A Dictionary of Linguistics and Phonetics [Paperback]

David Crystal (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Blackwell Publishers; 2nd edition (1985)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0631140816
• ISBN-13: 978-0631140818
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,620,283 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

David Crystal is honorary professor of linguistics at the University of Wales, Bangor. He has written or edited over 100 books and published numerous articles for scholarly, professional, and general readerships, in fields ranging from forensic linguistics and ELT to the liturgy and Shakespeare. His many books include Words, Words, Words (OUP 2006) and The Fight for English (OUP 2006).

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars David Crystal gets right to the point, May 11, 2000

By 

Britta Weber - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dictionary of Linguistics and Phonetics (The Language Library) (Paperback)

the book is especially useful when preparing for an examination, because it gives that kind of information you are looking for, by getting right to the point. Very helpful are the cross-references which can serve as guidelines for further searches. David Crystal gives detailed and exact definitions of the most important terms of linguistics and phonetics, but he neglects some of the key terminology of historical linguistics. Looking for definitions in this field of study, one should rather consult Hartmann / Storck:Dictionary of Language and Linguistics. However, particularly in the field of phonetics and phonology the book is an undefeatable source of information.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very useful, March 10, 2006

By 

M. W. Townley (AL, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Dictionary of Linguistics and Phonetics (The Language Library) (Paperback)

As a first year Master's student in TESOL, I have to read a lot of linguistics-related articles/books, and I am learning much of the terminology as I go. This book has saved me hours of googling for an adequate definition of unfamiliar terms/theories. If you have an interest in linguisitics, this book is a vital aid in making the literature accessible. Whether you are a beginner or not, this book should be a part of your library.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nothing more than it says, August 14, 2003

By 

J. Ott "John Ott" (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Dictionary of Linguistics and Phonetics (The Language Library) (Paperback)

Lucid prose. Good examples. Decent range. This dictionary is nothing more than it advertises. It is not an encyclopedia and therefore goes into very little depth. But it does collate terms from a broad range of disciplines within linguistics and has helped a novice like me become familiar with them (if not an expert). It is expecially good at describing how the meanings of terms have changed over time, or how they are employed in different contexts or sub-fields of linguistics.