This article provides an introduction to this issue
of Language in Society by exploring the relationship
of the concept of Community of Practice (CofP) to related
terms and theoretical frameworks. The criterial characteristics
and constitutive features of a CofP are examined; the article
points out how a CofP framework is distinguished from other
sociolinguistic and social psychological frameworks, including
social identity theory, speech community, social network
and social constructionist approaches.
