Thai: Lonely Planet Phrasebook

Book Description

Thailand is the Land of Smiles. A grin shows companionship. A laugh shows forgiveness. But what if you need a second-class train ticket from Bangkok to Chiang Mai? Keep smiling - this phrasebook will show you the way.

DID YOU KNOW?
When people talk about the Thai language they are really referring to a Central Thai dialect that has succeeded in becoming the standard official language for the whole country. For this reason Thai is only spoken as a first language in the central provinces of the nation. As Thai is the official language of education, government and media it's basically understood from North to South although recent estimates suggest that less than half the population of Thailand speak and understand Thai fluently.

Customer Reviews:

Pocket Perfect.......2007-05-13

This is an excellent phrase book, easy to carry, easy to read and broken into easy to find section. Combined with a short language program this book carried me across Thailand comfortably. I mentione the language program because the pronunciation is a bit tricky to break down phonetically, altho Lonely Planet does a great job of it. I have used lonely planet phrase books for all of Asia and Northern Africa, but I must admit I use Rick Steve's phrase books for European travel. Lonely Planet Guide Books are also very good, especially for the bargain traveler.

Great.......2007-04-10

This book has several great features.
-It is small and easy to fit in a pocket, bag etc.
-It has the words written out in thai. Without hearing and practicing pronunciation I find it very hard to get the tones and accent right. When people give me a blank look I can just point. VERY helpful. Especially considering that Thai words written in the roman alphabet make no sense to Thai people.
-It covers all sorts of situations. Basic travel needs like getting around, buying things, to dealing with medical problems, and even to pick-up lines
-some of the situations are so absurd (in that the average person would know a lot more thai or be dealing with an english speaker before that would happen) that it makes a great conversation piece hanging around the hostel. "Oh, yeah, well I know how to say 'don't worry, it happens to lots of guys. Beat that!'

If you're not looking to actually learn thai, but just want some help getting around and trying not to be the Ugly American, then I recommend this book.

easy to use.......2007-03-31

I bought this book because it's small and you can carry it with you on your trips. it's easy to use and understand as well. great book if you're just vacationing and want to learn enough to get around the country.

Excellent!.......2007-03-28

The best part about this book is the pronunciation guide. Thai can be tricky with all the tones, this book made it very simple to understand. If anything the sex and drug sections can just be for entertainment. I tried out these phrases just for fun, never seriously used them. Good for a laugh. Several Thai people have asked me to send them a copy.

SOCIALLY IRRESPONSIBLE !!!.......2006-10-02

This book has a section called "What's your poison" which gives translations for several illegal drugs. It also describes how to ask for a clean syringe. Drugs are illegal in Thailand, but this book helps to promote their use by providing these translations.

Average customer rating:

not so great, useful however
The Only Way to Communicate
Disappointing
THIS BOOK IS JUST PLAIN WRONG!
Small size needs small expectations... I suppose

Lonely Planet Mongolian Phrasebook
Alan J.K. Sanders , and J. Bat-Ireediu
Manufacturer: Lonely Planet Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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Similar Items:

Lonely Planet Mongolia
Hearing Birds Fly: A Nomadic Year in Mongolia
Mongolian Dictionary and Phrasebook: Mongolian-English/English-Mongolian (Hippocrene Dictionary & Phrasebooks)
Mongolia Map
Colloquial Mongolian: The Complete Course for Beginners (Colloquial Series (CD))

ASIN: 086442308X

Book Description

This is the only Mongolian language guide available, with an extensive vocabulary, plenty of essential words and phrases, notes on pronunciation, culture and, for the more adventurous, grammar. Make your journey to this fascinating country complete with this useful language kit.

the only book available for travellers and language learners
extensive pronunciation and grammar chapters appropriate for language learners
excellent sections on food, with details on local cooking methods, food available and common dishes
cultural background information with tips on etiquette and customs
Cyrillic script throughout, with accompanying transliteration
comprehensive vocabulary
index and thumb tabs for quick reference

Customer Reviews:

not so great, useful however.......2007-09-09

I agree with the previous reviewers: the phonetic pronounciations given in the book are quite rough. However, as I had no idea of Mongolian language, showing the written cyrillic text was helpful and a basis for learning from natives during my trip.

The Only Way to Communicate.......2007-08-03

This book is worth its weight and more in gold. I depended on this book so much during my 2 month trip to Mongolia, traveling the road less travelled. Don't go to Mongolia without this.

