From Abkhaz to Zulu: A Comparative Look at World Language Guides

This article compares and contrasts five guides to world languages aimed at academic libraries and researchers. It discusses each title's contents, features, and unique approach and recommends each book for a particular purpose and/or audience. Titles included are SIL International's Ethnologue: Languages of the World (2011); George Campbell's Compendium of the World’s Languages (2000); Andrew Dalby's Dictionary of Languages (1998); Jane Garry and Carl Rubino's Facts About the World Languages (2000); and Bernard Comrie's The World's Major Languages (2009).