Dictionary Reviews

I totally agree with the other reviews about the value of this book. I have (and still use) Henry Stern's Dutch grammar book, but was to the point where I needed more information. Well, I sure got it! I was searching for something good but not quite as expensive as this book, but finally broke down and got it. It's well worth the cost.
I do think this should not be the choice for beginners, but for advanced learners that want the info without having to wade through reading a grammar book in Dutch I give it two thumbs up... heck, I'll borrow my Dutch boyfriend's thumbs and go for four thumbs up.

Bruce Donaldson's other book, Beyond the Dictionary in Dutch, is also awesome and great for someone with a little experience in the language.

Susanne Spangler

Somewhere out there there may be a more comprehensive Dutch grammar for English speakers, but you won't need it unless you are a scholar. This book covers pretty much every useful grammatical topic you will need for learning Dutch. Thankfully, Dutch is not a particularly difficult language for English speakers, so that fact helps keep the size of this grammar manageable. Any assiduous student should be able to master it in less that six months. After reading it you should be able to read any newspaper; and although speaking is a totally different animal, there is no reason you should not have a good grounding in speaking proper Dutch. The book, however, does not delve into colloquialisms to a great degree.

That's a very good grammar. I'm a Portuguese native speaker and it is very difficult to a Latin language speaker to learn a Germanic language, but this grammar made it easier. It even helped me with the German language. This one is great for beginners, everyone should buy it. With this book I was glad twice: I started to study an interesting language (Dutch) and I began to understand a very difficult language (German). Buy it, you won't be disappointed. It gives you a comprehensive explanation about all points of the Dutch language.

Like many major modern reference works, the 'Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible' is a significant accomplishment of scholarly teamwork. Under the direction of David Noel Freedman, professor of Hebrew biblical studies at the University of California San Diego, two assistant editors and 12 consulting editors marshaled 600 scholars to work on this comprehensive achievement. The authors come from a wide range of backgrounds academically and theologically, but all are committed to the increasing importance of multiple interpretations and interdisciplinary pursuits.

Freedman explains something of the scope of this book in the preface, by beginning the Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible by defining both the terms 'bible' and 'dictionary' -- for Bible, the works referenced in this volume include the Hebrew Bible, the Apocryphal and Deuterocanonical books, and the New Testament. For Dictionary, Freedman describes the different kinds of dictionaries of the Bible available -- multi-volume sets such as the Anchor Bible Dictionary, and single-volume editions such as the subject of this present review. The multi-volume sets, Freedman states, should more appropriately be called encyclopedias. 'A one-volume Bible dictionary is intended to be a rapid-response reference work.' Containing much the same information in briefer form, this kind of text serves most needs handily.

Another important use of one-volume Bible dictionaries is to provide a guide to further research by bibliographic information. As the majority of people cannot afford the multi-volume sets, one-volume dictionaries such as the 'Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible' fill an important, affordable role for the 'average' person, who is unlikely to invest in the more expensive works.

This dictionary represents scholarly views from all major denominational and scholarly viewpoints in Judaism and Christianity. Published in the year 2000, it provides up-to-date research and scholarship, drawing on the latest archaeological finds and interpretations from literary, historical, sociological and linguistic sources.

This dictionary has approximately 5000 entries. Among them, one will find all persons and places named in the Bible, as well as political, cultural, language and natural topics that relate to biblical stories and narratives. Additionally, specific and significant articles on archaeology, theology, the history of the Bible, extra-biblical writings beyond the apocryphal/deuterocanonicals, and particular developments within ecclesiastical traditions fill out the articles in the text. Each article is signed by the contributor, and the list of contributors is in the front of the book, with basic biographical information. All major articles include bibliographic information that includes pertinent books, articles, and journals for further research.

A few examples of how entries are treated will show how they are developed in this volume. I have selected a biographical entry, a geographical entry, and a topical entry.

