Oxford-Paravia Italian Dictionary

Book Description

The second edition of the Oxford-Paravia Italian Dictionary is a major new edition, offering the most complete and up-to-date coverage of Italian available. With hundreds of new words in each language, it covers all the latest terms such as aid worker, climate change, and life coach. The
7,000 most frequent words in Italian are highlighted to help you learn essential vocabulary.

Also new to this edition are cultural notes, providing lively and interesting information on life in Italy, and a guide to correspondence, which includes sample letters, emails, resumes, and help with text messaging. There are notes throughout the A-Z text to warn of politically sensitive
vocabulary, alert you to key differences between Italian and English, and to show how words such as with and before are used in different contexts.

This edition retains such popular features as quick-reference verb tables, and lists of vocabulary on topics such as seasons, rivers, sports, and more. It is an essential reference tool for all serious students of Italian at the college level and beyond, and for those who need an authoritative and
comprehensive guide to Italian.

Customer Reviews:

Great tool for English & Italian.......2007-04-28

It's not only a great dictionary for translation but also a very good source of information about meanings and usage of the language. This is a must have for every italian student.

great dictionary with many features.......2007-03-18

This dictionary is a great resource, covering contemporary English and Italian. The word list and examples in the Italian-English section are backed by the work involved in preparing the Italian dictionaries edited by Tullio De Mauro and published by Paravia in 2000. It is matched with the Oxford University Press word list and examples. In both Italian-English and English-Italian sections, a triangle marks the 7,000 core words of the language. The most frequent 3,000 words are marked with a black triangle and the next most frequent 4,000 words are marked with a white triangle. The explanatory chart just inside the cover is an easy to find and use resource, provided in English behind the front cover and in Italian at the back cover. The middle section has many useful examples, such as "Condoglianze (formal)" in an English format on the left page and "Condolences: formal" in an Italian format on the right page.

My wife and I are taking Italian classes to prepare for a summer trip. It's a big, heavy book, so we don't move it from the desk where we work. We refer to this book frequently as we progress through our class.

Average customer rating:

good stuff
Pocket Oxford Italian Dictionary's competitors are noteworthy
Useable, but....

Pocket Oxford Italian Dictionary

Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0198614365

Book Description

Authoritative and up to date, this third edition of the Pocket Oxford Italian Dictionary covers over 90,000 words and phrases, and 120,000 translations of contemporary Italian and English, with brand-new words in each language. But this is more than just a dictionary, and also includes sections on Grammar, Culture, and Communication. The grammar supplement provides full information on all the key points of Italian and English grammar, including verb tables for quick reference. Language is now studied in the context of its culture, so the existing culture section has been revised and expanded to offer lively and useful information on life in the Italian-speaking world - everything from political institutions to how weddings are celebrated. The communication supplement gives help with all types of correspondence, including example letters, emails, CVs, and new help with text messaging. The Pocket Oxford Italian Dictionary is the perfect reference for student and adult learners needing an affordable, portable dictionary.

Customer Reviews:

good stuff.......2007-06-13

i must say that i`m a beginner in italian, but somehow i couldn`t find good polish-italian dictionary, so i chose this one. it`s really good tool.

Pocket Oxford Italian Dictionary's competitors are noteworthy.......2006-08-14

I'm giving this 3rd ed. of the Pocket Oxford Italian Dictionary 5-stars because it is an excellent concise dictionary. N.B. the Pocket Oxford's competitors in the concise category -- the Webster's New World Italian Dictionary (ISBN-10: 0139536396) and the Collins Concise Italian Dictionary (ISBN-10: 0060787325) -- are just as good -- if not better -- depending on individual preferences for format and extras.

