分析不无瓜葛。     

Life History or 'Case' History: the objectification of people with learning difficulties through the tyranny of professional discourses

Case histories of people with learning difficulties tend to privilege information that is useful to professionals, such as IQ and medical diagnosis. Such information allows professionals to slot people with learning difficulties into categories which inform 'treatment' and aid prognosis. Case records, as they are currently constructed, appear to further silence an already oppressed group of people, and to objectify, pathologise and label them. The subjects of such case records do not appear to be treated as stakeholders in the case recording process: their voices are not represented in such writings. Case records do not appear to contain information about the lived experience of people with learning difficulties. Ignorance of the unique histories of people with learning difficulties is dehumanising and allows professionals to psychologically distance themselves. Once humanity has disappeared, it is possible to treat people as 'objects' that can be controlled through 'respected' professional theories and their discursive practices.     

The centrality of work

The content of the article was inspired by the author's work as Executive Director of the Occupational Health and Safety Branch within the Saskatchewan Department of Labour, from 1973 to 1982. During that period he worked closely with the Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committees and was responsible for bringing in legislation and regulations that went beyond the 'technical' matters regarding work-place health and safety.     

Fifty Years Ago: the Curtis and Clyde Reports

Fifty years ago the Curtis and Clyde reports set out the blueprints for a new children's service. They contained an emphasis on the personal needs of deprived children, an insistence on fostering as the method of care best suited for them and the recommendation that a completely new local authority department was required. The following Children Act (1948) established the Children's Departments which soon became synonymous with enlightened child care. The origin of the reports is often attributed to the campaigns of Lady Allen in 1944 and the scandal of the death of a foster child in 1945. But the real origins stemmed from events precipitated by the Second World War, while the contents of the reports can be discerned in even earlier years.     

Out of touch: local government and disabled people's employment needs

In autumn 2003 we contracted to undertake a study in two district council areas of ways in which they could meet their Local Public Service Agreement (LPSA) targets in respect of disabled people returning to work. We undertook a literature review of barriers to work, interviewed a number of people involved in working with unemployed people and a number of disabled people in these areas. All the employment organisations we had contact with were working to an individual model of disability and the need to change their orientation became the central recommendation of the first phase of this study. This was rejected by those funding the study. At the end of the first year none of the organisations active in this area was able to identify a single disabled person who had returned to work as a result of their help. We conclude that central government policies are doing little to change the perception of the employment needs of disabled people within local government.