Bio

The goal of my research is to understand the social meaning of linguistic variation. In order to do this, I pursue my sociolinguistic work in the context of in-depth ethnographic fieldwork, focusing on the relation between variation, linguistic style, social identity and social practice.

Gender has been the big misunderstood in studies of sociolinguistic variation - in spite of the fact that some of the most exciting intellectual developments over the past decades have been in theories of gender and sexuality ... so I have been spending a good deal of time working on language and gender as well.

Since adolescents and preadolescents are the movers and shakers in linguistic change, I concentrate on this age group, and much of my research takes place in schools. The institutional research site has made me think a good deal about learning and education, but particularly about the construction of adolescence in American society.

Academic Appointments

  • Emeritus Faculty, Acad Council, Linguistics

Administrative Appointments

  • Faculty Member, Linguistic Institute, University of Michigan (2013 - 2013)
  • Faculty Member, Linguistic Institute, University of Colorado (2010 - 2010)
  • Faculty Member, Linguistic Institute, Stanford University (2007 - 2007)
  • Faculty Member, Linguistic Institute, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) (2005 - 2005)
  • Faculty Member, Linguistic Institute, Harvard (2005 - 2005)
  • Visiting Professor, Uppsala University (2005 - 2005)
  • Faculty Member, Doctoral Summer School, University of Bern (2003 - 2003)
  • Visiting Professor, Department of Linguistics, University of Lancaster (2002 - 2002)
  • Senior Fellow, Institute for Research on Learning (1999 - 2000)
  • Faculty Member, Doctoral Summer School. University of Oslo (1999 - 1999)
  • Faculty Member, Linguistic Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign (1999 - 1999)
  • Faculty Member, Linguistic Institute, Cornell University (1997 - 1997)
  • Professor (by courtesy), Department of Cultural and Social Anthropology, Stanford University (1994 - Present)
  • Faculty Member, Australian Linguistic Institute, La Trobe University (1994 - 1994)
  • Distinguished Visiting Scholar, Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville (1992 - 1992)
  • Visiting Associate Professor, Department of Anthropology, University of California at Santa Cruz (1992 - 1992)
  • Faculty Member, Linguistic Institute, University of California at Santa Cruz (1991 - 1991)
  • Visiting Associate Professor, School of Education University of California, Berkeley (1990 - 1990)
  • Senior Research Scientist, Institute for Research on Learning, Menlo Park, California (1988 - 1999)
  • Faculty Member, Linguistic Institute, Stanford University (1987 - 1987)
  • Associate Professor, Department of Linguistics, University of Illinois at Chicago (1985 - 1993)
  • Visiting Assistant Professor, Department of Linguistics, Stanford University (1985 - 1985)
  • Visiting Scholar, Park School, Baltimore (1982 - 1982)
  • Instructor, Assistant Professor, Research Scientist, Department of Anthropology, University of Michigan (1973 - 1985)
  • Visiting Instructor, Department of Linguistics, Drew University (1973 - 1973)
  • Professor, Department of Linguistics (1944 - Present)

Honors & Awards

  • Albert Ray Lang Professorship in Humanities and Sciences, Stanford University (2012)
  • Fellow, Linguistic Society of America (2011)
  • Fellow, American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2011)
  • Skomp Lecturer, Department of Anthropology. Indiana University (2011)
  • Walker Ames Scholar, University of Washington (2008)
  • Doctor Philosophiae Honoris Causa, Copenhagen University (2005)
  • Resident Fellow, Rockefeller Foundation Study Center (1999)