"Pocket" is a real misnomer -- it's approx. the same size as the Webster's and the Collins Concise, none of which will fit in your pocket. I imagine they might have named it Concise Oxford Italian Dictionary if Oxford did not offer the Concise Oxford Paravia Italian Dictionary (read more below). If any feature were to set this "Pocket" apart, it would be its much more detailed bilingual culture guide in the middle of the book ("Italian traditions, festivals, and holidays"; "A-Z of Italian life and culture"; "Letter-writing"). The Collins Concise has cultural note entries spread throughout its pages and "Italian in Action" in the back of the book (Contents: Sentence builder; Correspondance; Fax; Email; Telephone); unlike this Pocket Oxford, the Collins lacks a bilingual text-messaging guide; the Webster's has no cultural or grammar notes save for a brief verb guide, but is so detailed in its entries that it doesn't need to compete in these categories.

One review here laments this "Pocket" Oxford's lack of pronunciation guidelines in the Italian section. "Pocket" has a pronunciation guide in the front of the book. Italian is relatively easy to pronounce -- after memorizing the fairly simple rules, most of the difficulty lies in knowing which syllable is stressed in a word. The rules of stress may be more difficult to master, though they come in time, and this "Pocket" has stress notation WITHIN the headwords listed in the Italian section, as does the Collins Concise; the Webster's lists the stress in an IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) form in brackets after the initial headword. Because Italian pronunciation is generally straightforward, this means that the word in brackets often matches the exact spelling of the headword, though with the stress notation added. The Collins Concise avoids redundancy by noting IPA translation only for those Italian words it considers more difficult to pronounce.

The very basic grammar in this "Pocket" Oxford is, in my opinion, more useful than the "Italian in Action" section at the back of the Collins Concise. The Webster's has a very brief -- though useful in a jam -- few pages on Italian verbs and irregular English verbs, though (again) what Webster's lacks in grammar guidance it more than makes up for in detailed entries. Most students tend to use a separate grammar guide, anyway, as most in-dictionary guides leave much to be desired. [See Harrap's French and English Dictionary (2004; ISBN-10: 0071440690; $11.95!) for an exemplary in-dictionary grammar. It's also the best concise French-English dictionary available.]

(An excellent -- if brief -- slim, portable grammar is: Oxford Italian Grammar & Verbs / Colin McIntosh (2002; ISBN-10: 0198603819)

Webster's detailed entries make it an outstanding concise, though it was published in 1985 (reprint 1992). Collins Concise has many neologisms of the last 20 years, and is in two-color format (blue headwords/black text), making the pages easier to scan. Collins Concise is generally not as detailed in its entries as the Webster's, though generally more detailed than this "Pocket."

If you want to buy an Oxford Italian dictionary, go for the Concise Oxford Paravia Italian Dictionary (2003; ISBN-10: 0198607695) . The listing here on amazon describes it as having 175,000 words and phrases and 290,000 translations. I own it and I tell you it is the finest Concise Italian-English dictionary on the market, the only "problem" being it's heavier (hardcover) weight -- it's not as portable as the (paperbacks) Webster's or Collins Concise, but if you don't care about a bit more weight in your zaino, then escort this beauty to class.

The Oxford Paravia [Unabridged] Italian Dictionary, SECOND EDITION (2006) -- available here at amazon -- is the finest unabridged bilingual on the market.

N.B. If you find all of these features extraneous and just want a very portable, inexpensive It-Eng dictionary, go for the durable vinyl-flexi-cover Oxford Italian Minidictionary (3rd ed., 2005, ISBN-10: 0198610424; $7.50) or the Collins [Gem] Italian Dictionary in two-color format (7th ed., 2006, ISBN-10: 0007126247; $6.95). They are both pocket size, if chubby. Both have phrasebooks for travelers/students and certainly more vocabulary than a standard phrasebook! They both appear to have as many entries as (if not more than) the less-durable, newsprint (quick to yellow and stink) dictionaries in the $5 to $10 price range. Both minidictionaries are printed on better -- though not that much -- quality paper than the "newsprints." Newsprint cheapies are probably produced as a cheaper alternative for textbook bundle packages sold to university bookstores. Don't waste your money on them unless you've been "bundled" and have no choice.

