These new multimedia textbooks cover the phonology, morphology and syntax of varieties of English around the world. The set consists of four volumes which are sorted according to regions and accompanied by an interactive cd-rom. The articles, written by widely acclaimed specialists, provide concise and comprehensive information on the phonological, morphological and syntactic characteristics of each variety discussed. They are followed by exercises and study questions that can be used for classroom assignments as well as for self study in preparation for exams. The multimedia cd-rom contains sound samples, speech recordings, interactive and synchronized maps, an extensive bibliography on relevant research literature, and links to pertinent websites. Key features - include study questions and exercises that will involve students actively in the learning process - division into regions will allow teachers to focus onto specific areas - enhanced by a multimedia CD-ROM with a unique collection of speech recordings of English and interactive maps that allow either phonological or morphosyntactic (grammatical) comparisons - will be essential reading for those studying and teaching English linguistics and also invaluable for researchers requiring an update in the area.

Bernd Kortmann, University of Freiburg/Breisgau, Germany; Edgar W. Schneider, University of Regensburg, Germany; Kate Burridge,La Trobe University, Australia; Rajend Mesthrie, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Clive Upton, Leeds University, UK.