Disappointing.......2007-07-09

In the past year I have spent 6 months in rural Mongolia. I had the Lonely Planet Guide to Mongolia and The Lonely Planet Mongolian Phrasebook. First off, the Guide to Mongolia is excellent, my copy is basically falling to pieces I used it so much.
I was less pleased with the Phrasebook. I have some concerns about the pronunciation guide as given by other reviewers. The use of the "schwa" in Mongolian could be better described. I found the section on restaurants very poor. In the area where I was menus were in Mongolian only and the phrasebook was useless trying to decipher the menu.The phrasebook would be enhanced if the vocabulary list included a Mongolian-English section. If you come across a Mongolian word that you want to understand the phrasebook is not much use.
In its favour, the book is cheap, portable and is written in an easy style.

THIS BOOK IS JUST PLAIN WRONG!.......2007-06-18

I went to Mongolia twice in the past year, and I live with a Mongolian woman full time who is a well educated journalist. If one had to rely on this book, one would be in serious trouble. First off, the phrase "sain bainuu?" which is used as "hello", if you pronounced it the way this book says, you would be way off, and no one would be able to understand you. I hear the phrase every day, spoken by native Mongolians, and it sounds more like "sen benno". The book says to say "sayn baynoo". What's up with that? And then the pronunciations for the Mongolian cyrillic that it gives are not correct. So you'd be trying to read something and thinking you were smart with your little book, and when you tried to say it, you'd never be right. So as far as translating a few basic, written words, this book could be helpful. But don't attempt to pronounce anything the way they have it written. I can't believe this is the "best" book out there on this subject! They need to rewrite the pronunciation section with the supervision of an actual Mongolian speaker!

Small size needs small expectations... I suppose.......2006-02-22

This little phrasebook is not too bad... however, in some of the places cyrillic text is missing (can be good to have).
Missing some of very basic words as for example "head", "face" and others.
Missing also some shorter explanation about the persian script that was used mostly before, but in lot of places even today.

But again... if you have no clue at all about Mongolian language, this little book is pretty good to have.

Lonely Planet Malay Phrasebook (Malay Phrasebook, 2nd Ed)

Average customer rating:

Its OK for basic phrases
Great phrasebook! Easy to use and accurate translations!
A few odd phrases but still useful
How to win Malay Friends

Lonely Planet Malay Phrasebook (Malay Phrasebook, 2nd Ed)
Susan Keeney
Manufacturer: Lonely Planet Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The Rough Guide to Malaysia, Singapore & Brunei 5 (Rough Guide Travel Guides)

ASIN: 1740591755

Book Description

Flat on you back on the hotel bed, you ponder the arrow on the ceiling. Does it point past the minarets to the babbling pasar malam, fragrant with fruit and loud with language? Will it lead you to the shadowy artists of wayang kulit, or to your guide through underwater paradise? Does it prophesise a meeting with orang-utans in the unrivalled jungle beauty of Borneo? If you meet them, what on this lonely planet will you say?

get your tongue around the flavours of five cultures in one vibrant country
shop up a storm and bargain with the best of them
dive, bike, brave or hike the wilds - the vocab's all here
cover yourself when it comes to cultural differences
find a phrase for every festival
new edition with transliterations, grammar guide and in-depth dictionary

Customer Reviews:

Its OK for basic phrases.......2007-02-25

This little guide gives you the basics of words and phrases - but I dont think it would give you the ability to hold more than a very simple "Where is ..." , "Hello, my name is ... " sort of conversation with anyone.

My partner grew up in Malaysia and she has spotted a few errors in the meanings given to some words - but overall its pretty accurate in the translation. One thing I did like was the Malay/English and English/Malay dictionary that is included. It is pretty comprehensive for basic words and you can sort of get by in translating simple sentences both ways. More useful for written material than for speech I find - but with a bit of thought you can use it to work out the general meaning of things eg a newspaper story, etc.

I do think though that if anyone buys this book and feels that it will help them converse, they will be disappointed. I think its a useful starting point but to develop converational skills you really need to be talking with a Malay-speaking person.

Great phrasebook! Easy to use and accurate translations!.......2002-06-16

I got this phrasebook as a gift. I was skeptical at first because of its child-like appearance, but once I started looking through it I found it to be amazing. No other Malay book has the detail that this one does. With short paragraphs at the beginnings of each section, it ensures the best understanding of the culture. The authors are very knowledgeable and knows their Malay. I would recommend this reference book to anyone who is even considering a trip to Malaysia or is interested in the culture.

