Utilizing a historical and international approach, this valuable two-volume resource makes even the more complex linguistic issues understandable for the non-specialized reader. Containing over 500 alphabetically arranged entries and an expansive glossary by a team of international scholars, the Encyclopedia of Linguistics explores the varied perspectives, figures, and methodologies that make up the field.

The Encyclopedia contains four types of entries to thoroughly discuss the different elements of linguistics.

1. Topic essays cover a wide range of theoretical issues and highlight the main problems discussed in the relevant sub-disciplines of linguistics.
2. Sketches of individual languages provide readers with a broad phenomenological and historical overview. To capture the variability of language, each entry concentrates on the particular characteristics that differentiate the language (or language family) from others.
3. Essays on countries and regions highlight linguistics issues specific to a given country or geographic region. These regional essays concentrate on the political and sociological aspects of linguistic diversity, language planning, education, etc.
4. Biographical essays focus on the scholarship and contributions to the theoretical development of linguistics and present brief biographic details.