Malay: Lonely Planet Phrasebook [Paperback]

Susan Keeney (Author), Lonely Planet Phrasebooks (Author)

Book Description

Series: Lonely Planet Phrasebook | Publication Date: March 1, 2008

Flat on your back on the hotel bed, you ponder the arrow on the ceiling. Does it point past the minarets to the babbling pasar malam, fragrant with fruit and loud with language? Will it lead you to the shadowy artists of wayang kulit, or to your guide through underwater paradise? Does it prophesy a meeting with orang-utans in the unrivalled jungle beauty of Borneo? If you meet them, what on this lonely planet will you say?

Our phrasebooks give you a comprehensive mix of practical and social words and phrases in more than 120 languages. Chat with the locals and discover their culture - a guaranteed way to enrich your travel experience.

Editorial Reviews

Review

National Geographic Traveler, September 2006
'Lonely Planet Phrasebooks. Portable, pocket-size, cheap, and available for almost any country you might want to visit...'

Language Notes

Text: English (translation) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 316 pages
• Publisher: Lonely Planet; 3 Blg edition (March 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1740594940
• ISBN-13: 978-1740594943
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 6.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #96,160 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #5 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Reference > Foreign Languages > Instruction > Southeast Asian
  • #11 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Travel > United States > Regions > General
  • #18 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Travel > Reference & Tips > Guidebooks

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A few odd phrases but still useful, December 15, 2000

By 

~Z~ "azbaker" (Tecumseh, MI United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lonely Planet Malay Phrasebook (Lonely Planet Phrasebook: India) (Malayalam Edition) (Paperback)

I'm from Penang and I got this book for my American husband for our second trip back to Malaysia. The first thing that made me suspicious of its credibility was the cover photo. What is described as the "durian at the market" looks much more like a pile of nangka (jackfruit). Content-wise, I found some odd phrases in the book. "Plain water" is translated as "air putih" instead of "air kosong", "corner" becomes "pojok", which I have never heard of. "Sudut" would have made more sense to me. "Punggung" translates into "back" (anatomically), which I believe is correct in Indonesian, but would have made many Malaysians I know snicker at the reference to one's rear end. Perhaps these words are more common in parts of Malaysia I am not familiar with such as the east coast or Sabah & Sarawak. If this is the case, it would have been nice to have more than one translation for a word, although probably not practical for a quick reference guide.

In any case, Malaysians are easily impressed with foreigners who speak Malay, so while I may find fault with it, there is much in this little book which visitors would find useful. I particularly like the little tips on Malaysian culture, grammar and food. For those who plan to stay awhile, try the book-and-tapes combo of Survival Malay, and for cultural insight, Heidi Munan's Culture Shock! is a delight even for homesick Malaysians.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars How to win Malay Friends, June 8, 2000

By 

B. Snider "mr-b" (Capitola, Ca United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lonely Planet Malay Phrasebook (Lonely Planet Phrasebook: India) (Malayalam Edition) (Paperback)

This book is extremely useful especially if you are outside the main cities such as Malacca or Kuala Lumpur. Malay people are very self effacing and your use of the phrases in this book will really open doors. Also, the social interaction hints to proper behavior are very good and useful too.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great phrasebook! Easy to use and accurate translations!, June 16, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Lonely Planet Malay Phrasebook (Malay Phrasebook, 2nd Ed) (Paperback)

I got this phrasebook as a gift. I was skeptical at first because of its child-like appearance, but once I started looking through it I found it to be amazing. No other Malay book has the detail that this one does. With short paragraphs at the beginnings of each section, it ensures the best understanding of the culture. The authors are very knowledgeable and knows their Malay. I would recommend this reference book to anyone who is even considering a trip to Malaysia or is interested in the culture.