This work describes over 100 languages, including many minor languages such as Basque, Navajo and Zulu. The articles are ordered alphabetically and each has a standardized structure for ease of reference and features: a general historical and sociolinguistic introduction; the writing system; the sound system; and the grammatical system. To illustrate each language, a passage from the Gospel of St John is appended to the language description. Throughout the book the treatment is simple and factual and technical terminology is used only where necessary.