The authors have determined the phonon dispersion curves in GaAs at 12 K for wavevectors along the six directions Gamma -( Delta )-X-( Sigma )- Gamma -( Lambda )-L-X-(Z)-W-(Q)-L by high-precision inelastic neutron scattering. Various existing lattice-dynamical models are used to reproduce the experimental data. The relative merits and drawbacks of these models are discussed.