“The edited collection Signs of Deference, Signs of Demeanour is an important milestone in bringing the insights of linguistic ethnography into conversation with the field of Southeast Asian studies…. for those interested in Southeast Asian languages, if they are willing to make a little extra effort in order to grasp the theoretical architecture of the book, the case studies provide an excellent resource and entry point for examining in greater depth this crucial though understudied aspect of Southeast Asian languages.”

Southeast Asian Studies

“This book is a valuable contribution to the field of linguistic anthropology, sociolinguistics, and Southeast Asian studies. One of the book's many strengths is its decentering of European language ideologies about pronoun use that have long been privileged in linguistics…. Scholars interested in honorifics, (im)politeness, and hierarchy will learn much from this book.”

Linguistic Anthropology

“Signs of deference, signs of demeanour manages to effectively fill the gap through its comprehensive analysis of interlocutor reference and self-other relations across diverse Southeast Asian communities. The book provides a representative sample of theoretical and empirical developments in linguistic ethnography, focusing on Southeast Asian languages, offering case studies and theoretical arguments aimed at expanding the field.”

Language in Society

"Making a great contribution to the linguistic anthropology of Southeast Asia, Signs of Deference, Signs of Demeanour, edited by Dwi Noverini Djenar and Jack Sidnell, theorises the interlocutor reference practices of speech communities in diverse societies, while also illustrating sociolinguistic hierarchy and insights into social relations. . . . Moving beyond Eurocentrism, this volume stands firmly in the tradition of ethnographic research from an emic perspective by documenting the linguistic system of self–other relations."

Journal of Southeast Asian Studies

“I was thrilled to read this collection, which will facilitate a systematic rethinking not only of interlocutor reference, but of language as a whole…. My appreciation here also relates to the second strength of this volume—its diversity. The nine chapters not only guide readers on an engaging journey through the languages of Southeast Asia, including Kri, Javanese, Vietnamese, Lao, etc., they are interdisciplinary. Whether they are a sociolinguist, general linguist, grammarian, pragmatist, discourse analyst or anthropologist, as long as the reader's research involves interlocutor reference, they will find highly relevant works in this collection that will be helpful in their own research…. this volume is highly recommended to those who are interested in the study of interlocutor reference.”

The Australian Journal of Anthropology

“This edited book is a timely publication for those of us who are interested in the linguistic anthropology and ethnography of Southeast Asia…. It makes us appreciate, through the study of linguistics among different speech communities in Southeast Asia, the innumerably valid 'universals' that exist among various societies.”

Rising Asia Journal