This is a two-volume collection of original research papers designed to reflect the breadth and depth of the impact that W. Labov has had on linguistic science. Four areas of 'Labovian' linguistics are addressed: First the study of variation and change, followed by the study of African American English, and other language varieties in the Americas spoken by people of African descent and influenced by their linguistic heritage. The third theme is the study of discourse. Fourth is the emphasis on language use, the search for discursive, interactive, and meaningful determinants of the complexity in human communication.