Boards, Advisory Committees, Professional Organizations

  • Member, Committee on Graduate Study, Stanford University (2011 - Present)
  • Member, Faculty Senate Committee on Committees, Stanford University (2007 - 2009)
  • Chair, Faculty Senate Committee on Committees, Stanford University (2008 - 2009)
  • Member, Administrative Panel on Human Subjects in Non-medical Research, Stanford University (1997 - Present)
  • Chair, Administrative Panel on Human Subjects in Non-medical Research, Stanford University (2000 - Present)
  • Director, Program in Feminist Studies, Stanford University (2001 - 2008)
  • Member, Policy Board, Institute for Research on Women and Gender, Stanford University (2001 - 2007)
  • Resource Faculty member, Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity (2005 - Present)
  • Resource Faculty Member, Symbolic Systems (2007 - Present)
  • Member, Steering Committee, Faculty Women's Caucus, Stanford University (1999 - 2004)
  • Member, Program Committee, Program in Feminist Studies, Stanford University (2000 - 2001)
  • Associate Editor, Language Variation and Change
  • Member, Editorial Board, Gender and Language
  • Member, Editorial Board, Journal of Sociolinguistics
  • Member, Editorial Board, J. Benjamins book, Studies in Language Variation
  • Member, Advisory Board, Oxford University Press book series, Language and Gender Studies
  • Reviewer of grants, articles and manuscripts, Language, Language Variation and Change
  • Reviewer of grants, articles and manuscripts, Language in Society
  • Reviewer of grants, articles and manuscripts, Journal of Child Development
  • Reviewer of grants, articles and manuscripts, Journal of Sociolinguistics
  • Reviewer of grants, articles and manuscripts, Oxford University Press
  • Reviewer of grants, articles and manuscripts, Rutgers University Press
  • Reviewer of grants, articles and manuscripts, Blackwell
  • Reviewer of grants, articles and manuscripts, Cambridge University Press
  • Reviewer of grants, articles and manuscripts, National Science Foundation
  • Reviewer of grants, articles and manuscripts, Spencer Foundation
  • Member, Ethics Committee, Linguistic Society of America (2007 - 2009)
  • Member, Committee on Ethnic Diversity in Linguistics, Linguistic Society of America (1999 - 2001)
  • Member, Nominating Committee, Linguistic Society of America (1992 - 1995)
  • Member, Committee on the Status of Women in Linguistics, Linguistic Society of America (1989 - 1991)
  • Chair, Committee on the Status of Women in Linguistics, Linguistic Society of America (1990 - 1990)
  • Chair, Committee on the Status of Women in Linguistics, Linguistic Society of America (1991 - 1991)
  • President, International Gender and Language Association (2000 - 2003)
  • Member, Social Science Network, National Center for Women and Information Technology (2004 - 2007)
  • Member, Board of Advisors, Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology (1998 - 2008)
  • Member, Committee on Academic Programs and Policies, San Mateo, CA (1992 - 1998)
  • Faculty Member, Carnegie Consortium for the Scientific Practice of Science Education (1990 - 1993)
  • Member, International Gender and Language Association
  • Member, Linguistic Society of America
  • Member, American Anthropological Association
  • Member, Society for Linguistic Anthropology

Program Affiliations

  • Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
  • Symbolic Systems Program

Professional Education

  • PhD, Columbia University, Linguistics (1978)
  • MA, Columbia University, Linguistics (1969)
  • BA, Oberlin College, French (1963)

Contact

  • Academic
    eckert@stanford.edu
    University - Emeritus faculty Department: Linguistics Position: Emeritus Faculty, Acad Council
    • Bldg 460, Rm 108
    • Stanford,  California  94305-2150 
    (650) 723-5666 (fax)

Additional Info

Links

2024-25 Courses

Stanford Advisees

All Publications

  • Social meaning THEORETICAL LINGUISTICS Eckert, P. 2024; 50 (1-2): 63-70

    View details for DOI 10.1515/tl-2024-2004

    View details for Web of Science ID 001262854400004

  • Affect and iconicity in phonological variation LANGUAGE IN SOCIETY D'Onofrio, A., Eckert, P. 2021; 50 (1): 29–51

    View details for DOI 10.1017/S0047404520000871

    View details for Web of Science ID 000629309700003

  • Gender and the Third Wave of variation study GENDER AND LANGUAGE Eckert, P. 2021; 15 (2): 242-248

    View details for DOI 10.1558/genl.20313

    View details for Web of Science ID 000687882500009

  • THE LIMITS OF MEANING: SOCIAL INDEXICALITY, VARIATION, AND THE CLINE OF INTERIORITY LANGUAGE Eckert, P. 2019; 95 (4): 751–76

