On The Relevance of Recent Developments in Sociolinguistics to the Study of Language Learning and Early Education

Abstract

Recent developments in sociolinguistics have contributed to the study of language learning in early education, including bilingual education. Some progress has been made in overcoming barriers which in the past have served to inhibit the effective application of linguistic knowledge in the language classroom. This article suggests some of the ways in which sociolinguistics is relevant to the study of language learning and early education.