No ordinary dictionary, David Crystal's Dictionary of Language includes not only descriptions of hundreds of languages literally from A to Z (Abkhaz to Zyryan) and definitions of literary and grammatical concepts, but also explanations of ...

The plan of the book is ingenious, the writing lively, the exposition clear, and the scholarly standard uncompromisingly high.” —J.M. Coetzee, winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature

In this exhilarating and often hilarious book, David Crystal examines why we devote so much time and energy to language games, how professionals make a career of them, and how young children instinctively take to them.

This book takes a long hard look at the text-messaging phenomenon and its effects on literacy, language, and society.

Words, Words, Words is all about the wonder of words. Drawing on a lifetime's experience, David Crystal explores language in all its rich varieties through words: the very building blocks of our communication.

The authors also review legal and ethical issues and show clinicians and caregivers how to mobilize community resources. The book concludes with 11 assessment guides and rating scales and an index.

The final volume in the classic trilogy on the English language combines the first history of English punctuation with a complete guide on how to use it.

A thorough review of the worldwide problem of language endangerment and death.

Written in a detailed and fascinating manner, this book is ideal for general readers interested in the English language.

David Crystal's A Dictionary of Linguistics and Phonetics has long been the standard single-volume reference for its field. Now available in its sixth edition, it has been revised and updated to reflect the latest terms in the field.