Dictionary of Linguistics and Phonetics

This dictionary is well designed and informative. However, I must admit that I find that the "Oxford Concise Dictionary of Linguistics" by P. H. Matthews is more likely to have the term I am looking for than this volume. I do not look up many phonetic terms, though, so any deficiency of Matthews in this regard vis a vis Crystal has not been an issue for me. I would recommend that students get Matthews' volume first, if they can't afford both volumes at once. Then get Crystal's book when you can, since more than one dictionary of linguistic terminology is always useful.

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.

The best general dictionary of linguitics on the market. I always find the words I'm looking for in this volume. Great reference book.

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.

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.