Linguistica

A Dictionary of Linguistics and Phonetics

A Dictionary of Linguistics and Phonetics 6th Edition. David Crystal

© 2008 David Crystal. ISBN: 978-1-405-15296-9

THE LANGUAGE LIBRARY

Series editor: David Crystal

The Language Library was created in 1952 by Eric Partridge, the great etymologist

and lexicographer, who from 1966 to 1976 was assisted by his co-editor Simeon

Potter. Together they commissioned volumes on the traditional themes of language

study, with particular emphasis on the history of the English language and on

the individual linguistic styles of major English authors. In 1977 David Crystal

took over as editor, and The Language Library now includes titles in many

areas of linguistic enquiry.

The most recently published titles in the series include:

Ronald Carter and Walter Nash Seeing Through Language

Florian Coulmas The Writing Systems of the World

David Crystal A Dictionary of Linguistics and Phonetics, Sixth Edition

J. A. Cuddon A Dictionary of Literary Terms and Literary Theory, Fourth Edition

Viv Edwards Multilingualism in the English-speaking World

Heidi Harley English Words

Geoffrey Hughes A History of English Words

Walter Nash Jargon

Roger Shuy Language Crimes

Gunnel Tottie An Introduction to American English

Ronald Wardhaugh Investigating Language

Ronald Wardhaugh Proper English: Myths and Misunderstandings about Language

A Dictionary of Linguistics

and Phonetics

Sixth Edition

David Crystal

© 1980, 1985, 1991, 1997, 2003, 2008 by David Crystal

BLACKWELL PUBLISHING

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9600 Garsington Road, Oxford OX4 2DQ, UK

550 Swanston Street, Carlton, Victoria 3053, Australia

The right of David Crystal to be identified as the Author of this Work has been asserted

in accordance with the UK Copyright, Designs, and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval

system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying,

recording or otherwise, except as permitted by the UK Copyright, Designs, and Patents

Act 1988, without the prior permission of the publisher.

Designations used by companies to distinguish their products are often claimed as

trademarks. All brand names and product names used in this book are trade names,

service marks, trademarks, or registered trademarks of their respective owners. The

publisher is not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book.

This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in

regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold on the understanding that the publisher

is not engaged in rendering professional services. If professional advice or other expert

assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought.

Sixth edition published 2008 by Blackwell Publishing Ltd

1 2008

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Crystal, David, 1941–

A dictionary of linguistics and phonetics / David Crystal. – 6th ed.

p. cm.

Revised ed. of: A dictionary of linguistics & phonetics. 5th ed. 2003.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 978-1-4051-5296-9 (hardcover : alk. paper) – ISBN 978-1-4051-5297-6

(pbk. : alk. paper)

1. Linguistics–Dictionaries. I. Crystal, David, 1941– Dictionary of linguistics

& phonetics. II. Title.

P29.C65 2007

410′.3–dc22

2007052260

A catalogue record for this title is available

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