"Computing and Language Variation" explores dialects and social difference in language, examining how (and how much) linguistic difference impedes intelligibility, how national borders accelerate and direct change, and how opinion and hearsay shape perceptions of language difference. The book also examines the role of intonation (melody), variation in pronunciation and vocabulary, and techniques for recognizing structure in larger collections of linguistic data. Computational investigations engage with traditional work, and a panel discussion focuses on the opportunities and risks of pursuing humanities research through computational science.