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Summary: Collins German-English English-German Dictionary
Review: This book was a tremendous help with our German exchange student. It helped us to communicate better with her and to educate her further on the English language. Near the end of her visit, her family came to visit the U.S.A. and this book was used on a minute by minute basis to help with translation during comminucation. This book really bridged the communication gap!
Rating:
Summary: Collins German-English English-German Dictionary
Review: This book was a tremendous help with our German exchange student. It helped us to communicate better with her and to educate her further on the English language. Near the end of her visit, her family came to visit the U.S.A. and this book was used on a minute by minute basis to help with translation during comminucation. This book really bridged the communication gap!
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Summary: Absolute Spitzenklasse!
Review: This could well be the best two-way dictionary of any language pair anywhere. As an avid student of several foreign languages (incl. English and German) for 20 years, I have come to know what constitutes a first-rate dictionary. It is nothing short of a masterpiece.I had been using a predecessor edition (2nd ed., 1991) for some 10 years, and even when it was published it was the best of its kind and constantly on my desk. This 4th edition raises the bar by featuring improvements across the board. The benefits derived from the increased computerised analysis of the huge word corpora Bank of English and Deutsche Textbörse are increasingly visible. Vorsprung durch Technik, indeed. 1. This exhaustive dictionary embraces, on 1000 pages in either section, every register from formal officialese via the standard language right down to vulgar slang. But it is in the real-life language where Collins has the finger right on the pulse. Many word entries are awash with examples of usage/idioms/set phrases/proverbs as actually used by natives as well as their natural translations. (I wish there were a way to download all this information into my brain because I would be able to handle any situation in flying colours.) 2. Inclusion of German words like Kardanwelle, Rochade, das Pull-Down-Menü, Überlaufanzeige etc. indicate extensive coverage of specialist terms in many fields as well as loan-words from the 90s. 3. The English section is equally impressive, listing e.g. cyberpet, establishing shot, trick or treat, decontextualize, nuclear reprocessing plant, memory expansion card, look-in, supergrass, wicked (UK slang). The word "go" and its associated phrasal verbs have an astounding range of translations. 4. Idiomatic phrases such as "to get away with sth" and "jdm etwas zumuten" which are contextually dependent are given several alternative and appropriate translations. 5. Certain bon mots and expressions which are used mostly in situations on one side of the Channel (or those whose counterpart is much less colourful!) are well translated.
Examples: set piece, pub crawl, single-track mind, car-boot sale, off-the-record, stomping groud, pipe dream; Stammtisch, Führungszeugnis, Geheimtipp, Kuschelrock, Dreitagebart, Wohngemeinschaft, Dunkelziffer, nicht mehr der jüngste sein etc. In fact, even "Ich schau dir in die Augen, Kleines", the classic line from the dubbed version of Casablanca, is listed. Hut ab! 6. This edition includes an audio CD with pronunciation (because they understand that there is a practical limit to phonetic script). The layout has been given a face-lift with 3 columns per page instead of 2 resulting in improved readability. 7. The dictionary's vast scope, depth and usability for both English and German learners and speakers (in equal measure) leave virtually no room for valid criticism. Yet some words and expressions seem to have escaped the researchers' keen eye for detail (so far); missing English words are e.g. polenta, present/current value (Fin), brown-noser, case-sensitive. Im deutschen Teil sind die folgenden durchaus geläufigen Wörter nicht aufgeführt: Quereinsteiger, Marktabschottung, Kasslerbraten, Regelwerk, verhandlungssicher, Töff (CH). But this is nit-picking. Summa summarum: Kudos to the team of meticulous professionals behind this work for having brought out the Mercedes S-Klasse - with all the optional extras - of dictionaries. It's also an exemplary cross-border collaboration optimally blending British practicality and German precision. Buy this dictionary - you may still be using it in 2012.
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Summary: Most Up To Date
Review: This dictionary is more up to date than the Langenscheidt College Dictionary which has a date of 1995 and which does not include the latest spelling reforms. Go with this one.
Rating:
Summary: Most Up To Date
Review: This dictionary is more up to date than the Langenscheidt College Dictionary which has a date of 1995 and which does not include the latest spelling reforms. Go with this one.
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Summary: Great dictionary
Review: This is an excellent dictionary. Too large for use when travelling (it's unabridged) but if you need the most complete
German/English, this is the one.
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Summary: A WORTHY GERMAN GEM
Review: This is one solid item that anyone who has interest in German language should have around. Its authority is unquestionable.
With "Collins German Unabridged Dictionary", learners are assured of the most comprehensive explanation of both terms and phrases.
This updated edition is simply unbeatable. It provides access to thousands of idioms, as well as technical and professional terms. It is a lexicon that assists inexperienced users in the conjugation of many irregular verbs that makes German a brain-toasting tongue.
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Summary: great German resource
Review: This is perfect for the German scholar needing to know every word! It includes full guidelines for the new language reform. It rivals the Langenscheidt series and is affordable.
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Summary: Einfach Wunderbar!
Review: Um dieses Wörterbuch zu beschreiben brauche ich bloß ein Wort: Ausgezeichnet!
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Summary: One of the best dictionaries I've come across
Review: While I used to swear by Langenscheidt's dictionaries, this one tops it as far as general purpose German/English English/German dictionaries are concerned. Featuring up-to-date vocabularies, and a wide variety of idiomatic traslations, this dictionary is very helpful in giving clear guidance as to differences in meaning and usage. If you are a translator or interpreter, or simply interested in the intricacies of either one or both of the languages, this book belongs on your desk. Given the weight of this hefty volume, it won't be in most people's luggage when travelling; for those occasions, I recommend to keep "Langenscheidt's Universal Dictionary - German" at hand instead.
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