The entry for Aaron
This entry begins with basic biographical information -- descendant of Levi and brother of Moses (with the appropriate biblical citations for source -- Exod. 6.20; Num 26.59; 1Chr 6.3). The article then proceeds to speak of Aaron's role as High Priest (in Exodus-Numbers, and in Chronicles). Following this, references to Aaron beyond these in the Hebrew Scriptures is developed, both in priestly and non-priestly portrayals. Then, Aaron as figure referenced in the New Testament is explored. Finally, the entry gives a summary of the character of Aaron, and concludes with bibliographic information which includes three books and one article.

The entry for Chaldea
This entry begins with basic geographical information -- where is Chaldea? This is a region in southern Babylonia near the Persian Gulf; the word 'Chaldea' became synonymous over time with 'Babylonia' after a Chaldean royal family took over Babylon. The entry for Chaldea then has two major sections -- one that describes the Land and People and one that describes the History of the land. Part of the discussion of the Land and People includes an etymological exploration of the names of the people and places in Chaldea. The History of Chaldea is described as falling into two major periods, which includes the connections Chaldeans have had with the story of the development of Israel. This entry also concludes with a bibliography, which includes reference to five books.

The entry for Lord's Supper
This entry begins with the basic information -- 'a meal celebrated in honour of Jesus Christ commemorating his last meal with his disciples'. A discussion of the terms 'communion' and 'eucharist' is included in the introduction to this topic. The major headings for the development of this entry include Paul (for his writings are the earliest in the New Testament, and from which the standard wording of communion/eucharistic prayers are derived), Synoptic Gospel traditions, other traditions, and a conclusion. For those who think there is a consistent picture of the way communion is done in the New Testament, articles such as these are indeed an eye-opener; the diversity present in the New Testament helps to explain the different practices among denominations.

Included among the articles are dozens of charts and photographs, which include paintings, sculptures, artifacts, people and places. Throughout there are black-and-white maps, and at the back, the book includes colour maps, with maps of all the major periods in biblical history, as well as modern maps showing the current geography of the area, as well as one that highlights major archaeological sites. The end-plates include transliteration tables for Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek, to aid with pronunciation.

I have the 'Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible' at home on the shelf next to the 'Harper Collins Bible Dictionary', another one-volume ready-reference of comparable quality and scope. (My six-volume Anchor Bible Dictionary is kept in my office at the seminary.) Either of these volumes will serve well as a companion to reading the Bible. The Eerdmans, being more recently published, is somewhat more up-to-date, but I have found the combination of the two volumes provides most of my needs when reading and preparing for homilies and presentations.

People, places and things are all described in this dictionary. If it holds any significance in the bible, it's in this dictionary.

This dictionary isn't the most compact book in the world, so it kind of has a limitation there. There are really quality facts and ties in this book. Some symbolism is identified. This is really a top quality bible dictionary. There are ties of some biblical figures/stories to others in the bible. Many terms are identified. Some Hebrew names for God are explained. Things like the Dead Sea Scrolls are explained thoroughly.

If you want to know the bible on a deeper level, this dictionary can really help you. it is a really easy to use reference. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to know the scriptures more thoroughly.

Dictionary Of The Bible is a weighty reference which provides a new tool for reading and studying the Bible, offering nearly 5,000 alphabetically ordered articles explaining all the books, people and terms of the Bible. Accompanying discussions of cultural, geographic and literary influences provide Bible readers with a wider range of insights than most, with nearly 600 Bible authorities contributing their articles and insights.

This is truely the best reference book on the spanish language that I have been able to find. As a student of the language it is a must have for me. The authors have done a great job creating an easy to use format that will enhance the skills of beginners to native speakers.

This is more than an diccionary is the best book in the spanish lenguage. truly a MASTER PIECE

This is a classic. You've to have it. It is also an interesting way to learn spanish.

An illustrated dictionary, with the vocabulary in the definitions being more difficult than in learning dictionaries like the VOX, but including lots of difficult to find terms, such as person and place names, and even descriptions of historical events-almost like a mini-encyclopedia.

...

