Beginner's Sicilian (Beginner's (Foreign Language)) [Paperback]

Joseph Privitera (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0781806402 | ISBN-13: 978-0781806404 | Publication Date: May 1, 1998

The Beginner's Series is designed to meet the bilingual needs of the traveling businessperson, tourist, and student. These language lessons cover such common situations as: passing through customs, checking into a hotel, placing phone calls, going to the post office, and extending and accepting invitations. First learn about the country's history and culture, acquaint yourself with social customs, restaurant practices, and transportation systems. Then learn basic language skills, including vocabulary, grammar, and useful phrases that will have you communicating with natives and moving about feeely. Clear, easy to use, and insightful, the Beginner's Series will introduce you to the languages of the world.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Joseph Privitera

Product Details

• Paperback: 159 pages
• Publisher: Hippocrene Books (May 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0781806402
• ISBN-13: 978-0781806404
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #380,448 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A well-designed book for people who want to learn this lang., January 16, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Beginner's Sicilian (Beginner's (Foreign Language)) (Paperback)

This book is a really good book for a student or anyone traveling to Sicily because it teaches the person about its history and its language. The book has many information about Sicily's native food, an easy grammar, an easy vocabulary (because it's very similar to Italian), valuable information for tourists going there and much more.

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars As a Sicilian, I Had High Hopes for This Book, But..., February 18, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Beginner's Sicilian (Beginner's (Foreign Language)) (Paperback)

If you know nothing of Sicilian language, this book may help you pick up a little vocabulary. But as a Sicilian, and as a professional editor for 5 years, I have to say that I wouldn't look to this book for any definitive answer to anything.

There are typos everywhere you look, not to mention layout and formatting issues. Was an editor or proofreader -- or ANYONE -- ever employed to read this before it went to press? I'd be mortified as the author to see a book of mine published with such a disregard for content and style -- particularly since it's an educational book, and a language book to boot.

You may get some benefit from this book, simply because I have never seen another book on Sicilian out there, but that's where my recommendation stops.

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This book gives a good introduction to the Sicilian language, May 20, 2000

By 

Johnny (Miami, FL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beginner's Sicilian (Beginner's (Foreign Language)) (Paperback)

This book is not your typical language instruction book. It has a brief description of customs and culture, which is nice. However, the chapters often repeat themselves, so it could have been better organized into chapters that have distinct lessons and progressively get more complex (like most language books). This book stays at a fairly basic level throughout, however, it accomplishes its purpose, which is to give a taste of Sicilian.