Ever since the sociology of language has made its start, it has been continuously confronting with social issues in the field. Social issues such as fledgling nations, racial discrimination, gender equality, minority groups, language death and intercultural communication had its significance more intimate as the matter of behavior and value of scholars who sees the scenes of life than simple lecture or research field. Also the sociology of language had been in charge of being ahead in the historical changing process such as liberation from suppresion, uniformity to diversification, destratification, decolonization. Although there has not been many cases where the sociology of language took the lead or be active in the aforementioned incidents, but at least, their approach to the historical change with knowledge and sensibility should be highly evaluated. In the future, issues such as climate, the rights of minority, multicultural social condition, aging and market integration will be the significant topics of life, and in these issues, the sociology of language tasks will be presented. Though a critical mind related to the space one is living in, one’s identity and interests will inevitably take the lead in the flow of the sociology of language, above all, it seems that the issue of political, historical rights of language and the creation of new jobs related to language will play a significant role.

I. 들어가기
 II. 삶의 역사와 사회의 역사, 그리고 사회언어학의 역사
 III. 세계 속의 아시아, 아시아 속의 한국
 IV. 한국의 사회언어학, 그리고 언어사회학
 V. 정책 기관의 문제
 VI. 다시 세계 문제와 한국의 언어사회학

• 김하수(연세대학교)