    View details for Web of Science ID 000503187200006

  • The individual in the semiotic landscape GLOSSA-A JOURNAL OF GENERAL LINGUISTICS Eckert, P. 2019; 4 (1)

    View details for DOI 10.5334/gjgl.640

    View details for Web of Science ID 000457718400001

  • Cans and cants: Computational potentials for multimodality with a case study in head position JOURNAL OF SOCIOLINGUISTICS Voigt, R., Eckert, P., Jurafsky, D., Podesva, R. J. 2016; 20 (5): 677-711

    View details for DOI 10.1111/josl.12216

    View details for Web of Science ID 000389052600005

  • THE LOW VOWELS IN CALIFORNIA'S CENTRAL VALLEY AMERICAN SPEECH Onofrio, A. D., Eckert, P., Podesva, R. J., Pratt, T., Van Hofwegen, J. 2016; 91: 11-32

    View details for DOI 10.1215/00031283-3772879

    View details for Web of Science ID 000394630000003

  • The emergence of adolescent language Jugendsprachen: Stilisierungen, Identitäten, mediale Ressourcen Eckert, P. edited by Kotthoff, H., Mertzelufft, C. Frankfurt: Peter Lang. 2013
  • Research Ethics in Linguistics Cambridge Handbook in Research Methods in Linguistics Eckert, P. edited by Podesva, R., Sharma, D. 2013
  • Language and Gender Eckert, P., McConnell-Ginet, S. New York: Cambridge University Press. 2013
  • Three Waves of Variation Study: The Emergence of Meaning in the Study of Sociolinguistic Variation ANNUAL REVIEW OF ANTHROPOLOGY, VOL 41 Eckert, P. 2012; 41: 87-100

    View details for DOI 10.1146/annurev-anthro-092611-145828

    View details for Web of Science ID 000310446400007

  • SOCIOPHONETICS AND SEXUALITY: TOWARD A SYMBIOSIS OF SOCIOLINGUISTICS AND LABORATORY PHONOLOGY AMERICAN SPEECH Eckert, P., Podesva, R. J. 2011; 86 (1): 6-13

    View details for DOI 10.1215/00031283-1277465

    View details for Web of Science ID 000290565000001

  • LANGUAGE AND POWER IN THE PREADOLESCENT HETEROSEXUAL MARKET AMERICAN SPEECH Eckert, P. 2011; 86 (1): 85-97

    View details for DOI 10.1215/00031283-1277528

    View details for Web of Science ID 000290565000006

  • Language and Sexuality. (introduction to special volume) American Speech Eckert, P., Podesva, R. 2011
  • Where does the social stop? Selected papers from the 5th International Conference on Language Variation in Europe (ICLaVE 5) Eckert, P. edited by Parrott, J. K., Quist, P., Gregersen, F. 2011: 13–29
  • Who's there? Social anthropology and interactional linguistics Handbook of language and space Eckert, P. edited by Auer, P., Schmidt, J. The Hague: Mouton de Gruyter. 2010: 163–78
  • Variation and the indexical field JOURNAL OF SOCIOLINGUISTICS Eckert, P. 2008; 12 (4): 453-476

    View details for Web of Science ID 000258731400003

  • Where do ethnolects stop? Sociolinguistics Symposium 2006 Eckert, P. SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD. 2008: 25–42

    View details for Web of Science ID 000256933100003

  • Ethnography and linguistic variation The New Sociolinguistics Reader Eckert, P. edited by Coupland, N., Jaworski, A. Palgrave/McMillan. 2008
  • Symbols of category membership A cultural approach to interpersonal communication Eckert, P. edited by Goodman, J. E., Monaghan, L. Oxford: Blackwell. 2006: 224–42
  • Putting communities of practice in their place Journal of Gender and Language Eckert, P., McConnell-Ginet, S. 2006; 1: 27-37
  • Communities of practice Enyclopedia of Language and Linguistics Eckert, P. edited by Brown, K. Elsevier. 2006: 683–5
  • Communities of practice in sociolinguistics - What is the role of power in sociolinguistic variation? JOURNAL OF SOCIOLINGUISTICS Eckert, P., Wenger, E. 2005; 9 (4): 582-589

