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Book Reviews


Pocket Phrasebook - French


Published by Langenscheidt

Reviewed by:

Richard Herdegen


There is no question that www.Langenscheidt.com is one of the websites one may want to visit prior to planning a venture, journey, trip or vacation. That is, Langenscheidt is a premier provider of maps, travel guides, foreign language dictionaries, teaching aids, language learning products and many other items directly related to travel.

The Langenscheidt Pocket Phrasebook of French contains more than 800 useful phrases in French as well as a comprehensive dictionary of more than 1,800 French words. It is as complete a pocket language-assist that one can obtain. Having said that, while the book offers about as much help as any written work on the subject can, French happens to be a language that frustrates almost all written reference works. That is, few French words are pronounced like they are written or how an English-speaking person would assume they would be.

The Pocket Phrasebook offers the very best phonetic pronunciation of the French words contained; however, on-the-spot reference might frustrate both the visitor and the French host while the user practices the newfound phonetic presentations. This is absolutely no criticism of the book but a reality that everyone must experience when attempting to speak French for the first time.

I suggest that users of this book spend some time reviewing its contents. Become familiar with the words and phrases but especially the phonetic pronunciations provided. If one has access to any audiotapes of French, this would also help the user become familiar with the sounds of the language. No one can become an immediate expert in French; however, practicing French pronunciation and listening to any French recording will greatly help in preparing for that first experience in using the new language.

Purchase and check out the other language books in the series at Langenscheidt.com.

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