American English, an introductory textbook about dialect variation, is a revised version of the textbook that first appeared in 1998 and represents another addition to the array of educational materials about American dialects that the first author has been producing for over three decades. It is a versatile textbook with an intended audience of any student who takes a “course on dialects” (p. x). Its lack of linguistic formalism and statistics makes it accessible to students with no linguistics background, and its continued emphasis on the relevance of dialect awareness to American society will help non-linguists apply the material effectively. Owing to its wide scope, it cannot delve too deeply into any of the theoretical issues; however, its succinct overviews of the debates, annotated bibliographies at the end of each chapter, and copious examples from a range of dialects make it a useful reference for experienced linguists.

The first three chapters introduce the basic concepts necessary for understanding dialect variation. Chap. 1 attempts to dispel myths about dialects normally believed by the general public. It goes beyond the standard discussions of prescriptivism vs. descriptivism and provides nuanced definitions of the terms informal standard, formal standard, and vernacular. Chap. 2 presents sociohistorical and linguistic explanations for the existence of different dialects, and chap. 3 provides examples of dialect variation from all linguistic levels. The inclusion of isoglosses based on differences in language use and pragmatics in this section is novel and stimulating.

Chap. 4 traces the origins of the specific dialect regions in the United States and illustrates their current trajectories in light of the most recent findings of dialectologists. Chaps. 5 through 9 describe how dialect variation is affected by various social factors, including region, social status, gender, ethnicity, and style. An entire chapter on African American English (chap. 7) is a welcome addition to the original edition, as are sections devoted to Latino English and Cajun English. The two final chapters, “On the applications of dialect study” and “Dialect awareness: Extending application,” provide a wealth of practical information on how linguists' discoveries about dialect variation can be put to use for the benefit of society, especially in educational settings. These two chapters should be required reading for any educator or policy maker who makes decisions about English instruction or standardized testing.

American English is exemplary from a pedagogical standpoint. Its lucid prose, engaging examples, and coherent structure make it enjoyable to read. The exercises promote application and retention of the material by tapping into the general public's interest in dialect differences. Finally, the appendix is a handy compendium of socially significant phonological and grammatical features that distinguish dialects of American English. The only possible addition to improve the book's pedagogical value would be an accompanying CD or Web site to provide students the opportunity to hear actual examples of the features that are discussed in the text. We can hope that the popularity of American English leads to further collaboration between the authors and future editions of this fine textbook.