    View details for Web of Science ID 000233622600005

  • Messing with style Creativity in everyday language. Maidenhead Eckert, P. edited by Maybin, J., Swann, J. Open University Press. 2005
  • The stylistic construction of social groups Communication in Adolescence Eckert, P. edited by Thulor, C., Williams, A. New York: Peter Lang. 2005
  • Consent as an ongoing process Protecting Human Subject Eckert, P. 2005: 3-4
  • Adolescent language Language in the USA. New York Eckert, P. edited by Finegan, E., Rickford, J. Cambridge University Press. 2004
  • Variation and a sense of place Sociolinguistic Variation: Critical Reflections Eckert, P. edited by Fought, C. Oxford University Press. 2004
  • Elephants in the room Journal of sociolinguistics Eckert, P. 2004; 7 (3): 392-7
  • The meaning of style Salsa 11. Texas Linguistics Forum. 47 Eckert, P. edited by Chiang, W., Chun, E., Mahalingappa, L., Mehus, S. 2004
  • The good woman Language and woman’s place: Text and commentaries Eckert, P. edited by Bucholtz, M. New York: Oxford University Press. 2004: 165–170
  • Sociolinguistics and authenticity: An elephant in the room - Elephants in the room Conference on Elephants in the Room Eckert, P. WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC. 2003: 392–97

    View details for Web of Science ID 000185779000007

  • Language and adolescent peer groups JOURNAL OF LANGUAGE AND SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY Eckert, P. 2003; 22 (1): 112-118

    View details for DOI 10.1177/0261927X02250063

    View details for Web of Science ID 000180807400012

  • Social variation in America AMERICAN SPEECH Eckert, P. 2003: 99-121

    View details for Web of Science ID 000220823600007

  • Language and Gender Eckert, P. edited by Eckert, P., Rickford, J. New York: Cambridge University Press. 2003
  • Language and gender in adolescence Handbook of Language and Gender Eckert, P. edited by Holmes, J., Meyerhoff, M. Oxford: Blackwell. 2003
  • Social Variation in America Needed research in American dialects (Publication of the American Dialect society #88) Eckert, P. edited by Preston, D. R. Durham: Duke University Press. 2003
  • Demystifying sexuality and desire 1st Conference of the International-Gender-and-Language-Association (IGALA) Eckert, P. UNIV CHICAGO PRESS. 2002: 99–110

    View details for Web of Science ID 000222211600007

  • Getting real in the golden state Language magazine Eckert, P., Mendoza-Denton, N. 2002: 29-34
  • Demystifying sexuality and desire Language and sexuality: Contesting meaning in theory and practice Eckert, P. edited by Campbell-Kibler, K., Roberts, S., Wong, A. CSLI Publications. 2002: 99–110
  • Style and social meaning Style and Sociolinguistic Variation Eckerte, P. edited by Eckert, P., Rickford, J. New York: Cambridge University Press. 2001: 119–126
  • Style and Sociolinguistic Variation edited by Eckert, P., Rickford, J. New York: Cambridge University Press. 2001
  • Introduction Style and Sociolinguistic Variation Rickford, J., Eckert, P. edited by Eckert, P., Rickford, J. New York: Cambridge University Press. 2001: 1–18
  • Linguistic Variation as Social Practice Eckert, P. Oxford:Blackwell. 2000
  • Supporting Community Involvement in the Digital Age Civic Responsibility and Higher Education Eckert, P., Henschel, P. edited by Ehrlich, T. Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Phoenix: Oryx Press. 2000
  • New generalizations and explanations in language and gender research LANGUAGE IN SOCIETY Eckert, P., McConnell-Ginet, S. 1999; 28 (2): 185-201

