Igbo-English English-Igbo Dictionary and Phrasebook (Hippocrene Dictionary & Phrasebook) [Paperback]

Nicholas Awde (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0781806615 | ISBN-13: 978-0781806619 | Publication Date: May 1999

This dictionary of one of the major languages of Nigeria contains an introduction to basic grammar and helpful phrases arranged in 34 sections, each of which deals with aspects of everyday life.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Nicholas Awde is a writer and regional consultant based in the Caucasus and Central Asia. Peter Maghashyan is a freelance journalist, analyst, and consultant on regional, political, and economic issues. He is based in Yerevan, Armenia.

Product Details

• Paperback: 190 pages
• Publisher: Hippocrene Books (May 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0781806615
• ISBN-13: 978-0781806619
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 3.7 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #491,346 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #36 in Books > Education & Reference > Dictionaries & Thesauruses > Foreign Language > Polyglot
  • #60 in Books > Education & Reference > Foreign Languages > African > Instruction

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars There is room for improvement, November 14, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Igbo-English English-Igbo Dictionary and Phrasebook (Hippocrene Dictionary & Phrasebook) (Paperback)

This book is a welcome addition to a very scanty body of work about the Igbo language. The grammar and pronunciation are very well explained, there are good illustrative examples, and the phrasebook is extensive and useful. There is also interesting material about the Igbo history and culture.

However, the included dictionary gives no guidance about the tones used in pronouncing the words it defines. Words are NOT marked for tone in the dictionary. Since tone is phonemic in Igbo (as in Chinese, for instance) this is a very serious limitation and it prevents the reader from building up a vocabulary by browsing the dictionary and plugging new words into sentences introduced in the phrasebook and grammar sections. If there was a lot of other material available for learning Igbo one wouldn't need to use the dictionary this way, but there really isn't.

Hopefully in a future edition the authors will rectify this sin of omission.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Igbo Dictionary, August 4, 2002

By 

Adamma Ndukwu (Portland, ME United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Igbo-English English-Igbo Dictionary and Phrasebook (Hippocrene Dictionary & Phrasebook) (Paperback)

I am 50% Nigerian Igbo, and was born in Imo State. I grew up in America, and had lost my native language. This book has helped me regain the language I thought was gone forever. I think everyone interested in the Igbo Language should read it.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very good book, excellent price; improve vocabulary, July 8, 2005

By 

Jerry L. the Bibliophile (California, United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Igbo-English English-Igbo Dictionary and Phrasebook (Hippocrene Dictionary & Phrasebook) (Paperback)

This is an great book. It gives a good introduction to the history and language of the Igbo people and is a dual phrassebook and dictionary. The tones and dots are shown clearly and distinguishes between different pronunciations. (please ignore the review at the bottom; it's probably an old edition that doesn't have the tone markings) However, the vocabulary doesn't seem to be complete, as there are some figurative, modern, and colloquial terms that aren't given. For example, the book says "mgbada" means "deer", but "mgbada" may also mean "victim". Some other words are also not given. Overall, this is a great book that is affordable and suitable for both native and foreign speakers. A great buy.