Insiders' French: Beyond the Dictionary (Paperback)

~ (Author), Michel Levieux (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Bringing readers up to date with the 1990s, the authors present an utterly entertaining and informative guide to the "new France". 11 line drawings.

Language Notes

Text: English, French --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 270 pages
• Publisher: University Of Chicago Press (May 15, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0226475034
• ISBN-13: 978-0226475035
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #228,939 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

43 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Insider's French a must!, April 1, 2000

By A Customer

As a professor of French, it is rare one comes across a book that is can serve as a required text in a multiple number of courses. The authors' very up-to-date list of entries (including the abbreviations that are integral to understanding anything French!) is a gold mine of linguistic information for teachers and students in conversation, civilisation, and literature courses... especially for those that spend time traveling in French-speaking countries, and those who like to keep up on current events in France. It is so interesting, I actually read it cover to cover... it's more than a reference work. I highly recommend this text to anyone learning or already fluent in French... and it is a must for the library reference shelves. I already look forward to a revised (updated) version in the near future. Chapeaux!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A cultural encylopedia, August 2, 2009

By	Myrna Minkoff (New Orleans, LA) - See all my reviews

Imagine yourself landing in America today with no idea the significance of references to, for example: yuppies, Oprah, MTV, "wardrobe malfunction," 9/11, Obamacare, neocons, tea parties, Michael Jordan/Michael Jackson, Tiger, Prozac, Viagra, the IRS, VISA (the card), ACORN, Fox News, Rush, Maddoff, Watergate, Lewinsky, the homeless, the Pentagon, Hillary, Paris Hilton/Perez Hilton, LGBT, "it depends on what the meaning of the word 'is' is," Wall Street, "shock and awe," etc., etc. These cultural references are short-hand for attitudes, belief systems, and historical events with meanings that continue to resonate. One could have perfect command of English but still have hardly a clue what was going on without understanding these references.

This little book is a compendium of several hundred of these sorts of items that are most useful for an outsider peering into current French culture. It is useful as a reference work and great fun to browse. It may say more about what is on the minds of the French than a lot of more ponderous works. The expressions on our lips are a window into our souls.