    View details for Web of Science ID 000080414500003

  • Learning at work Proceedings of joint international conference of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, and the United States Department of Education Greeno, J., Eckert, P., Sachs, P., Stucky, S., Wenger, E. 1999: 6–8
  • Entitled to know Thinking Practices Eckert, P. edited by Greeno, J., Goldman, S. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum. 1999
  • Vowels and nail polish: The emergence of linguistic style in the preadolescent heterosexual marketplace Proceedings of the 1996 Berkeley Women and Language Conference Eckert, P. 1998
  • Gender, social engagement, and linguistic style Nordiske Konference om Sproeg og Koen. Koebenhavn Eckert, P. 1997
  • The Whole Woman: Sex and Gender Difference in Variation Sociolinguistics: A Reader and Coursebook. Eckert, P. edited by Coupland, N., Jaworski, A. Palgrave. 1997
  • Why ethnography? Ungdomssprak i Norden Eckert, P. edited by Kotsinas, U., Stenstrom, A., Karlsson, A. Stockholm: Stockholm University. 1997: 52–62
  • Gender and sociolinguistic variation Readings in Language and Gender Eckert, P. edited by Coates, J. Oxford: Blackwell. 1997
  • Age as a sociolinguistic variable The Handbook of Sociolinguistics Eckert, P. edited by Coulman, F. Oxford: Blackwell. 1996
  • The Whole Woman: Sex and Gender Differences in Variation The Matrix of Language: Contemporary Linguistic Anthropology Eckert, P. edited by Brenneis, D., Macaulay, R. Boulder: Westview Press. 1996: 116–37
  • (Ay) goes to the City: reminiscences of Martha’s Vineyard Festschrift for William Labov Eckert, P. edited by Baugh, J., Guy, G., Schiffrin, D. Amsterdam and Philadelphia: John Benjamins. 1996
  • Adolescent Trajectory and Forms of Institutional Participation Pathways Through Adolescence: Individual Development in Relation to Social Contexts Eckert, P. edited by Crockett, L., Crouter, A. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum. 1995: 175–96
  • Constructing meaning, constructing selves: Snapshots of language, gender and class from Belten High Gender Articulated: Language and the Culturally Constructed Self Eckert, P., McConnell-Ginet, S. edited by Buchholtz, M., Hall, K. Routledge. 1995: 469–507
  • Cooperative Competition in Adolescent Girl Talk Gender and Conversational Interaction Eckert, P. edited by Tannen, D. Oxford University Press. 1993: 91–122
  • Communities of Practice: Where Language, Gender and Power all Live Proceedings of the 1992 Berkeley Women and Language Conference Eckert, P., McConnell–Ginet, S. edited by Hall, K., Bucholtz, M., Moonwomon, B. 1992: 89–99
  • THINK PRACTICALLY AND LOOK LOCALLY - LANGUAGE AND GENDER AS COMMUNITY-BASED PRACTICE ANNUAL REVIEW OF ANTHROPOLOGY Eckert, P., MCCONNELLGINET, S. 1992; 21: 461-490

    View details for Web of Science ID A1992JU63700019

  • Think Practically and Look Locally: Language and Gender as Community–Based Practice The Women and Language Debate Eckert, P., McConnell-Ginet, S. edited by Roman, C., Juhasz, S., Miller, C. New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press. 1992: 432–460
  • New Ways of Analyzing Sound Change edited by Eckert, P. New York: Academic Press. 1991
  • Social Polarization and the Choice of Linguistic Variants New Ways of Analyzing Sound Change Eckert, P. edited by Eckert, P. New York: Academic Press. 1991: 213–232
  • Quantitative Studies of Linguistic Variation International Encyclopedia of Linguistics Eckert, P. edited by Bright, W. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 1991
  • The Cornell Lectures edited by Davison, A., Eckert, P. Washington DC: Linguistic Society of America. 1990
  • COOPERATIVE COMPETITION IN ADOLESCENT GIRL TALK DISCOURSE PROCESSES Eckert, P. 1990; 13 (1): 91-122