Great dictionary, good encyclopedic section, covers all of Latin American Spanish

My Spanish teacher had a 1989 edition, and I thought it an excellent resource, if dated. So when I discovered I could find it - in Spanish - on amazon.com, I was thrilled. I bought it way before it was published, and have not been disappointed. Full color, great maps and tons of illustrations make this a fabulous all-in-one resource - in Spanish. Only minor errors (they said Kitty Hawk was in South Carolina), otherwise they know what they're talking about and I find this a great book.

Larousse Gran diccionario is one of the very best extensive Spanish/English dictionaries on the market today. This book is great for any bilingual learner that is beyond college level Spanish 1 or any bilingual translator.
Some of the best features of this book are:

-Contains Latin American vocabulary (not limited to Castilliana Spanish).
-Extensive definitions to almost every non-regional specific (and some regional specific words) words.
-Common uses and phrases are given for almost every word.
-Basic English and Spanish grammar outline.
-Low price for such a monumental book.
-Larousse quality. Virtually every product and dictionary in Spanish that I have seen that Larousse publish is better than average quality at very competitive prices.

If I was going to give this book a grade it would be an A+ for value, quality, ease of use, and extensiveness as a dictionary.

Larousse has been the only dictionary line that I have ever recommened from high school to graduate school. You'll never go wrong with Larousse.

Larousse's line of dictionaries is one of the most impressive in the foreign language department. This huge unabridged Spanish-English dictionary is incredible. It contains virtually every word any novice or expert would need to know. In addition, Larousse does a great job of discerning the different translations for the different usages of any given word.

But the benefits do not stop there. The unabridged dictionary has an extensive genre-specific vocabulary, ranging from medicine to technology. There are also very detailed sections outlining both Spanish and English grammar and structure.

In short, this unabridged dictionary is the definitive source for Spanish and English translations. Larousse has done a spectacular job!

I concur with the other users of this site in my opinion of this book. You really can learn colloquial Japanese from this book. It is a bit dated - it was, I believe, originally written for American GI's and missionaries who found themselves in Japan after World War II and needed a good self teaching book which could be used on the ground, preferably with a native speaker to go through the material with you or at least to provide pointers on pronunciation. However, this doesn't mean that what you're learning is too basic. Virtually every feature of the spoken language is at least touched on, and best of all, there are a lot of illustrative sentences for every item covered. The whole book is split into only ten lessons, and each lesson seems to last forever, but when you actually start working with the book it is much easier than it initially appears.

There is another book by Martin out that includes copies of the dialogues from this book in written Japanese, if you really feel a need for that. While of course it is a nice idea to be able to work with the writing system immediately when learning a new language, with Japanese I don't really really believe that this is a good idea. All told, Japanese is probably the most difficult language in the world to learn to read and write correctly, more so than Chinese, so I would suggest to the would-be learner that she work with this book for a while and then start on the written language with other learning materials.

Of all the courses I have purchased, I keep returning to this one. It is thorough in its pedagogy, and provides enough practice material to really drive the grammar into your head.

I would like to see tapes for this book. It would really enhance its overall coursework.

This book is probably the single best book I have found for teaching yourself real conversational Japanese along with enough grammar neccessary to understand it and use it! It gets a nine because it could be better only with kana and kanji. If you want to learn Japanese, you will save much time with this book

Book is broken down into chapters by language category. Humorous and informative introduction followed by chapter by chapter historical introductions and then content. Fairly good attempt at pronunciation help and spelling, however, some prior experience with words in speaking environment is still necessary to truly capture the pronunciation. Overall, short but sound book.

As one learns a langauge, knowing what "not to say" can be as important as knowing what you can say. In addition to the "colourful" Yiddish it will show you, this book includes many perfectly acceptable words and phrases for many occasions or places in the life of a Jew. It includes a brief synopsis of Yiddish grammar as its final chapter. Its author's transliteration scheme is a bit unusual, but given this book's strengths, that's a minor flaw.

A must for anyone interested in languages.

RATED ' A GREAT VALUE' BY MEN'S HEALTH MAGAZINE SEPT., 2OO3
After an extensive review by Men's Health Magazine, Language Dynamics courses are rated AMONG THE BEST and 'A GREAT VALUE' by Men's Health Magazine, September 2003 issue.

