Sociolinguistics has grown in importance in recent years, and we have become aware of the role of language not just as a means of communication, but also as a creator of social identity. Additionally, in our current globalized world, contact between users of different languages has increased, especially in countries with large immigrant populations. This interview with Dr. Patricia Duff explores the major issues in Language Socialization. Dr. Duff is currently Co-director of the Centre for Research in Chinese Language and Literacy Education at the University of British Columbia, Canada, where she is Professor of Language and Literacy Education. Her primary research activities concern the processes and outcomes of (second) language learning and language socialization in secondary school and university classroom contexts (foreign/second language, bilingual/immersion, mainstream content courses), as well as in workplaces and communities more generally.
