5 Language Visual Dictionary [Hardcover]

Jonathan Metcalf (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 2002 | ISBN-10: 0789484390 | ISBN-13: 978-0789484390 | Edition: 1st

A photographic and comprehensive guide of how to express everyday occurrences in five different languages. With over 10,000 terms, 1,600 full-color photographs, and a comprehensive index, the Five-Language Visual Dictionary is a powerful tool for beginners learning the five major European languages: English, French, German, Spanish, and Italian. Ideal for students, teachers, business travelers, and tourists alike, this reference is also perfect for anyone studying English as a foreign language. Featuring a complete range of objects and scenes from everyday life, this is a great way to make learning quick, easy, and fun.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 400 pages
• Publisher: DK ADULT; 1st edition (July 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0789484390
• ISBN-13: 978-0789484390
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 8.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,062,635 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great with one major flaw: ambiguous gender, July 30, 2007

By 

B. Surkan (Marietta, GA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Five Language Visual Dictionary (English, French, German, Spanish and Italian Edition) (Hardcover)

While I enjoy the real live pictures used to illustrate the vocabulary, I am frustrated by the fact that they use the indefinite pronoun to identify gender. For many words, this is not a problem, but for some words, the indefinite pronouns in French and Italian are ambiguous.

For example: garlic - l'ail - der Knoblauch - el ajo - l'aglio

Are "l'ail" and "l'aglio" masculine or feminine? No respectable dictionary should ever leave the gender of a word ambiguous. I hope that they correct this problem in future editions. Until then, I prefer the Firefly Five Language Dictionary, which tastefully adds a gender flag as a superscript after each word:
The Firefly Five Language Visual Dictionary: English, Spanish, French, German, Italian

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Learn Five Languages at Once, July 24, 2003

By 

Rebecca Johnson "The Rebecca Review" (Washington State) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: 5 Language Visual Dictionary (Hardcover)

The "5 Language Visual Dictionary" is one of the most unique books I have seen on learning languages. This book introduces the reader to over 6,000 words used in everyday vocabulary. There are 1,600 full-color images.

What is amazing about this book is how many words really do look similar in all the languages. So, if you get a visual picture of the word, you will more than likely be able to recognize it rather easily in all languages.

For example: Internet, l'internet, das Internet, el internet, Internet.

Ok, that was an easy example.

How about: refrigerator, le frigidaire, (der Kuhlschrank), el refrigerado, il frigorifero.

This dictionary is divided thematically. It covers most aspects of the everyday world. The five languages are always presented in the same order.

English
French
German
Spanish
Italian

Nouns are given with their definite articles reflecting the gender (masculine, feminine or neuter) and the verbs are indicated by a (v) after the English words.

Contents: About the Dictionary, How to Use this Book, People, Appearance, Health, Home, Services, Shopping, Food, Eating Out, Study, Work, Transportation, Sports, Leisure and Environment.

You will find a medical diagrams, a family tree, all sorts of clothing examples, information on medical conditions and alternative therapy and rooms in a house (loved the kitchen complete with all the "les ustensiles de cuisine.")

You will also enjoy the workshop, garden, shopping malls, floral arranging, food section (the types of fish and exotic fruits were interesting too), delicatessen, school, work, transportation, sports, orchestra, home entertainment, the Earth, the Animal Kingdom, towns, calendars and continents.

There is also an Index in each language. They went all out on this book!

Ideal for:

Students
Travelers
Business people
Anyone who wants to look through visual pictures of items throughout the world

Children leaning the names of items in the world. You could just show them the pictures and teach them the names in any language.

Fascinating view of our world. A must for all libraries, schools and homes. Definitely a must-have for travelers of all ages.

~The Rebecca Review

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible Learning Resource!, August 10, 2003

By 

Gregory Fam (Singapore, Singapore Singapore) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Five Language Visual Dictionary (English, French, German, Spanish and Italian Edition) (Hardcover)

I'm learning Spanish on my own, and have found a few components to be entirely essential. A basic course, a book on grammar, one on verbs, a progressive reader, and one for improving one's vocabulary of words. I'm happy to say that this visual dictinoary meets the needs of improving one's vocabulary most admirably.

Arranged thematically, the dictionary is pictures, pictures, and more pictures that appeals to the visual learner, aiding retention because the impression lasts. Almost any imaginable theme is included in the book, from people, dressing, fashion, services, animals, study, work, and on and on. I find it useful to flip to a common daily theme, say, the office, and then read through the various descriptions. After that I try to recall as many items as I can once I'm actually in the office. It's surprising how many words you can remember once you learn it with a visual point of reference, as compared to simply a long, boring, word list.

The fact that each item has a corresponding entry French, German, and Italian in addition to English and Spanish, just makes it an even more incredible resource that will be useful to all learner's of the major European languages. Another bonus is a box in almost every thematic spread with relevant phrases and conversational sentences which only adds to the value of this fantastic book.