ICOON Global Picture Dictionary (English, Spanish, French, Italian, German, Japanese, Russian, Chinese and Hindi Edition) [Perfect Paperback]

Gosia Warrink (Author, Illustrator), Karsten Warrink (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 6, 2007

Point to icons to communicate all over the world. There are some situations in life where words simply fail you. While attempting to describe your fish poisoning to a Brazilian doctor, for example. Or trying to tell a Croatian harbor master that you need a new propeller for your outboard motor. Those without a basic command of the local language or Oscar-worthy pantomimic abilities are quickly reduced to stammering helplessly and wringing their hands. Unless they pull a little magenta-colored book out of their trouser pocket... ICOON, the global picture dictionary, is an icon collection as hands-on as it is humorous, which no hand luggage the world over is complete without. The mini booklet divides essential everyday symbols into twelve categories, uniting them on 76 pages. Regardless of whether you need a toothbrush, safety pin or swimming trunks, want to explain hay fever without using words, ask how to change money or are trying to rustle up a replacement battery for your camera s light meter, ICOON speaks the world s most intelligible language: pictures. This is the perfect language kit for every traveler. The wordless phrase book benefits from the internationality of pictures and signs in the process. This principle has proved its worth time and again, helping to convey information unequivocally in public places, at airports, on the roads and when sightseeing. AMBERPRESS collected ideas from around the globe to ensure that ICOON contained as complete a selection of relevant symbols as possible, subsequently testing and optimizing the ensuing designs. The result is a collection of 2,000 icons, including 400 color photos divided into twelve categories ranging from clothing, hygiene products and health to administration and leisure activities. The picture dictionary even translates difficult topics like measurements and feelings into comprehensible symbols. ICOON thus provides a solution for almost everything one could wish to communicate the world over, be it Spain, South America, Russia or China. ICOON s minimalist design concept doesn t only make it a convenient ally on journeys of all kinds, but ensures it is also a stylish accessory for the user. Weighing in at just 2 ounces and measuring a mere 3.5x5 inches, the eye-catching booklet slides effortlessly into every trouser pocket. The illustrations are simply designed and clearly arranged in order to make the icons even easier to understand. ICOON is an indispensable companion in every situation where communication problems may arise, be it a foreign business meeting, an adventure trip to the wilds of Kurdistan or a relaxing Mediterranean holiday.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A present from heaven. --Celebrity

Trends: Dictionary with pictures. --Elle

A universal translator against speechlessness. --Geo

About the Author

Gosia Warrink Author and designer 1974 Born in Olsztyn, Poland 1993-1998 Degree in German language and literature; special subject linguistics 1998 Awarded Master of Arts degree 2000-2005 Degree in visual communication at the Berlin University of the Arts 2005 Qualified as a graduate designer Gosia Warrink is a founder of the design agency AMBERDESIGN and the publishers AMBERPRESS Penchant for art, design and interior design Passionate about travelling

Product Details

• Perfect Paperback: 76 pages
• Publisher: Amberpress; 1 edition (April 6, 2007)
• Language: English, Spanish, French, Italian, German, Japanese, Russian, Chinese, Hindi
• ISBN-10: 3980965503
• ISBN-13: 978-3980965507
• Product Dimensions: 4.7 x 3.5 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #793,114 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #24 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Reference > Dictionaries & Thesauruses > Foreign Language > Russian
  • #30 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Reference > Dictionaries & Thesauruses > Foreign Language > Japanese
  • #39 in Books > Education & Reference > Dictionaries & Thesauruses > Foreign Language > Hindi

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Passport Size- TONS of pictures!, April 29, 2011

By 

J. S. Savin (Sacto CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: ICOON Global Picture Dictionary (English, Spanish, French, Italian, German, Japanese, Russian, Chinese and Hindi Edition) (Perfect Paperback)

I can't believe someone has mentioned this yet, but this handy little book is the EXACT size of my passport. It is .5mm think. There is every picture I can image in here- mascara, parts of different animals, 30 colors plus 5 patterns, feminine hygiene supplies, condoms, engine and toilet parts, every religious service I could want, even acupuncture! I bought this because I am moving to Brazil, and wanted something because I know my husband can't be by my side every second to translate. The food pictures are in color- which is the most helpful way to do the food.

I am puzzled by the title- (ICOON Globall icture Dictionary (English, Spanish, French, Italian, German, Japanese, Russian, Chinese and Hindi Edition)- because there aren't really any words in the book (well, except the maps in the back which are labeled in English.) There is a 4-sentence intro in the front that is in English, German, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Polish, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, Hindi, Swahili and Farsi, but everything else is pictures and that intro paragraph is not necessary for the functioning of the book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Surprisingly small, February 11, 2011

By 

Lost Dogs (Sodus Point, New York USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: ICOON Global Picture Dictionary (English, Spanish, French, Italian, German, Japanese, Russian, Chinese and Hindi Edition) (Perfect Paperback)

this book is very small - which means the pictures in it are small also. I don't even know if I'll use it but it's so small that it doesn't matter - it's not going to take up any room in my backpack.