The Anthropology of Language: An Introduction to Linguistic Anthropology by Harriet Joseph Ottenheimer offers a comprehensive and accessible entry into the study of language from an anthropological perspective. This third edition, published in 2012 by Cengage Learning, delves into the methodologies, skills, techniques, tools, and applications that are central to linguistic anthropology. The book emphasizes how anthropologists explore language through various lenses, particularly focusing on issues related to power, race, gender, and class. Each chapter is enriched with “In the Field” vignettes, offering readers a personal insight through stories from Ottenheimer’s and other researchers’ experiences, making the content more relatable and engaging. Additionally, “Doing Linguistic Anthropology” and “Cross-Language Miscommunication” features provide practical examples that illustrate how theoretical concepts are applied in real-world scenarios, highlighting the everyday relevance of linguistic anthropology.
