The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Linguistics (Oxford Paperback Reference) [Paperback]

P. H. Matthews (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 15, 2007 | ISBN-10: 0199202729 | ISBN-13: 978-0199202720 | Edition: 2

Here is the most authoritative and up-to-date dictionary of linguistics available, fully revised for the second edition. Written by distinguished authority Peter Matthews, this handy reference includes over 3,150 entries providing worldwide coverage of languages and language families, grammatical terms in English as well as grammatical categories in other languages. Matthews also offers extensive coverage of the theory of language, language history, and important ideas and figures in linguistics. A directory of symbols is included for quick and easy reference. The new edition boasts greatly enhanced coverage of sociolinguistics, making it an ideal reference for those studying linguistics. It also includes entries on notable recent theorists in the field, such as Del Hymes and Peter Trudgill. With entries ranging from "epiglottal" and "morpheme" to "Austronesian" and "Navajo," The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Linguistics, Second Edition remains an ideal reference for students and teachers in language-related courses, and a great introduction to linguistics for the general reader with an interest in language and its study.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Peter Matthews is Emeritus Professor of Linguistics at Cambridge University. He has published extensively in the area of linguistic morphology.

Product Details

• Paperback: 464 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA; 2 edition (October 15, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0199202729
• ISBN-13: 978-0199202720
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #223,334 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A decent book, but a little *too* concise, March 5, 2000

By 

Jennifer Kerns (United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Linguistics (Oxford Paperback Reference) (Paperback)

This is a good book for linguistics majors, especially if you intend to go to grad school. The book has definitions of just about every word I've needed to look up, but sometimes the definitions aren't very clear and are worded in the same difficult jargon that makes you need to look these words up in the first place. Longer definitions would be helpful. But in cases where words learned in class need clarifying, it does offer another explanation. Overall, it's worth the price, but I'll be on the lookout for other linguistics dictionaries that have clearer explanations.

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The dictionary I turn to first, May 25, 2003

By 

John S. Fry (Eagle, ID USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Linguistics (Oxford Paperback Reference) (Paperback)

This slim dictionary succeeds nicely at providing concise but accurate and understandable definitions of linguistic terminology.

Serious linguists will also want to own David Crystal's Dictionary of Linguistics and Phonetics. Crystal's dictionary is larger and more complete in most respects, especially with regard to phonetics. On the other hand, Matthews' dictionary, unlike Crystal's, has brief entries on individual linguists (Panini, Halliday) and specific languages (Etruscan, Pashto). Overall, I find Matthews' dictionary more "user-friendly": smaller, cheaper, and easier to read. I find myself consulting Matthews first, and then turning to Crystal for an alternative perspective.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very handy and surprisingly complete, November 18, 2007

By 

Paul Stevenson "Linguist" (Duhok, Iraq) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Linguistics (Oxford Paperback Reference) (Paperback)

(The following comments are based on the first edition, which I bought a year ago. I see that Oxford published a second edition a few months ago.)

I have found P. H. Matthews' dictionary of linguistic terms to compare very favorably with David Crystal's A Dictionary of Linguistics and Phonetics. In spite of the considerable difference in size and price, I have found that Matthews' work has more of the terms I want to look up, and his explanations are often more to the point. I don't use it much for phonetic terminology, so any deficiency in this regard vis a vis Crystal has not been an issue for me.

I appreciate seeing the names of at least a few of the most outstanding linguists in history listed. New students in the field should find these references to the luminaries helpful. Their names show up in the literature with some regularity, and it is nice to have some place to turn for a quick summary of their contributions.

For students of linguistics, I recommend that you get Matthews' dictionary first, if you can't afford both at once, and then get Crystal's dictionary later. It is always helpful to have more than one reference of this sort on your shelf.