Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the first part of this book. The book examines sociolinguistic processes in multiracial urban youth culture and ethnographic research into adolescent friendship groups in one neighbourhood in the South Midlands of England, and focuses on 'language crossing'. It describes an ethnicity an exclusive emphasis which hides all the other social categories which individuals belong to categories defined in terms of age, gender, sexual orientation, residence, occupation, interests, style, activity, and role. The Political solidarity usually focuses on the immediate conditions in which exploitation and domination are experienced, and in this context, face to face interaction becomes a potentially important arena for action and analysis. The book provides an introduction to the descriptive and theoretical angle on language, youth and race. It analysis what particular social divisions actually meant to local youngsters, and how they managed them in interaction.