Glossaries & Dictionaries

Websites

Glossary of Linguistic Terms, a glossary by SIL

This is a glossary of linguistic terms that you are likely to come across throughout your studies. It is a useful website to use throughout your whole degree to keep track of key terms. If there are any terms you come across during your studies that need looking up this website is a valuable resource.

Glossary of English Grammar Terms, by UsingEnglish.com

This is another glossary of linguistic terms organised by grammatical function and topic. This glossary focuses more heavily on grammatical terms, rather than those linked to other areas such as phonetics and morphology. Like with the glossary by SIL, this is a useful website to use during your studies to look any terms you are not sure of.

Library Resources

The Oxford dictionary of English grammar (2nd Ed.)

Aarts, B. Chalker, S. and E. Weiner. (2014). The Oxford Dictionary of English Grammar. 2nd ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

This dictionary offers students a great way to look key terms up in a reliable way. It includes definitions for words from a wide range of linguistic areas, including morphology, phonology, and meaning. Most of the key terms you come across in the first year of your studies will be included in this book with a simple definition.

A dictionary of linguistics and phonetics (6th Ed.)

Crystal, D. (2008). A dictionary of linguistics and phonetics (6th Ed.) Malden, MA; Oxford: Blackwell Publishers.

This dictionary offers a greater variety of terms related to grammar and phonetics. In particular, some complex terms include diagrams to help students visualise the differences between related terms – for example ‘adjunction’. It is a valuable resource to assist students in their studies in SEL1027 in particular.

The concise Oxford dictionary of linguistics (3rd Ed.)

Matthews, P. H. (2014). The concise Oxford dictionary of linguistics. 3rd ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press

This dictionary includes over 3,250 entries that cover a wide range of technical terms in linguistics. This includes definitions for complex grammatical terms, phonetic features, phonological processes, and linguistic typology. It is more technical than the other dictionaries mentioned so it would be worth consulting this resource for definitions of more specific or complex terms that you come across in your studies.

Concise Oxford companion to the English language.

MacArthur, T & McArthur, R. (1998). Concise Oxford companion to the English language. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Note that the 2nd, more up to date edition from 2018 is available through the Oxford Reference Website.

This dictionary includes definitions of key terms from a wide range of areas of study in linguistics. It covers a lot of ground, including definitions for words related to slang, technology, Chomsky, Beowulf, and pidgins. It’s a useful resource to consult when studying more niche topics in linguistics, including international English, accents, and more complex phonology and syntax. Additionally, it does still include some of the more basic terms as well.

The Cambridge encyclopaedia of the English Language (2nd Ed.)

Crystal, D. (2003). The Cambridge encyclopaedia of the English Language (2nd Ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Crystal’s encyclopaedia covers a wide range of issues in English language. It offers a comprehensive introduction and overview of almost every topic you may come across, including language change, the history of English, English grammar and syntax, variation in English, and acquisition of English. The book has a heavy focus on English specifically rather than linguistics in general, but its wide range of topics make it a useful book to consult for almost any topic you study.