Dictionary Reviews

I teach Greek in a private school and I have found this chart to be one of the best resources for the Greek Verb System. My students have no problem using this chart to learn the Greek Verb. I am constantly referring to it to help me stay on track! It is well worth purchasing. I hope it is reprinted.

This is the one-sheet conjugation table for the New Testament Greek. The dimension of the chart is app. 16.7x11.7(square inches). The omega and the mi conjugations are shown. In this chart, even many forms are given which do not occur in the New Testament for the sake of completeness. Clear at a glance and very helpful. Put it on your desk-top.

This is the one of kind chart for the koine Greek verb system. Although the font is small, the complete verb inflection system is on one sheet and well organized. The seven colors even add more usefulness to the chart. With different colors denoting an augment, connecting vowels, or endings, the conjugation pattern is clearly illustrated. A must for every Biblical Greek student.

I've been using the university library's edition of this fantastic Hebrew dictionary and I will purchase my own copy as soon as finances permit. I do not for a minute feel at all put off by the cost: it's worth it. In fact, the other single volume Hebrew dictionaries available are - generally speaking - so pathetic that, if you're serious, you'll do away with them within a week of use. The one exception might be Webster's New World dictionary - but at about $US45 it seems reasonable to splurge the extra more for Alcalay's. Webster's or

Because Alcalay's is the superior dictionary: its list of entries is superb, and the detailed entries are a translator's dream, offering loads of suggestions, subtleties, and inferences for each Hebrew word, showing the richness and depth of the Hebrew language. I'm not sure if all of the spellings are standardised and conform to the Hebrew Language Academy's efforts to document the changes in Hebrew linguistics. I know Yisrael Lazar's 1 vol. Hebrew dictionary does - and may be a choice for those who wish to save money - but the thoroughness of Alcalay's is unmatched.

As a final point, I've noticed some of the Jewish specialty shops carry the o/p 5 vol. set: English/Hebrew-Hebrew/English, at a cost more expensive than purchasing the divided pieces at $US75 from Amazon.com . . . I think I prefer the option of just buying the Hebrew-English and then waiting to buy the other three volumes later, as I will do through Amazon.

I used this dictionary to accompany my interests in Jewish literature and religious studies from 1400 onwards. But I think Biblical/Torah scholars - Jewish and Christian - would also benefit from this book.

It's the standard, and that's the truth of it.

I wish I would have found this dictionary sooner! By far the best dictionary I have used. This is an absolute must for every serious Hebrew student

No library of Hebrew Studies is complete without this book. In the field of lingustics, Reuven dictionary it is mutually acclaimed as the only Hebrew Dictionary one need purchase.

If you are an experienced master of Hebrew or just starting this dictionary is for you.

Good luck and keep it by your side as it will soon wear with prolonged use.

This play is filled with symbolism especially when concerning the staircase, which is the focal point of the play. Everything takes place around it and it shows how the protagonists will never leave that building or get away from that staircase that only leads down.

This is an excellent play of people eventually taking control of their lives after generations of drift. It is available as an English translation? Russell C. Bingley

IS THERE A SPANISH LITERATURE TEACHER OUT THERE WITH ANY INFORMATION / I.E. VOCAB LISTS, QUIZZES, TESTS ON THIS WORK?

THANK YOU SUMRELR@AOL.COM SPANISH II, III, IV AND V AT WESTERN GUILFORD HS, GREENSBORO, NC

Film historians James Robert Parish and Michael Pitts's "Hollywood Songsters" have outdone themselves with this handsomely designed three-volume set that is worth every penny. Filled with rare photos, "Hollywood Songsters" has comprehensive, accurate and fascinating entries on over 100 "singers who act and actors who sing." The lives and careers of everyone from A to Z or June Allyson to Mae West are covered in intriguing and fact-filled detail. Who would have thought that such an indespensible reference book could also be a page-turner. Once you start reading this treasure trove of information it is hard to put down because of the insider tidbits and behind-the-scenes facts that fill the well-written pages. As theater and film critic and lover of musicals, I find this a most wonderful addition to my library as well as a great read. The filmography and lp and CD bibliography on each singer is unparalled. Bravo to Mr. Parish and Mr. Pitts!!!

