Now in its second edition, this invaluable work is the most authoritative dictionary of linguistics of its kind available. The author, Peter Matthews, is professor of linguistics at Cambridge University and an established expert in the field. The dictionary contains over 3,150 entries coveringevery aspect of this multidisciplinary field, including sociolinguistics, language theory and history, language families, and major languages from all over the world (including major national/regional dialects), and key figures and ideas in linguistics.Fully revised and updated for the second edition, the dictionary now 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.Wide-ranging and accessible, this dictionary is 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.