Customer Reviews

HarperCollins Language Survival Guide: Italy: The Visual Phrasebook and Dictionary (HarperCollins Language Survival Guides)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
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This is not your ordinary phrase book or travel guide. Unlike the other guide books I have purchased on Italy that only focus on landscapes and museums, this book is packed full of photographs of all kinds of handy "need to know" information. It is more of a picture - reading guide book that illustrates social customs, a whole array of signs-and what they mean-(i.e. street/HWY, bank machines, open/close, tickets, schedules, etc.), and food and shopping sections. Throughout out the book, there are yellow "information" boxes that give you more indepth hints about the subject it is highlighting (ex. driving...legal driving age in Italy is 18; if you get a ticket, you'll be fined on the spot, etc.) Also, there are pink "Keywords" boxes and green "talking" boxes that help you with words or how to ask questions and are reflective to whatever the subject matter that is being highlighted on that page. There is a whole alphabetized section of menu items, some with pictures, and it gives you details of what you are ordering or how to read a wine or beer label. The last half of the book is the Italian-English, English-Italian Dictionary. Overall, a very useful book that gives you handy pictorial information on how to manuever around Italy without language being a barrier.

This visual dictionary is extremely helpful for the foreign traveller as well as the Italian who tries to explain to a foreign friend what a particular dish is made of.
The pocket book is divided into three sections:
a. hundreds of colourful pictures with explanations and useful phrases;
b. a menu reader with some pictures;
c. Italian/English and English/Italian glossaries.
I was looking for a practical dictionary to explain to foreign friends the meaning of our Italian dishes such as "caprese", "affettati misti", "melanzane alla parmigiana", "bruschetta", "caponata" and so on. I found this marvellous book and am happy because it gives you the explanation of a dish, not only its translation. I recommend it to everyone, for it's extremely clear, complete and detailed.

If you are going to Italy, you MUST take this book... The pictures are invaluable! Especially when there is no one around to ask questions! We used this book more than we used our dictionary!

We have used the one for France too!

Recently I visited Italy and wanted a language guide. I chose this book and was very happy with the purchase. It was easy to use and because it was divided into categories; i.e., public transport, banks and money, shopping, dining, etc., getting what we needed on the trip was easy. The phrasing was appropriate and the guide to pronunciation, fantastic. It also includes a dictionary with words in English to Italian and Italian to English. Very helpful. I would recommend this book highly for people traveling to Italy. A great resource.

This guide is very helpful, and I think you could find just about anything you needed to say in this guide. I like that it has color and photographs, and the food section looks so delicious.

Great help on our trip to Italy in the spring of 2006.