    View details for Web of Science ID A1990DK94500005

  • Adolescent Social Categories, Information and Science Learning Toward a Scientific Practice of Science Education Greeno, J., Eckert, P. edited by Gardner, M., Reif, F., Schoenfeld, A. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum. 1990: 203–217
  • The Interaction between Social and Professional Networks The Cornell Lectures Davidson, A. edited by Eckert, P. Linguistic Society of America. 1990: 142–54
  • The Whole Woman: Sex and Gender Differences in Variation Language Variation and Change Eckert, P. 1989; 1: 245-67
  • Jocks and Burnouts: Social Identity in the High School Eckert, P. New York: Teachers College Press. 1989
  • Sound Change and Adolescent Social Structure Language in Society Eckert, P. 1988; 17: 183-207
  • THE RELATIVE VALUES OF VARIABLES 15TH ANNUAL CONF ON NEW WAY OF ANALYZING VARIATION IN LANGUAGE ( NWAV-XV ) Eckert, P. STANFORD LINGUISTICS ASSOC. 1987: 101–110

    View details for Web of Science ID A1987BQ57J00009

  • Sociolinguistics Handbook for Grant Proposal Preparation Eckert, P. edited by Peters, A. M., Menn, L., Chapin, P. G., Aguera, H. C. Washington, DC: Linguistic Society of America. 1986: 5
  • Grammatical Constraints in Phonological Change: Unstressed *a in Southern France Orbis Eckert, P. 1985; 31: 169-89
  • Age and Linguistic Change Age and Anthropological Theory Eckert, P. edited by Keith, J., Kertzer, D. Cornell University Press. 1984: 219–233
  • The Paradox of Regional Language Movements Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development Eckert, P. 1983; 4: 289-300
  • BEYOND THE STATISTICS OF ADOLESCENT SMOKING AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH Eckert, P. 1983; 73 (4): 439-441

    Abstract

    Statistical studies can identify the demographic characteristics of the adolescent smoking population but cannot reveal how clusters of demographic categories combine in the culture of the community to form salient social categories, or how social processes link these categories to smoking and smoking-related behavior. Because smoking and smoking-related behavior function as a key social symbol, anti-smoking campaigns that are based on an inaccurate understanding of the social context in which smoking occurs can reinforce this behavior. Participant observation in a suburban high school suggests that adolescents begin smoking as part of a complex symbolic process growing out of the process of social differentiation between future members of the working class on the one hand and the middle class on the other. It points out inadequacies in two existing anti-smoking programs in the schools that result from ignoring the social dynamics of smoking.

    View details for Web of Science ID A1983QG54700013

    View details for PubMedID 6829827

  • Clothing and Geography in a Suburban High School Researching American Culture Eckert, P. edited by Kottak, C. P. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press. 1982: 139–144
  • Notes on Pronominal Strategies in a Bilingual Community Variation Omnibus Eckert, P. edited by Sankoff, D., Cedergren, H. Edmonton: Linguistic Research Inc. 1982: 499–504
  • SOCIOLINGUISTICS - HUDSON,RA (Book Review) LANGUAGE IN SOCIETY Book Review Authored by: Eckert, P. 1981; 10 (2): 259-261

    View details for Web of Science ID A1981MQ72500007

  • Hedging the Standard English Bet Forum Eckert, P. 1981; 3: 7-8
  • L’Imposition de la Diglossie Lengas: Revue de Sociolinguistique Eckert, P. 1981; 9: 1-8
  • The Structure of a Long–Term Phonological Process: The Back Vowel Chain Shift in Soulatan Gascon Locating Language in Time and Space Eckert, P. edited by Labov, W. New York: Academic Press. 1980: 179–219
  • Communication across Cultural Groups Cross Cultural Communication in the Schools Eckert, P. edited by Moody, C. F. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Program for Educational Opportunity. 1980: 3–14
  • Clothing and Geography in a Suburban High School Michigan Discussions in Anthropology Eckert, P. 1980; 6: 45-48
  • CENTRAL ESKIMO SONG DUELS - A CONTEXTUAL ANALYSIS OF RITUAL AMBIGUITY ETHNOLOGY Eckert, P., Newmark, R. 1980; 19 (2): 191-211

    View details for Web of Science ID A1980JQ93600004

  • DIGLOSSIA - SEPARATE AND UNEQUAL LINGUISTICS Eckert, P. 1980; 18 (11-1): 1053-1064

    View details for Web of Science ID A1980MR94900004

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1918-4041