Chapter 6 moves from the focus of Chapter 5 on macro level social categories to examine approaches to the study of within-individual variation and the construction of linguistic style and social identity.In particular, the chapter turns to what sociophonetic research, given its ability to examine gradient phonetic shifts, brings to this pursuit.The chapter begins by considering the study of individual variation in linguistics and phonetics more generally and then moves to discuss early approaches to sociolinguistic style and how those approaches evolved to present day interests in language and identity, style and interaction, within the realm of what is referred to as "third wave" research.Focusing in on such third wave approaches, the chapter then examines how sociophonetic studies on sibilant variation have provided an opportunity to explore both the social and cognitive aspects of socio-indexical variation.Finally, the chapter turns to what sociophonetic research, given its ability to hone in on very particular aspects of phonetic features, can bring to the study of linguistic performance, attending to studies that examine sibilant variation and speech perception.

This substantial introduction covers Trump’s divisive verbal shock tactics during his rise. It offers a history of presidential oratory and speech style, discusses Trump’s use of social media, and his rhetorical feedback loop with his supporters. It analyzes the way the “culture wars” over so-called “politically correct language” feed into Trump’s popularity and the dismay of his critics. Trump supporters often refuse the notion that word choice creates problems, arguing instead that linguistic care stokes oversensitivity, or that it evades harsh realities that harsh language merely describes. They also feel his simple, profane verbal style and even his spelling and grammatical errors reflect his “authenticity” and positive masculinity. Trump’s critics, meanwhile, believe his insulting words and hate speech incite violence while his style denotes lack of education and care, possibly even dementia, while demoting the verbal standards expected of a president. Disagreements over Trump’s verbal style and propriety have sometimes played out over class lines. Trump’s well documented prevarications have exhausted journalists and seemed to influence his supporters, some of whom take his statements as merely hyperbolic articulations of a deeper underlying truth.