IN SUMMARY:

An inexpensive, durable flexi-vinyl-cover, not-stinky-newsprint minidictionary with travelers phrasebook for students who are just getting through a 2-year requirement and have no interest in continuing their studies

Collins Concise Italian Dictionary or Pocket Oxford Italian Dictionary for 2-year students who aren't sure they will continue and don't want to carry the heavier Oxford Paravia Concise around, and may want the two-color format of the Collins and the grammar features and cultural commentary the Webster's doesn't offer

Webster's or Oxford Paravia Concise Italian Dictionary for students who want meaty entries; between these two, Webster's is less expensive, lighter and much more flexible than the hardcover Concise Oxford Paravia, but, though very detailed in its entries, is not as loaded as the C-O-P and lacks the C-O-P's excellent extras.

Dedicated students of the Italian language will likely buy the Webster's to take to class and the C-O-P to study with from room-to-room at home, as the (unabridged) Oxford Paravia is so heavy that you probably won't want to lift it off your desk or dictionary stand.

Useable, but...........2004-11-15

It's useable, but I wish it had the pronunciations for the Italian words. It has pronunciations for the English words, so why not the ones for Italian? The verb tables could be more thorough. There are better Italian dictionaries out there, but for the price, it's not bad at all.

Concise Oxford-Paravia Italian Dictionary

Average customer rating:

great help
Excellent Dictionary- Poor cover
Review from a 3rd year student of the Italian language.
The Most Useful Italian-English Dictionary

Concise Oxford-Paravia Italian Dictionary

Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0198607695

Book Description

This new title from the celebrated Italian publisher Paravia, in association with Oxford University Press, is derived from the landmark Oxford-Paravia Italian Dictionary, published in 2001. It provides authoritative, up-to-the-minute coverage of over 175,000 words and phrases and 290,000 translations, making it the most authoritative Concise Italian Dictionary available. The dictionary also offers detailed advice on grammar and usage, as well as an extensive guide to correspondence that includes over 100 sample letters and CVs.

Customer Reviews:

great help.......2006-08-22

for people serious about italian, this dictionary is the best you can get with everything you'll need

Excellent Dictionary- Poor cover.......2006-05-11

I recently bought this dictioanry, it's very good and complete. The picture shown on Amazon though is misleading, it does not clearly indicate it is bilingual, in fact I bought it thinking it was monolingual- I should have guessed as the cover reads : Italian and not Italiano, but anyway, there's no indication of the fact.

Review from a 3rd year student of the Italian language........2006-03-11

I am a 3rd year student of the Italian language, and this dictionary is the best I've seen yet. There are over 2500 pages with literal and colloquial translations. I highly recommend it.

The Most Useful Italian-English Dictionary.......2003-05-28

Of the several large Italian-English dictionaries I own (some purchased in Italy), this one most frequently has just the word or expression I am looking for. It is particularly rich in sense indicators and has many Americanisms, despite its British-Italian origin. It's not as comprehensive as some of the others (published by Garzanti or Zanichelli, for instance), but it is the first big dictionary I turn to if a handier paperback fails me. Beware, however, there are numerous lumping errors in the codes referring to the model verb tables at the back of the book (where you are referred to a verb conjugated almost-but-not-quite like the verb in question).

My next dictionary--if the Paravia comes up short--is the recent bilingual dictionary published by Hoepli in Italy (Grande dizionario di inglese, edited by Fernando Picchi, ISBN 8820331020). It gives lots of grammar help of the kind usually found only in monolingual dictionaries written for Italians.

Update 9/18/06: The HarperCollins Sansoni Italian Unabridged Dictionary, Second Edition, is now a worthy competitor to the Oxford Paravia. These two are quite equivalent with minor differences of emphasis. Amazon has various listings for different editions of this dictionary. Look for the 2005 edition with blue headwords (ISBN 0060817747). Also, be aware that the second edition of the Oxford Paravia is due out shortly (ISBN 0199297754).

Average customer rating:

The Best Small Italian-English Dictionary
SMALL, BUT MIGHTY
compact and colorful
great pocket reference
Kudos to this hand-sized dictionary!

