Language Socialization, Higher Education, and Work

Introduction

Although most language socialization research has historically been situated in homes and schools with relatively young language learners (see Ochs and Schieffelin, Language Socialization: An Historical Overview, Volume 8), a growing number of studies investigate socialization well beyond childhood and adolescence into adulthood. An examination of the length and breadth of language socialization, or "lifelong" and "lifewide" socialization, takes into account individuals' and groups' movement into new educational, vocational, professional, and other settings, and into the cultures, language and literacy practices, identities, and stances instilled there.

In this chapter, I focus primarily on the linguistic socialization of learners at work or preparing for work by means of education activities and apprenticeship, keenly aware that the distinction between (higher) education and work is becoming increasingly blurred. Formal