Barbara Johnstone

Prof. Barbara Johnstone is a Professor of Rhetoric and Linguistics at Carnegie Mellon University's School of Language & Literature. She specializes in sociolinguistics, focusing on language and identity, dialectology, and discourse analysis. Her current research explores the social and discursive history of 'Pittsburghese,' examining how dialects shape and reflect local identity. She has authored influential books including The Linguistic Individual and edited volumes like the Sage Handbook of Sociolinguistics. Her work bridges historical sociolinguistics, geography, and phenomenology to understand language's role in globalization.

• Education: PhD from University of Michigan

Her research interests span narrative studies, linguistic variation, and urban dialects. Recent projects analyze the commodification of Pittsburghese through merchandise and online discourse. She has contributed to journals like Journal of Sociolinguistics and Language in Society, focusing on topics such as stancetaking, indexicality, and spatial linguistics.

Her current FRIAS project investigates Pittsburghese's historical and discursive evolution, linking it to labor history, industrial heritage, and social geographies. This work proposes new frameworks for understanding language-place identity dynamics in global contexts.