A few odd phrases but still useful.......2000-12-16

I'm from Penang and I got this book for my American husband for our second trip back to Malaysia. The first thing that made me suspicious of its credibility was the cover photo. What is described as the "durian at the market" looks much more like a pile of nangka (jackfruit). Content-wise, I found some odd phrases in the book. "Plain water" is translated as "air putih" instead of "air kosong", "corner" becomes "pojok", which I have never heard of. "Sudut" would have made more sense to me. "Punggung" translates into "back" (anatomically), which I believe is correct in Indonesian, but would have made many Malaysians I know snicker at the reference to one's rear end. Perhaps these words are more common in parts of Malaysia I am not familiar with such as the east coast or Sabah & Sarawak. If this is the case, it would have been nice to have more than one translation for a word, although probably not practical for a quick reference guide.

In any case, Malaysians are easily impressed with foreigners who speak Malay, so while I may find fault with it, there is much in this little book which visitors would find useful. I particularly like the little tips on Malaysian culture, grammar and food. For those who plan to stay awhile, try the book-and-tapes combo of Survival Malay, and for cultural insight, Heidi Munan's Culture Shock! is a delight even for homesick Malaysians.

How to win Malay Friends.......2000-06-09

This book is extremely useful especially if you are outside the main cities such as Malacca or Kuala Lumpur. Malay people are very self effacing and your use of the phrases in this book will really open doors. Also, the social interaction hints to proper behavior are very good and useful too.

Southeast Asia: Lonely Planet Phrasebook

Average customer rating:

Southeast Asia: Lonely Planet Phrasebook
San San Hnin Tun , and Lonely Planet Phrasebooks
Manufacturer: Lonely Planet Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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To Asia with Love: A Connoisseurs' Guide to Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam.

ASIN: 1741046327

Average customer rating:

Indonesian: Lonely Planet Phrasebook
Laszlo Wagner , and Lonely Planet Phrasebooks
Manufacturer: Lonely Planet Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1740592972

Average customer rating:

Nicely done, but fairly useless

Vietnamese: Lonely Planet Phrasebook
Ben Handicott , and Lonely Planet Phrasebooks
Manufacturer: Lonely Planet Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Conversational Vietnamese: Learn to Speak and Understand Vietnamese with Pimsleur Language Programs (Instant Conversation)

ASIN: 1740592417

Customer Reviews:

Nicely done, but fairly useless.......2007-09-10

The book is well put together, but it's impossible for an English speaker to understand the various intonations used for vowels -- a book with an accompanying CD would be much more useful. Also, the type is so small that those of use over 40 need a magnifying glass to read it!

Average customer rating:

Useful and helpful...but not as comprehensive as other Lonely Planet Phrasebooks

Lonely Planet Burmese Phrasebook
Vicki Bowman , and San San Hnin Tun
Manufacturer: Lonely Planet Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Myanmar Country Map: (Burma) (Periplus Travel Maps) (Periplus Travel Maps)
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Letters from Burma

ASIN: 1740590481

Book Description

Cross-cultural communication is easy in Myanmar - a smile will do the trick. But just a few words of Burmese will reward you with an enthusiastic reception. Test your bargaining skills at the many colourful markets or try your hand at karaoke Burmese-style. Get where you're going as you tour on a trishaw or chat with the locals as you party at a pwe. Whatever you choose, you won't be stuck for words!

get script savvy to make sense of signs and menus
read up on etiquette - don't sit with you back to a Buddha - get in sync with the seasons of the Buddhist lunar calendar
know your noodles - from mohinga to moun-ti
find the right word with the comprehensive dictionary

Customer Reviews:

Useful and helpful...but not as comprehensive as other Lonely Planet Phrasebooks.......2007-05-28

Here's what it comes down to: If you're going to Myanmar/Burma and don't have a phrase book, then get this one for yourself and tell everyone else you're going with to get it!

I lived in Myanmar for a while and found this quite useful, especially back when I knew only a few words of Burmese. I would stumble through and try to pronounce the text and fail miserably (though not the fault of the book as they do a good job trying to discuss pronounciation).

Then I would point to the word or phrase in the book. The person I'm "talking" with would then stare at the page for a moment, see the Burmese script, then understand what I was trying to say.

Now that I can do basic conversation and basic reading/writing, I've found it to be a good resourse to keep on hand.

So, if you're going to Myanmar/Burma, take this phrasebook along, you won't regret it, even if you do have to point to the text because of your poor pronounciation!!