This is an informative and delightful set that has information on Hollywood songsters that can be found no where else. Each entry has a wonderful picture accompanying. I have spent many, many happy hours pouring over the entries and learning facts about my favorite stars. This is a must have for all libraries and any scholar of musical theatre or musical film or just popular music of the 20th century. Well worth the money! It is clear that Parrish and Pitts have done their homework, but even clearer that they have a love for the subject matter and it shows on every page. As a songwriter with a love for the field, I use this book constantly.

This project has to be a mad labor of love on the part of the authors -- how else / who else would produce a 3-volume directory of singing in the movies? We must applaud and support the authors for this massive work -- I can't imagine it not being definitive -- by urging local libraries to carry it. A database like this should be available to everyone!

In short, it is a book for those interested on learning how to read Mayan Hieroglyphs. It gives you a step by step approache and good examples, taking you to some final exercises that will help to start by yourself.

This will become known as one of the standards. It is a masterpiece in its format and its presentation. Mr. Montgomery did a fine job in methodically (a compliment) going through the material and explaining the nuances of "hieroglyphs." I highly recommend the book.

Excellent book. I have a degree in cultural anthropology and started studying the Maya thirty years ago. Finally, we have a clear, precise explanation of how to approach and gain understanding of the glyphs with excellent background history and perspective. Although I am now an attorney, I still study Mayan culture and archaeology and find the book extremely interesting, approachable and a great pleasure to read. The facts that are added to give background do indeed, provide a well-rounded understanding of the evolution of the cracking of the code. I can't praise it enough. I waited a long time for a book like this!

Quintessential Jackie! Hilarious! A must-have in a Jewish humor library. May I also recommend a nifty, gezunta book I received as a gift and fell in love with? "A Little joy, A Little Oy" -- if Jackie's a main course Joy, Oy is one amazing antipasto.

Lillian & Joe Moses

Only a meshuggener would not find this book entertaining and informative. Then again, probably only meshuggeners would want to READ shtick like this. Too bad Jackie didn't record this for the blind and the goyim; LISTENING to his spiel would just make this so much more of a mecheieha. If only that gantseh macher Webster had had Jackie as his editor -- oy!

This is a smart little book of 93 Yiddish words and expressions that are defined, illuminated, and used-in-a-sentence by comic and philosopher Mason. In his Introduction, a thoughtful essay on Yiddish, he asserts that although he born in Sheboygan, Wisconsin in 1934, he grew up in a one hundred percent Yiddish-speaking world ("I didn't know that anybody in this country spoke English until I was old enough to go to the movies.") His family moved back to New York before he was five.

This little book contains a wealth of Masonisms. Jackie Mason used to have run-ins with censors and others. He reserves the right to be both self-deprecating and insulting. Jews, gentiles, politics, marriage, family, ethnicity, money, power, and God himself - all are up for grabs. There are a lot of funny stories. In addition, he has an understanding of the Yiddish language that he is happy to share. (Harry Truman was haimish - accessible, natural - FDR was not. Colorful explanation is provided.) He offers a theory of chicken soup that links it -successfully - to most of the world's cuisines. He is never dull. Mason: "It seems that in English that you have to prove that you're not emotional in order to have class." He posits his sociolinguistic theory (which you've heard if you've seen or heard his stage show) that the more emotional the speech - content and structure - the more "low class" the speaker. He defends emotionality. He loves Yiddish, and in fact the language (black English, specifically) of any people engaged in a battle of wits to survive.

A funny and endearing book.

One thing that was missing in my own education was instruction on how to properly use a dictionary. Usually, when I tried to look up a word, I went away more confused than before!

This book explains the proper method of using a dictionary so more confusion does not result! Which may not seem, at the outset, to be very important, but I believe it is the single most important aspect of education.

In modern education, children are usually taught to "guess" at the meanings of words. Which might sound fine, unless your mother is about to undergo surgery, and you consider the strong possibility the surgeon about to put her under the knife came across plenty of words in his study that he was told to "guess the meaning" of. Or how about the next time you board a plane? Do you really want a pilot who was taught to just "guess" at those definitions? I sure wouldn't want a lawyer to draft a contract on my behalf, unless I knew for certain that HE knew the definition of every "heretofore" and "forthwith"! ("heretofore" means "up to this time" and "forthwith" means "immediately".)

To be truly successful, one must fully understand the meanings of the words one comes across in life, and especially in one's profession.

This book will give your child that advantage. His SAT scores will be better. His ability to fully understand what he is studying depends upon his ability to discover the exact meaning of the words he comes across. His LOVE of study depends on this as well!