The Oxford Color Italian Dictionary

Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0198602510

Amazon.com

Finally, an Italian dictionary that understands the concept of eye strain. It seems like a simple enough idea, but the addition of color for key vocabulary items makes this dictionary a pleasure to use. There are more than 50,000 words and phrases with more than 70,000 translations, and all the headwords plus their derivatives are printed in blue for maximum clarity. A dictionary for everyone, the business, computing, and current-affairs vocabulary is rigorously up-to-date, there are full verb tables for both English and Italian, and thousands of idiomatic examples are drawn from real speech, providing the best English and Italian dictionary money can buy. --Stephanie Gold

Book Description

The Oxford Colour Italian Dictionary offers wide-ranging coverage, including over 50,000 words and phrases and over 70,000 translations. Covering the vocabulary the user really needs, it includes the newest terminology from areas such as business, computing, and current affairs. It provides
thousands of examples drawn from real speech and written sources, coverage of idiomatic phrases, as well as pronunciation guidance and full verb tables.

Customer Reviews:

The Best Small Italian-English Dictionary.......2003-05-28

This excellent small dictionary is up-to-date, has a fair number of Americanisms, and is easy on the eye. The blue highlights really do help you find the various senses of the words more readily. If you grow out of this one, move up to the big Oxford-Paravia dictionary, which www.Amazon.com sells at an outstanding price. (No, I don't work for www.Amazon.com, but I AM a maven of Italian-English teaching materials.)

SMALL, BUT MIGHTY.......2003-01-18

This mini Italian dictionary is versatile. It is compact and up-to-date. Every word it translated is well-defined. Even special entries on both Italian slangs and culture were included.
It is a handy companion that one can depend on while travelling or studying. Users will appreciate how it conjugated many of the irregular verbs that are used in contemporary Italian.
It is a valuable pocket reference for learners and travellers alike.

compact and colorful.......2001-12-02

This book is really neat. I love the COLOR, it makes things so much easier. It doesn't, however, have a section for slang phrases or anything like that, just strictly definitions. Now if you are like me, and are really new to Italian, sometimes it's hard for me to understand the meaning, because I haven't learned all of the forms of the verbs, but it does get me by in a pinch. Either way, I'm glad I bought it.

great pocket reference.......2001-05-19

two-color is very helpful (i was skeptical at first); the gamesin the center are [not great]..., but passed the time on the plane, and did reinforce vocabulary.

for the price you can't go wrong.

Kudos to this hand-sized dictionary!.......1999-11-28

I bought this dictionary as was required by my Italian language school, and I have just been using the heck out of it! What surprised me was that for such a small dictionary it has had almost every word I've needed to look up. Let me tell you, I've had to find some pretty off-the-beaten-path words! Besides the amazingly eye-friendy blue coloring of the main words, I've appreciated the accurate expressions and idioms in addition to the standard definitions. All around, this book has been indespensable! It's been my money's worth and them some! Though I personally haven't had need for the games and puzzles, I still recommend this selection to anyone who needs a great portable dictionary.

Oxford Take Off In Italian: The Complete Language-learning Kit Book-and-CD Package (Take Off in)

Average customer rating:

Oxford Take Off In Italian

Oxford Take Off In Italian: The Complete Language-learning Kit Book-and-CD Package (Take Off in)
Tania Batelli-Kneale , and Anna Di Stefano
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0198609116

Book Description

Now with an exciting new look, Oxford Take Off In Italian offers the complete language kit, whether you're learning Italian for a business trip, a holiday, or just for fun. Designed to take beginners through to intermediate-level, the easy-to-follow book and audio course offers straightforward interactive dialogues and exercises, grammatical help, cultural information, and test and revision sections. Recordings of native speakers in everyday situations help you to pick up authentic Italian pronunciation, and short modules mean that you can work at your own pace. This new edition comes with BRAND NEW time-saving, hands-free audio material that enables you to brush up on your listening and pronunciation skills either at home or in the car. In addition, a new travel dictionary and phrasebook equips you for real-life encounters, giving you essential vocabulary and phrases at your fingertips. All Take Off In authors have years of experience of teaching languages at all levels, -- so you can feel safe in the knowledge you're learning from the experts. This edition replaces ISBNs 0-19-860308-8 (CD pack) and 0-19-860307-X (cassette pack).