My only complaint is that there were times where it seemed additional phrases should be included in this type of phrasebook to make it as comprehensive as other ones.

By the way, just about everyone I showed this phrasebook to wanted a copy so they could learn more English. You might even want to order a few extra for your trip to give away.

Lonely Planet Lao Phrasebook (Lonely Planet Lao Phrasebook)

Average customer rating:

Helpful little book
transliteration makes lao even more complex than it is
Lao Phrasebook
Nifty little phrasebook
It's a very through pocket book that can guide you in Laos

Lonely Planet Lao Phrasebook (Lonely Planet Lao Phrasebook)
Joe Cummings
Manufacturer: Lonely Planet Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Lao for Beginners
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A Short History of Laos: The Land in Between (Short History of Asia series, A)
Lao-English/English-Lao Dictionary and Phrasebook (Dictionary & Phrasebook)

ASIN: 1740591682

Book Description

Let language be your guide in the land of a million elephants! From the vital flow of the Mekong to the fertile Bolaven Plateau, words will be the life of your travels in Laos as you make those conversational connections. In the musical voice of this tonal language, you'll forever be singing the praises of Laos and its people.

talk yourself into a Lao stupa
get the goss as you ponder the Plain of Jars
verify vocabulary with the comprehensive dictionary
grab a guide and hit the highlands for real Lao coffee
wondering about wats - ask the locals yourself
develop an admirable accent with the practical pronunciation guide

Customer Reviews:

Helpful little book.......2007-05-15

Besides my Lao Dictionary, this is *the* Lao book I carry around daily with me. I wish I could post a photo of my worn out dog-eared copy. I agree w/ the one reviewer who said the transliteration is a little wacky, however the Lao script is generally "spot on". (I'll mention transliteration with Lao is a less than exact science) It's one of the few if only books outside of the books attempting to teach Lao that handle things like Grammar.. very handy for the traveler. It also throws some Lao culture in for good measure to make sure you don't do something offensive to the local people. Great book, worth the money and besides... it's so small you can fit it in your pack/bag pretty easy.

transliteration makes lao even more complex than it is.......2003-12-04

The Lonely Planet phrasebooks are usually a great help travelling around the world. This one however turned out to be creating more problems than solving them. The transliteration is so weird that you actually have to learn two new languages before pronouncing anything closely right. I tried the book with several english speaking lao persons and lao speaking native english speakers while travelling around the country and all had problems with the transliteration. Nothing is like you would naturally pronounce it. For example who would say Khoj if you see Khawy?
Helpful is the lao bit so you can point, in the end its how I got around. A pity, there are much better transliterations around.

Lao Phrasebook.......2002-03-04

Very good book, especially for someone that don't understand a lot of English. They could always use as reference anywhere they go. Again, good book and excellent choice for someone who wants
to learn English. [reasonable] price and great book, what can I say.

Nifty little phrasebook.......2001-02-16

The Lonely Planet phrasebooks have come a long way since the days when the foreign script portion was merely hand-written in the space beside the romanized portion. The Lao phrasebook is representative of that new generation, and it is pretty impressive. Along with all the usual categories of phrases one would expect to see (greetings, directions, lodging, food, shopping, health, numbers, dates, emergencies, etc.), the splendidly informative introduction provides an interesting background on the spoken language and script, followed by a great section on pronunciation and grammar. There are interesting cultural notes dispersed throughout the book, and a vocabulary list at the end. Its compact size makes it ideal to carry in one's pocket. On the down side the marking system used in the romanized portion to indicate Lao tones is a little confusing and under-explained, but all-in-all a great little phrasebook.

It's a very through pocket book that can guide you in Laos.......1999-02-12

This is an excellent book for those who wish to travel to Laos, or even those who wish to begin learning lao in small steps. I purchased this book in order to learn the language at a quicker and more simplified pace. It contains not only basic phrases that one might need to know in order to conduct ones self in the main parts of Laos but also be able to learn some of the country's culture as well. Even though studying an entirely new language can be laborious, Mr. Cummings has made it easy for anyone to be bilingual, even multi-lingual.

