French Visual Language Guide [Paperback]

Karl-Heinz Brecheis (Illustrator), Rudi Kost (Series Editor), Robert Valentin (Series Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0764122819 | ISBN-13: 978-0764122811 | Publication Date: April 2003 | Edition: Bilingual

International travelers will value this quick-reference vocabulary and phrase builder. Hundreds of color photos and cartoon-style illustrations present visual images of words and phrases that travelers typically need when they are getting around in France or French-speaking Canada. Here's how to ask for gasoline when driving into a service station—with pictures and bilingual phrases and answers to dramatize the situation. Here too are words and pictures depicting all kinds of food and drink—a pineapple, a mug of cold beer, a sandwich, a fresh apple. The book is color-coded along page edges according to topics to help travelers find what they're looking for in a hurry. General topics include transportation, accommodations, food shopping, department store shopping, furniture and appliances, sports and recreation, and many others. This good-looking book also makes a handy reference source for language students.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Hundreds of color photos and illustrations present visual images of words and phrases you need when you?re traveling in France. All illustrations are labeled in English and French, and are divided into general topics, separated and designated for quick reference by tinted page edges in different colors. More than 800 illustrations will help you find 5,000 key words and phrases?and find them fast!

Visual Language Guides Available in
French * Italian * Spanish * English for Spanish Speakers

[art captions]
Sandals: les chaussures de plage
Safety Pin: l?épingle à nourrice
Sea Food: les fruits de mer
Montrez-le-moi dans ce libre, s?il vous plaît.
Please show me that in this book.
Pacifier: la tetine
Luggage: la valise
Cauliflower: le chou-fleur

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Barron's Educational Series; Bilingual edition (April 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764122819
• ISBN-13: 978-0764122811
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 4.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #308,049 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Despite some oops, provides nice support, January 28, 2009

By 

Marynna L. Kerce (Atlanta GA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: French Visual Language Guide (Paperback)

With a little caution, this is nevertheless nicely done. Recommended.

Despite some minor concerns, this is generally a solid and useful reference -- small, lightweight, compact, well organized, beautifully illustrated, this little reference book provides comprehensive coverage of practically all situations a traveler may anticipate encountering. There are maps, illustrations, and discussions of local customs and geography. The visual format allows travelers to communicate easily with locals, as the illustrated book itself is intended to be used as a bridge where words fail. It's quite nice.

Barron's has an excellent reputation which I think is generally deserved. I was surprised, then, to find a few errors. For example, appearing in the center of the back cover, in large letters, is a large translation error -- the words in French which are intended to say, "Please show me that in this book," instead say something incomprehensible about freedom. Yes, it's technically only one letter off, and it may have been a typo, but it appears suspiciously to be the sort of error a speaker of a third language (neither French nor English) would be likely to make -- and in any event, in addition to this hilariously odd demand on the cover, there are a scant few awkward constructions inside.

When I checked for publishing information, I discovered that this guidebook, written for English speakers who are learning French, was published in Germany and printed in China. Perhaps I shouldn't be too surprised, then, to notice a few mistakes. But I am -- I expect more from Barron's. This concern does detract somewhat from the product quality because, after all, the intended users are not expected to be able to recognize such errors. Nevertheless, mistakes happen -- and on balance, there are 256 pages of otherwise great stuff here.

Other than the relatively minor mistakes, and taken in its entirety, Barron's French Visual Language Guide is quite useful -- thus I do recommend it confidently, despite this little caution. If you intend to use this book while traveling, it will serve you well. If you intend to use it to learn French, it will serve as a valuable adjunct to your other materials.

I hope the publisher will issue a revised edition. It will be well worthwhile -- except for these easily corrected errors, it's quite a solid product and well worth the purchase.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Misguiding, April 21, 2009

By 

Peter Reeve (Thousand Oaks, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: French Visual Language Guide (Paperback)

On page 7 of this guide I learned that 'interesting men' is 'des homes interessants'. Then on page 16 I am told 'one half liter' is 'le quart de litre'. I decided to give up on the book at that point, and looked at the back cover to see where I might address a complaint. There I noticed, in large letters, 'Montrez-le-moi dans ce libre...' for '...show me that in this book'.

This is appalling. How many more errors are there that I did not notice, or in the rest of the book? This guide is copyright 2001. Shouldn't they have got it right by now?

I contacted Barron's with my complaint but of course received no response.
[PeterReeve]

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Reference, November 9, 2006

By 

azwildbill2 (Phoenix, AZ United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: French Visual Language Guide (Paperback)

This book is one of many great French Reference Guides. It is easy to use and full of important vocabulary.