Customer Reviews:

Oxford Take Off In Italian.......2007-02-01

The package includes a 248 page paperback book, 5 CDs, and a smaller book with extra vocabulary. The book covers basic grammar well,enough to make oneself understood in the language. Each of 14 chapters has dialogues to illustrate grammatical points, vocabulary lists, and quizzes,and also a continuous story of 2 young people (Un amico di troppo, a friend too many!)that runs all through the book. At the end of the book, there are answers to the quizzes, and a summary of the grammar taught earlier. Most helpful are the CDs in which native Italian speakers go over the same material as in each chapter, in a well coordinated way. I found hearing proper pronunciation and seeing the same words written was a big advantage. Chapters cover useful information on family, numbers, finding the way, traveling, eating out, booking a hotel or apartment, health problems, pharmacies, shopping,etc. The grammar covers, for example, past perfect and imperfect, present, future and conditional tenses but not the subjunctive.
Compared to the other Italian do-it-yourself tutorials I have tried, it was my favorite. DK 15-minute Italian illustrated book with CDs is good but has little grammar, seems more for people wanting a brief introduction to the language. Hugo Italian in 3 months is of similar depth to the Oxford book, but I preferred the layout of the latter. A first year college book, Prego! by Lazzarino et al, is much more detailed for the serious student; a teacher is needed as the answers to the quizzes are not given. Italian with Michel Thomas has good CDs, but had no accompanying text, a drawback.
I can strongly recommend the Oxford Take Off In Italian book for those who want more than a vacation phrase book but do not need as much as a college textbook.

Average customer rating:

The Oxford Paperback Italian Dictionary

Manufacturer: Oxford University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0198645228

Book Description

This major new edition of the Oxford Paperback Italian Dictionary is now the largest of its kind. It aims to provide detailed coverage of the vocabulary the learner of the language really needs. * Comprehensive: over 50,000 words and phrases, over 70,000 translations with thousands of examples * Up to date: Comprehensive coverage of current, idiomatic Italian and English * Grammar guidance: Full coverage of irregular plurals, irregular masculine and feminine nouns, plurals and past tenses in Italian * Extra Help: pronunciation guidance; full verb tables * Signposting: meanings and contexts clearly labelled to guide users to exactly the right translation for their needs

Oxford Starter Italian Dictionary (Starter Bilingual Dictionaries)

Average customer rating:

Don't Leave Home Without it
they need a proofreader!!!
Oxford Starter Italian

Oxford Starter Italian Dictionary (Starter Bilingual Dictionaries)

Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0198607148

Book Description

Oxford Starter Italian Dictionary is designed to offer adult beginners a comprehensive, straightforward introduction to Italian, covering all the vocabulary needed for the first years of study, along with guidance on grammar and usage. Clear entries with examples showing how the language works in context make it quick and simple to find the translation you're looking for, and the bold, colour layout makes the dictionary easy to navigate, allowing you to get to grips with Italian fast. It's a perfect tool for adult language learners who need basic vocabulary at their fingertips fast, whether they're attending an evening class, teaching themselves, or travelling.

Customer Reviews:

Don't Leave Home Without it.......2006-04-21

No bilingual dictionary by itself is sufficient to learn any meaningful foreign language usage. But this dictionary, in conjunction with a classroom course or a good set of CDs, is a superbly practical reference. It includes a good deal of common usage, idioms, and alternative phrasing. I thought it was great.

they need a proofreader!!!.......2005-08-22

If you buy this book to help with a beginning italian class, you'll need some help with the helper!! This book is pathetic. Why? Well, for one reason, when they say a verb is in a table in the back, the casual reader might actually EXPECT to find it there. No such luck with this book. Take 'volare', a darn common verb. The square box means its in the verb tables in the back of the book, and the number 1 in that box says its verb #1. Surprise!! Verb #1 is parlare, not volare. In fact volare appears nowhere in the verb table. Take page 282 for another example. The text promises for the word 'your" that you can "see the boxed note on your for detailed informaton and examples". Well if you believe that the joke is on you, because there is NO boxed note with "your". Lets not forget to point out that the verb tables list conjugations of the verbs without once bothering to give a table explaining the format. Is it the 1st person, 2nd, or 3rd? Plural or singular? I guess it's obvious if you speak italian, but most people buy this book precisely because they DON'T speak italian and need a reference to help them. I could go on and on, but the basic truth is this book isn't going to help you very much.