Lonely Planet Tibetan Phrasebook (Tibetan Phrasebook, 2nd ed)

Average customer rating:

Lacking a few things
Invaluable When Traveling Individually in Tibet
Probably the best you'll find for what you need
Oh, what a great little book!
Excellent

Lonely Planet Tibetan Phrasebook (Tibetan Phrasebook, 2nd ed)
Sandup Tsering , and Melvyn C. Goldstein
Manufacturer: Lonely Planet Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Lonely Planet Tibet
Learning Practical Tibetan
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ASIN: 0864423462

Book Description

Stepping out onto the Barkhor circuit, you're swept along by a sea of chanting pilgrims. You go with the flow as the intriguing procession winds its way clockwise. You peer beyond the whirl of spinning prayer wheels and swirling prayer flags - is that the Jamkhang you can see? Turning to your neighbour on the circuit, you say…

This pocket companion is full of phrases to help you out in any situation — not just discovering Buddhist temples. You'll be talking your way around Tibet in no time.

master menu vocab and script
read up on festival rites and rituals — from incense-burning to cham dances
get a handle on Tibetan grammar and pronunciation
find your way around — by pedicab, taxi or bus
take your understanding of Tibetan body language to higher plains

Customer Reviews:

Lacking a few things.......2006-07-28

I've recently returned from a few weeks in Tibet. One of my group had this phrase book and we tried to use it to speak with our driver. A few things: First, a pronunciation guide would have helped. Second, we found some common words missing, or at least were not able to find them the way the book is laid out. We ended up drawing pictures on Post-Its to communicate with our driver and learn words from him in this way.

Invaluable When Traveling Individually in Tibet.......2006-02-22

I've been to Tibet five times now, and each time I have carried my now well worn copy of this phrasebook with me. Without it, I'd be at a real loss. It is has proven wonderful for communicating with locals - not only in Lhasa, but also in far more remote parts of the country. It is safe to say that using this phrasebook has enhanced my experiences in Tibet many times over.

If I did have one criticism of it, it would be that while it does have a brief English to Tibetan Dictionary in back, it would greatly benefit from a Tibetan to English Dictionary as well. So many times Tibetans have picked up the phrasebook from me and searched in vain for a word that they are trying to find.

But that criticism is minor. If you're traveling in Tibet on your own, this phrasebooks is a must. Depending on how long you're going to be in the country, you may want to consider the LP Mandarin Phrasebook as well.....

Probably the best you'll find for what you need.......2005-12-23

As a small language book that is only meant to give you the basics this is a great book.

A warning though... This book attempts to educated the reader in a "standard Tibetan language". They mention the three main dialects of U-tsang, Amdo, and Kham and claim that great interaction between them is leading to this standardization. It has not be my experience nor have I seen other scholars even mention the existence of such a standardization. From what I have learned the three dialects are quite different to the point of mutual misunderstanding. I do not feel that this book prepared me to speak Amdo, nor would it prepare anyone else to speak either Amdo or Kham. If that is your goal, good luck finding any book that can do that. But, for most people this is irrelevant. Most interaction with Tibetans by Westerners is with central U-tsang Tibetans. I never thoought about it before, but most of the Tibetan exiles are central/U-tsang.

Upon further consultation with some Tibetans I have come to the conclusion that some mishmash of the dialects does exist in the Tibetan diaspora in India. So this book would be more useful there. Keep in mind though that the original exodus into India consisted mostly of Central Tibetans and so this new amalgamation likely favors that dialects sensibilities.

Oh, what a great little book!.......2005-05-29

I just love this little book. I haven't got to travel to tibet as of yet, but I do attend teachings at a Drikung Kagyu monastery where I interact with a few native tibetans. I must admit, I usually chicken out when it comes to trying to really speak. But it is soooo fun to be able to find words and phrases that I already know from practices and be able to see them in other usage.

A terrific book! Ok, one thing, the print, especially the tibetan script is tiny, but then there is so much info crammed in this pocket-sized book, who can really complain. if you have a hard time with little print, throw a little reading magnifier strip in your pocket with it :)

Excellent.......2003-05-28

My main objective was learning to speak some Tibetan on a conversational level, and not just a traveler's level. The book teaches the writitng system and enough grammar to be able to correctly speak Tibetan as we speak everyday English. Nothing too deep and technical, but nothing too brief. The small book is absolutely jam-packed with words and phrases. It suits the need of both the traveler and one who wants a basic conversational ability in Tibetan. It's value exceeds the price greatly!