My children studied this book, and continue to apply the principles. When they come across words they don't understand, they get them defined! As a result, they are bright and interested in learning.

With this book, you will not only learn HOW to use a dictionary, but WHAT dictionaries to use.

I recommend this book to every parent I know...

This book taught my son the basics of using a dictionary. He is 9 years old, and read this book when he was 6. He feels that there is NOTHING he can't study, simply due to what he learned from studying this book.

He has read books written for grown-ups, and he can read the newspaper, too. Whenever he comes across a word he doesn't understand, he looks it up in the dictionary! It really impresses people when a child asks them, "what does that word mean?" It seems that most kids are so used to hearing words they don't know the meanings of, that they just learn to brush past it.

This book teaches HOW to get the definition of a word, and it makes it easy to do so. Instead of getting MORE confused trying to look a word up in the dictionary, all the secrets to HOW to find these definitions successfully are in this book.

I love this one, and I think ANY adult or child could benefit from it!

By far the most under-used and least understood book in the field of education is the Dictionary. The book teaches an individual how to use a Dictionary. It will give you a fundamental understanding of how to trace the origin of words, pronounce them, define them to achieve full understanding and much more. This book belongs at the entry level to any step in education, and deserves to be in broad use. I recommend it for both children and adults.

I truly enjoyed reading this book. The writing is witty and a pleasure to read. The juxtapositions of the various idioms along with the commentary provides some interesting insights into linguistic and cultural development.

Here one is greeted with a charming essay on idiom, and then one chapter each for the colorful and compelling phrases of Spanish, French, Italian and Latin. Chapters are divided into idiosyncratic sections such as 'Saints and the Church' and 'Socks and Buttons, Dresses and Nightcaps'. Each phrase is given in its original language with its American translation and a 10-100 word explanation that might include its origin, history or popular use.

Originally published in 1988, this handy 5-1/2 by 8" volume would not be a reliable guide to slang but because the author covers mainstream phrases that will tend to be remembered and passed along, it will remain a useful book. The accompanying explanations are entertaining and informative, and the inclusion of Latin makes this book irresistible.

Nicely done.

I very seldom PURCHASE a book for my personal library, but this is one of my favorites! I've shared it with various friends, mono-, bi- and multilingual. We all enjoyed it, but maybe those who speak at least one of the 4 languages covered here will get the true "delight" out of this comical, fascinating little work. The reader gets insight into the thought processes of the people groups represented. Just wish it had been a LONGER book.

My parents bought me this book in hardcover about ten years ago, and it has been indispensible. It covers a broad enough base of information so well, and with enough depth, that it has been a constant and indispensible reference for me through GCSE science in the UK, high school chemistry in the US, and even sometimes during my undergrad chemistry and physics. The illustrations are wonderful, and the explainations lucid. I would definitely recommend this for anyone with a child in school, or anyone who wants to look at a bit of basic science.

About 15 years ago, as a 9 year old, I read the three books that make up this Dictionary of Science (the Biology, Physics and Chemistry ones). I was completely captivated by them, and read them over and over again. The science is pitched at exactly the right level for children: the colourful illustrations and short sections retain a child's attention. I went on to take biology, physics and chemistry A-levels at age 17, and went on to study Medicine at Cambridge University in England. Obviously there was more to this achievement than the Usborne books I read as a child, but I honestly do attribute much of my initial interest to them.

This book is a wonderful source of science information, the colurful illustrtaions help explain the theorys that are explained in the book. It is a book for all levels. It is not just a dictionary but a true sience resource.

This is the best career resource I have ever read. It was packed with detailed information and resources about medical transcription, setting up a business, taxes, education - you name it. I found it all in this book. The authors tell it like it is and are clearly are keeping abreast of the industry trends and they live and breathe their topic. I highly recommend this book to potential MTs, MT students, and seasoned MTs. There is something to learn for everyone here! Thank you for this outstanding resource! KM, South Lake Tahoe.

nice ,nice, very nic

This has to be the most comprehensive resource written about a career field in which very little information was available. These authors just get better and better, and this, the third edition has to be the best yet. They know their topic inside out and provide up-to-date resources about the medical transcription field. I can't think of anything they have left out! I refer this reference to everyone I talk to about Medical Transcription...there is no other resource that compares to this one. Thank you authors for this outstanding career guide that has helped so many people launch their careers in medical transcription.