Italian: The Rough Guide Dictionary Phrasebook [Paperback]

Lexus (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: 1999 | ISBN-10: 185828578X | ISBN-13: 978-1858285788 | Edition: 2nd

Rough Guides re-launches its popular phrasebook series and adds European and Dutch to its mix of 22 languages. Now with stylish new covers and user-friendly, two-color printing throughout, these books will jump off the shelves. Arranged dictionary-style, each Rough Guide Phrasebook includes clear grammar and pronunciation sections, etiquette and cultural tips, and a two-way menu reader, making these the most useful on-the-go language books anywhere.

Editorial Reviews

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Introduction

The Rough Guide Italian dictionary phrasebook is a highly practical introduction to the contemporary language. Laid out in clear A-Z style, it uses key-word referencing to lead you straight to the words and phrases you want - so if you need to book a room, just look up 'room'. The Rough Guide gets straight to the point in every situation, in bars and shops, on trains and buses, and in hotels and banks.

The main part of the Rough Guide is a double dictionary: English-Italian then Italian-English. Before that, there's a page explaining the pronunciation system we've used, then a section called The Basics, which sets out the fundamental rules of the language, with plenty of practical examples. You'll also find here other essentials like numbers, dates and telling the time.

Forming the heart of the guide, the English-Italian section gives easy-to-use transliterations of the Italian words wherever pronunciation might be a problem, and to get you involved quickly in two-way communication, the Rough Guide includes dialogues featuring typical responses on key topics - such as renting a car and asking directions. Feature boxes fill you in on cultural pitfalls as well as the simple mechanics of how to make a phone call, what to do in an emergency, where to change money, and more. Throughout this section, cross-references enable you to pinpoint key facts and phrases, while asterisked words indicate where further information can be found in the Basics.

In the Italian-English dictionary, we've given not just the phrases you're likely to hear, but also all the signs, labels, instructions and other basic words you might come across in print or in public places.

Finally the Rough Guide rounds off with an extensive Menu Reader, giving a run-down of food and drink terms that you'll find indispensable whether you're eating out, stopping for a quick drink, or browsing through a local food market. buon viaggio! have a good trip!

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Rough Guides; 2nd edition (1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 185828578X
• ISBN-13: 978-1858285788
• Product Dimensions: 5.7 x 4.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,222,031 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great format, March 23, 2000

By 

Saul Rosenthal (San Antonio Tx) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Italian: The Rough Guide Dictionary Phrasebook (Paperback)

I already know some French and Spanish, but knew no Italian. I found this book tremendously helpful, much more so than either a phrase book or a dictionary by themselves, or in combination. You will probably also need a dictionary by the way for the words that aren't in this book as it is small enough to easily fit in your pocket.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very user friendly, March 14, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Italian: The Rough Guide Dictionary Phrasebook (Paperback)

We had this book and Barron's Italian Visual Language Guide on our holiday in Italy.

This one was much easier to use. The dictionary format made it so easy to find the right phrase. Our other book was set up in the more traditional 'at the hotel' sections and there would be 20 pages to look through to find an appropriate phrase.

With the rough guide you look up time and there is a selection of phrases around the idea.

Great book!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars useful and compact, August 2, 2005

By 

L. Yount "buenisima" (usa) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Italian: The Rough Guide Dictionary Phrasebook (Paperback)

on my recent trip to italy, this book proved invaluable as traveling through smaller villages where other languages were not commonly spoke as in larger cities. there is great coverage of the basics of the language and easy to say phonetic phrases. i loved the small size of the book and could easily fit it in my handbag. great for eating out too as there is a section dedicated to cuisine and drink.