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Agar, Michael. Language Shock: Understanding the Culture of Conversation. New York: William Morrow, 1996. This is a good-natured and highly readable book that explores the relationship between cultural values and language practice. Agar believes that language goes far beyond what you find in grammar books and dictionaries. Using examples from Austria, Mexico, India, and the United States, he describes the social aspects of language-in-use.
Davis, Joel. Mother Tongue: How Humans Create Language. New York: Birch Lane Press, 1994. What is language? How did it come into being? How do we learn language? These and many other questions are answered in this intelligent and interesting work. In clear and simple language, Davis outlines the history of language, looks at languages around the world, and even discusses attempts to teach language to animals. This book is an excellent introduction to the field and will tell you everything you ever wanted to know about language and more.
Jackendoff, Ray. Patterns in the Mind: Language and Human Nature. New York: Basic Books, 1995. There is a close connection between our nature as humans and our use of language. Jackendoff explores that connection in this interesting book on the psychology of language. A bit more challenging than the other books on this list, it is still lively and lucid, an excellent introduction to psycholinguistics.
Napoli, Donna Jo. Language Matters: A Guide to Everyday Questions About Language, 2nd ed. New York: Oxford, 2010. This entertaining book covers a variety of topics including sign language, animal communication, gender differences, and the politics of language, shattering many of the myths we hold about this complex subject.
Smitherman, Geneva. Talkin That Talk: Language, Culture, and Education in African America. New York: Routledge, 2000. A compelling and lively examination of the relationship between language and power in American society, Talkin That Talk presents an articulate argument for the recognition of African-American language as an important cultural practice. Smitherman discusses topics, such as the history of the African-American oral tradition, insult games in black language, and communication among hip hop artists, in a unique and accessible style that’s not what you would expect in an academic text. This is a fun read with an important message.
Tannen, Deborah. “You’re Wearing That?” Understanding Mothers and Daughters in Conversation. New York: Random House, 2006. Linguist Tannen continues to investigate the hidden relational meanings that lie beneath language choices, this time in the mother-daughter context.
Tannen, Deborah. Gender and Discourse. New York: Oxford University Press, 1996. In this collection of essays, Tannen sets forth her theory of what it is like to be male or female and to talk to someone of the other gender. The five essays discuss, with examples, conversational strategies and their effects. Somewhat more “academic” than her popular books on male/female misunderstandings, it is still lively and readable, presenting a balanced, sensible view of gender and power.