Oxford Starter Italian.......2001-04-17

I carried this dictionary in Italy for three weeks last fall and used it constantly. My wife and I were travelling light so books were scrutinized before being included in my pack. We considered also taking a small phrase book and a more standard English/Italian dictionary and ended up taking only this one.

The Oxford Starter Dictionary does not take the place of a good phrase book because phrases are not arranged by topic. However, it has excellent sample phrases under alphabetical word entries in both the Italian-English and the English-Italian sections. This greatly improves its usefulness as a dictionary for beginners and even if you have some background in Italian (I had two years of Italian in University 20 years ago).

I like the clear, easy to read layout. There is good use of bold, italics, underlining, special symbols, and two ink colors (blue and black). The good quality bright white paper and reasonable point size is greatly appreciated in comparison with some language dictionaries which can be hard to read under marginal lighting (e.g. restaurants and train stations). I also like the physical dimensions - 5.5" x 7" and less than 3/4" thick. Much more convenient than the short, fat format of some dictionaries. It fit conveniently in my shoulder bag and is similar in size to guide books.

Book Description

This brand-new grammar provides clear and simple explanations of today's written and spoken Italian. Comprehensive and easy to use, with coverage of all the key points of Italian grammar, it is the ideal reference tool for beginner and intermediate students, whether at school, college, or learning on their own. Thousands of examples in an instantly accessible layout show how the language works. The verb tables are clear and easy-to-use and all grammatical terms are explained in a glossary.

Customer Reviews:

It's ok but could be better.......2006-12-31

The problem with 'small books' like this one is that they don't include all that you need to know. I also find that the organization of the book is poor, and it requires you to jump around a lot. I think that makes using the book difficult. It can be a good reference, but there are some better ones to use. Sometimes bigger is really better, and I think that it is the case with this book. There is a book written by an Italian author that is about the same size that is better organized.

I also disagree with one review who said Prego was 'bloated' -- Prego is probably the best book to use as a beginner hands down. Grammar is explained concisely and in a way that is conducive to learning. It's expesnive, but I'd try to save up for it and buy it.

Excellent Reference.......2006-07-31

I always find a quick, concise answer to my grammar questions in this little book and highly recommend it.

concise, well-organized, fits in your back pocket.......2006-03-27

This book is fantastic. There are clear, concise explanations of all the salient points of usage of all parts of speech, with plenty of examples. Ragusa's book is more oriented towards conversational italian, also it lacks some nice reference features of this book - e.g., a fairly comprehensive list of irregular verbs, dozens of idiomatic fare + infinitive constructions, nice examples of usage of prepositions, etc.
This book's clarity and brevity make it very useful when your italian class uses a bloated mess of a textbook like Prego. Plus, it's so cheap. Definitely give it a look.

Average customer rating:

Oxford Italian Minidictionary

Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Rick Steves' Italy 2006 (Rick Steves)

ASIN: 0198610424

Book Description

This new edition of the Oxford Italian Minidictionary offers up-to-date coverage of all the essential day-to-day vocabulary with over 40,000 words and phrases, and 60,000 translations. The latest words in each language have been added, reflecting all aspects of life today - boy band, google, identity theft, heritage tourism, speed dating. New cultural notes give the essential background to life in the Italian-speaking world. Other key features include warning symbols to identify slang and informal language, and special help with finding the correct translation of frequently used words, which are difficult to translate, because they appear in so many different contexts - words like can, do, have, and be. A new menu-reader section has been added so you know exactly what you're getting to eat, and the acclaimed phrasefinder gives you superfast access to all the words and expressions you need for everyday situations - shopping, travelling, asking for directions, or finding a place to stay. Finally, the conversion charts for distance, weights and measures, and clothing and shoe sizes make travelling abroad easier than ever before. All of these features are packed into a pocket-sized, durable format, and, with a brand-new text design and layout, this dictionary is more accessible and easy to use than ever before. Ideal for general users, business people, holiday makers, and travellers, the Oxford Italian Minidictionary is your perfect mini-guide to Italian.

