Berlitz Romanian Phrase Book [Paperback]

Berlitz Guides (Author)

Book Description

Series: Berlitz the Language of Travel | Publication Date: February 1994

Part language instructor, part tour guide, the world-renowned Berlitz Phrase Book series has been the ideal companion guide for millions of travelers worldwide. Providing a wealth of essential information and practical tips, this popular series, redesigned and updated, is primed for a new generation of foreign country visitors. With over 1,200 useful phrases and expressions and over 2,300 words covering just about any situation a traveler is likely to encounter, Berlitz Phrase Books remain the unparalleled market leader.

Completely redesigned for greater ease of use, Berlitz Phrase Books provide:
-- A new "essentials" section, offering the most basic vocabulary for quick reference
-- Expanded cultural tips, including sites to visit, places to dine, and faux pas to avoid
-- Easier-to-read single columns
-- Contemporary icons and illustrations
-- Up-to-date language to reflect the changes in banking, entertainment, media, and technology
-- Over 1,200 useful phrases and over 2,300 words
-- A unique color-coding system
-- An easy-to-read pronunciation guide
-- A dictionary with more than 3,500 words to fit any situation
-- A manageable, portable size

Product Details

• Paperback: 189 pages
• Publisher: Berlitz (February 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 2831509335
• ISBN-13: 978-2831509334
• Product Dimensions: 5.6 x 4 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,355,190 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #24 in Books > Education & Reference > Dictionaries & Thesauruses > Foreign Language > Romanian
  • #74 in Books > Travel > Europe > Romania & Moldova

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Romanian Phrase Book Review, December 5, 1999

By 

Janet L. Pirozzi (United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Berlitz Romanian Phrase Book (Paperback)

this might be a good guide for visiting Romania as it gives good tips on how to get through customs, hotel, dining, etc. However, it does not really teach you in a systematic way how to speak Romanian. I am particularly interested in learning how to speak Romanian with my fiance'. This book gives you a lot of phrases, but if the one you want is not in there (and finding it could be a problem) it is difficult to put a grammatically correct phrase together on your own.

4.0 out of 5 stars Indeed useful, though with some quirks, June 24, 2007

By 

Christopher Culver - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Berlitz Romanian Phrase Book (Paperback)

The ROMANIAN PHRASE BOOK & DICTIONARY from Berlitz is a standard entry in this line from the publisher. It features phrases for every situation a tourist could imagine themselves in, colour-coded for quick access, with both the Romanian text and a phonetic transcription for English speakers. At the end one can find a small dictionary, and a brief grammar. Romanian is an exceedingly easy language, and someone with previous knowledge of a Romance language could pick it up in two weeks, but if for whatever reason you'll be dependent on a phrase book during your time there, this is certainly the best phrase book around.

However, the phrase book does have some weaknesses. The information on Romanian culture often discusses matters limited to one particular region of this very diverse country without warning the reader that the words or concepts discussed aren't applicable for other parts of the country. The phonetic transcription is for speakers of British English, and were an American to unwittingly read from the transcription, being understood may be difficult. Editions of the book prior to the 2006 inexplicably continued to use the Communist-era orthography long after it was revised by a 1993 language reform. Finally, there are a few misprints, though I should think that these are not serious enough to deter communication.

Nonetheless, in spite of these quirks the Berlitz is the phrase book to get for Romanian--certainly avoid at all costs the Hippocrene ones.