This book which contains five sections, somewhat overrepresents pidgins and creoles, whilst only three chapters consider in detail the sociolinguistics of traditional Australian languages. Section I is entitled 'Aboriginal and Islander Languages', but three chapters are concerned with Aboriginal English. Section II deals with pidgins and creoles. Section III discusses Australia's community languages, especially the legacy of the postwar migration. Section IV investigates varieties of (non-Aboriginal) Australian English. Section V contains three contributions on public policy and social issues.