Gumperz and Hymes' 1972 classic "Ethnography of Communication" helped define a field that is still based upon the methods and spirit represented in that collection. Ethnographic research in subsequent years has led to profound shifts in theoretical concerns - in particular, toward ideological constructs and practice-oriented studies. "New Ethnographies of Communication" is a collection of articles written by leading linguistic anthropologists that surveys the most recent developments in ethnography of communication and proposes new ways of looking at the role of language in today's globalized, media-saturated environments. This volume aims to answer the strong demand for material appropriate for beginning graduate students and upper-division undergraduates who have some background in language and culture. With a strong introduction by the editors, "New Ethnographies of Communication" is divided into three sections and comprises articles based on new studies or recently published reports, written for the book by leading researchers and new voices from the field.
The current editors carry on the earlier volume's tradition of presenting theoretically sophisticated, ethnographically grounded work.