Lonely Planet Vietnamese Phrasebook with Two-Way Dictionary

Average customer rating:

Bad for travellers, bad for Vietnamese learners.
An Appropriate Title
Decent phrasebook, but missing a couple of things...
watch out
Excellent Phrase Book

Lonely Planet Vietnamese Phrasebook with Two-Way Dictionary
Thinh Hoang , Quynh-Tram Trinh , and Nguyen Xuan Thu
Manufacturer: Lonely Planet Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Lonely Planet Vietnam
The Rough Guide to Vietnam 4 (Rough Guide Travel Guides)

ASIN: 0864426615

Book Description

The most enjoyable and rewarding way to get to know a place is by meeting the local people. Vietnamese is a vibrant language and even a little knowledge will help visitors gain an understanding of Vietnamese culture as well as make many friends along the way!

all the essential day-to-day words and phrases, plus vocabulary for making conversation, understanding festivals and local dates, and sightseeing
comprehensive pronunciation and grammar chapters
cultural tips
thumb tabs and index for fast reference

Customer Reviews:

Bad for travellers, bad for Vietnamese learners........2004-05-28

I've been studying Vietnamese for 4 months and can speak it quite fluently now, I bought this book before I started learning anything, it was just too difficult to use for those who don't know Vietnamese at all (most travellers). Now because I know more Vietnamese, I tried to re-read this book and I still find this quite useless. The conversation are organized by topics rather than by alphabetical order so it limits yourself from point and choose and talk with Vietnamese with the same kinds of topics again and again. Very poorly designed, almost useless and very disappointing, probably one of the worst LP phrasebooks on the market (I have used the Hindi/Urdu, Persian, French and German before). Vocabulary list is not as comprehensive as the Rough Guide, the tiny (*tiny!) dictionary at the back doesn't even have the word "spoon"! This phrasebook is, however, much more popular than the Rough Guide because of the "reputation" and popularity of the Lonely Planet.

An Appropriate Title.......2003-01-19

As an individual who has spent about 2 years learning Vietnamese I believe this to be a very good book. The comments of the previous two reviewers should be dismissed (as one did not read the book and the other is already fluent). As long as you understand the setup and reasoning for the layout of a phrasebook this book will not dissappoint anyone. Unlike a dictionary where words are alphabetically listed, this book has similar items arranged (i.e. foods, health, animals). If you went to Vietnam and needed a book to take with you this is the only one I would recommend. It will allow you to survive; and, if you had trouble pronouncing words you could also point to the phrase you were trying to say (this of course would only work if the other individual was literate). If you are planning on learning the language at all (other than for a brief trip) then I'd strongly recommend getting other books (Elementary Vietnamese is good, but Colloquial Vietnamese is awful).

Decent phrasebook, but missing a couple of things..........2002-12-29

I don't speak Vietnamese to rate the translations and phrasing used in this pocket-sized guide, but I have used a number of Lonely Planet phrasebooks for languages that I do know more about. This guide follows the format of those other guides, broken down into sections by situation, with a 2-way dictionary at the back and a pronounciation guide at the beginning of the book.

Two notable omissions. There is not a section on "love and dating" as there is in every other LP Phrasebook I've used.

Also, unlike the Russian phrasebook, which contains the english phrase, a phonetic pronounciation, and then the actual spelling, this book does not contain a phonetic spelling. For a language likely to be as difficult as Vietnamese for native English speakers and considering that such speakers are the book's target audience, phonetic spellings (indicating inflection as well) would help a lot.

Still, a decent phrasebook as LP ones tend to be.

watch out.......2002-09-28

Glancing through several pages of the book, I was very unimpressed. I am fluent in both the northern and southern dialects of Vietnamese; this book looks like it will help you with neither. The diagram and explanation of tones is simply incorrect. The pronunciation guide is also confusing and imprecise. Save yourself the money and time. Keep looking. For intermediate-level students of Vietnamese, I would recommed "Colloquial Vietnamese" by John Moore and Tuan Duc Vuong. For beginners, I hear that "Elementary Vietnamese" by Binh Ngo is a good bet.

Excellent Phrase Book.......2002-07-14

An nice, small companion for those needing a quick reference. Its dimensions ensure that that the book will fit neatly into a pocket or pack, and frequently needed phrases are easy to locate. This reference guide also includes a Vietnamese-English / English-Vietnamese dictionary, though the selections are rather slim. A little more information on pronounciation would be ideal, but as this book is geared more for the traveller, the basics are well addressed.

Phrases are collected according to what you think you'll need to ask - so you'll find a section with phrases and words for ordering food, for going to a doctor, and for talking to locals. As a tool to help you learn some vocabulary, there are small crossword puzzles...which are more of a nice afterthought than something really useful.

Definitely not exhaustive by any stretch of the imganation, but well worth the money if you need a quick reference guide.

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