Gran Diccionario Oxford: Espanol-Ingles:Ingles-Espanol

Average customer rating:

One of the leaders in the field

Gran Diccionario Oxford: Espanol-Ingles:Ingles-Espanol

Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0195219570

Book Description

Here's the Spanish-language jacket to this major unabridged third edition of the Oxford Spanish Dictionary. The book inside is written with bilingual introductions and references. Ideal for all native Spanish and English speakers. Please note: this Spanish-language edition does not come with
the free talking CD-ROM.

Customer Reviews:

One of the leaders in the field.......2006-08-21

My Master's thesis was a review and rating of large Spanish-English dictionaries. Since then, I have conducted follow-up studies to keep up with the market.

I find the leaders in the field to be Collins (HarperCollins), Larousse, and Oxford. Each publisher appears to be trying to one-up the others with the newest and best edition. The real winner is the consumer. My joint review of these three dictionaries is found here and duplicated under both of its competitors.

Here are a few of the factors which distinguish a good bilingual dictionary from a bad one.

To begin with, ignore certain publishers' marketing ploys such as entry and translation counts. They says nothing about the value of the words chosen. Likewise, ignore the word "unabridged" in the title. No work is truly unabridged except the monumental monolingual Oxford English Dictionary.

The first valid factor to consider is lexicographic technique. A bad dictionary simply lists translations. Take, for example, the entry in the Cassell's Spanish Dictionary under the English headword loop: "lazo, gaza, nudo; ojal, presilla, alamar; anillo; recodo, comba, curva, vuelta," etc. For the English reader writing in Spanish, this is hopelessly inadequate, as the dictionary provides no clue as to which translation to use in which situation.

Compare the treatment of the same word in the far superior American Heritage Spanish Dictionary. "(length of line) lazo; (coil) vuelta; (bend) curva; (circular path) vuelta, circuito; (fastener) presilla" etc. Here, the user is given glosses in the native language to assist in identifying the right word for the context. Example sentences are also a tremendous help. The Collins, Larousse, and Oxford are all excellent in this respect, presenting a wealth of practical information to guide users through the semantic and syntactic complexities.

The second factor is organization, which is important in large desk dictionaries. In an entry for a complex word like "get," a bad dictionary may force users to lose time searching for their translation through unbroken columns that can extend for more than a page. This was a problem--now corrected--in previous versions of the large Larousse dictionary. Today, the current editions of the Larousse, Collins and Oxford divide long entries by meaning into well-titled paragraphs. This scheme makes these dictionaries a joy to use.

Third, a good dictionary should maintain an up-to-date lexicon, including such cultural and technological additions to the language as "baby sitter," "FAQ's," "hostile takeover," "software," "flash drive." Larousse, Collins and Oxford are leaders in this respect; their frequent revisions are more than mere window dressing and do a creditable job of covering the most recent additions to the language.

Fourth, idioms, slang, and cusswords can present real problems to the language learner, and a dictionary needs to handle them in a clear and frank fashion. All three dictionaries get it right, giving stylistic equivalents for translations as well as clear advice to the user.

One complaint about the Collins is that it often presents Britishisms without labeling them as such. Revisions have only partially corrected the problem. For this reason, I would not recommend this dictionary to native Spanish speakers in the US.

Oxford and Collins contain excellent "language in use" sections which give formulas for language functions such as asking for information, agreeing, disagreeing, etc., as well as formulas for letters and documents.

The bottom line on large dictionaries? Avoid Vox, Velasquez, Langenscheidt, and Cassell's. Simon & Schuster's is unsuitable as a user's only dictionary but may serve some use as part of an advanced collection. I will report on the large Harrap's when I examine it, but my opinion of their other dictionaries is quite favorable. While not perfect, Collins, Oxford, and Larousse are the best large Spanish-English dictionaries I have examined. Except as noted here, most users would be well served by any of the three.

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