This course is designed to introduce the learner to the basic concepts, tenets, and issues of general sociolinguistics, with particular focus on aspects of meaning that arise from the speakers’ interpretation of the linguistic items used in social ( real) context rather than the meaning of the proper entities of the linguistic system itself. Indeed, this course is particularly relevant to learners interested in learning English for communication and interaction. It provides theoretical knowledge of the key concepts introduced in the area of sociolinguistics and determines their relation to the cultural and social dimensions.