I loved these practical, down to earth Spanish tapes that really did 'take the foreign out of Spanish'. EVERYTHING
had an immediate English translation so I didn't have to walk around saying 'Duh' all the time. It is unbelievable how much easier and faster it is to learn a language when you actually 'understand' what it is you are hearing and reading.
Everything that was referenced on the tapes was included in the guide.

I learned to speak and understand a lot of basic Spanish very quickly and easily with this course. The tapes were very easy to follow and the compact listening guide that came with the course allowed me to see how the language is actally written. I would use it as a guide (I would just shove it into my shirt pocket) on my trips to Mexico and Costa Rica. No complaints about the course or the guide. Just the comment that I am looking forward to the day that Language Dynamics writes a full comprehensive Spanish text or manual that uses the same fantastic, easy to learn techniques as the tapes.

I purchased this for an upcoming visit to France and think it will be very useful, esp. for someone who has limited French and loves food. I tested it out using menu information from my French Michelin guide. It does not list everything, but it contains a lot of terms and descriptions.

Eating & Drinking in France has been updated! Search amazon.com for the new Eating & Drinking in Paris. The new edition has the most comprehensive French menu reader available and lists more than 100 great places to eat and drink in Paris. You'll also find information on food markets, food stores, wine stores, wine bars and tips on budget dining.

I've used this book on two trips to France (May and November of 2000) and I think the book is incredible!

I'm at the advanced level in French, however the menus at the restaurants in France still always confounded me until I bought this book. I would say that 80% to 90% of the food items on any menu are listed in the book. Other French guide books or dictionaries do not have anywhere near the number of entries that this book contains. I've used the book at a number of restaurants in France with great success. Also, the book is so small that you can easily fit it into a small bag (or purse), so it is very easy to carry it and use it in any restaurant. You don't have to be afraid to order the Andouillette any more!

Having been away from the Pacifc Northwest 60's music scene too long, I was pleased to see many familiar names of bands and musicians I knew from those years. At the same time, I was disappointed to see that the late 50's to mid-60's music scene in Tacoma was largely missing. This seems to be the norm for books on PNW rock history.

Except for the standard Wailers, Sonics, Ventures, and Bluenotes, it seems Tacoma continues to be skipped over. That is a shame, because Tacoma also had a huge and vibrant rock music scene during those years. I was pleased to finally see more written on the Dynamics and Frantics, but only a "mentioned by name" for the Statics, and no mention at all for the Galaxies, Beachcombers, and dozens of other really fine bands.

Still, this is a valuable reference and resource tool for those wanting to learn more about Rock music history of the PNW, particularly if your interests are Seattle or Portland. Eventhough disappointed in content because of my Tacoma roots, I am glad I bought this book. I know how hard James Bush must have worked on it, as my research into the Tacoma rock scene of the early to mid 60's has also consumed much of my time and I'm not even writing a book (yet).

Sammy Carlson, bassist for The Regents (Tacoma), 1963-1967. SamCarlson@TheRegents.net

From classical recordings to classic rock, Encyclopedia of Northwest Music identifies the unique sounds of Northwest musicians, revealing the lives and influences of those who have made not only a regional name for themselves, but who've influenced music around the world. Profiles of the Kingsmen, Treepeople, Quincy Jones, and others are provided in a fine guide to a range of local styles from rock and pop to jazz and folk.

FINALLY A BOOK ABOUT NORTHWEST MUSIC, ESPECIALLY ROCK AND ROLL OF THE 60'S AND 70'S.THE PREVIOUS DON ROGERS BOOK IN 1989 WAS GOOD FROM THE OREGON PERSPECTIVE BUT THIS BOOK COVERS A LOT OF BANDS WHO HAVE NEVER REALLY BEEN ACKNOWLEDGED IN PRINT. BANDS LIKE MARK GALLAGHER & THE FRAGILE LIME, THE CITY ZU, AND GABRIEL.NEIL SKOK HAS DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB!I SAY THANK YOU TO ALL THE WRITERS WHO CONTRIBUTED TO MR.BUSH'S BOOK!