Books in the The Language Library series

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.

Language Crimes tells the story of some of the remarkable criminal court cases in which Roger Shuy has served as a consultant or expert witness. These intriguing cases show how linguistic analysis can help the courts unravel the ambiguities of taped conversations used in evidence.

Explores the consequences of English as a global language and multilingualism as a social phenomenon. This book explores the extent of diversity in 'inner circle' English speaking countries (the UK, the USA, Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand) and examines language in the home, school, and the wider community.

This book is an account of the writing systems of the world from earliest times to the present. Its aim is to explore the complex ways in which writing systems relate to the language they depict. Writing, Coulmas contends, is not only the guide or garment of spoken language, but has a deep and lasting effect on the development of language itself.

Riddle : Why is a telescope like a bad excuse? Answer : Because anyone can see through it. The authors of this (laudatory adjective supplied by the publisher) book would like to help anyone -- but particularly students of English -- to 'seea through language, and also to 'see througha language.

English Words is a comprehensive and accessible introduction to the study of English words from a theoretically informed linguistic perspective.

This books explores why it is we believe what we believe about language, and why we persist in handing down from generation to generation a rag bag collection of fact and fantasy about language.

* Investigates the cultural and social factors that make American vocabulary unique * Offers a systematic treatment of word-formation in American English with up-to-date examples * Provides extensive coverage of pragmatics and grammatical features .

This book is intended for anyone with a serious interest in language, but particularly for students taking introductory courses in language and linguistics. It is not a catalogue of facts and theories but a book about ideas and issues.

In this carefully researched, thought-provoking book, Geoffrey Hughes examines the trajectory of political correctness and its impact on public life. Focusing on the historical, semantic, and cultural aspects of political correctness, it will intrigue anyone interested in this ongoing debate.

The next century will see more than half of the world's 6,000 languages become extinct, and most of these will disappear without being adequately recorded. Written by one of the leading figures in language documentation, this fascinating book explores what humanity stands to lose as a result.

In a world of rapid technological advancements, it can be easy to forget that writing is the original Information Technology, created to transcend the limitations of human memory and to defy time and space. The Writing Revolution picks apart the development of this communication tool to show how it has conquered the world.

* Includes a wealth of information and data on English spelling not available anywhere else * Features a complementary website with additional material at www. historyofenglishspelling.