There is a new edition out of 'Language: Its Structure and Use' by Ed Finegan. I've used it in the past--it has good chapters on sociolinguistics, conversation structure, etc. I haven't reviewed the new edition yet, but I'd like to. It might be worth considering. I currently use Language Files, which is uneven in quality. Lots of exercises in some chapters, virtually none in others. It has a format some people like--each chapter is divided into 'files' which are short sub-chapters. I usually feel the need to supplement it on sociolinguistic issues. A reader in conjunction with it might work well. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Johanna Rubba Assistant Professor, Linguistics English Department, California Polytechnic State University One Grand Avenue • San Luis Obispo, CA 93407 Tel. (805)-756-2184 • Fax: (805)-756-6374 • Dept. Phone. 756-259 • E-mail: [log in to unmask] • Home page: http://www.cla.calpoly.edu/~jrubba ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select "Join or leave the list" Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/