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Rating: 
Summary: Survival vs. Fluency for Beginners
Review: As a deaf interpreter of 12 years, and college level sign language instructor, I am confident in stating Eric Dondero's phrasebook uniquely provides the essentials needed for basic communication in a multitude of languages for anyone ready to take the opportunity to break into a new culture and experience it first hand. Dondero is "right on" with his technique in concentrating on simple phrases in each language: Focusing on familial words and leaving out the grammar, which can be saved for learning in a formal setting. If you are interested in mastering a specific language, then this is not the book for you, but if speaking to communicate among peoples of the language of choice, you won't be disappointed. Eric's theory is the same technique I use when teaching sign language to people who have never signed a letter or word in their life, in an hour of instruction I can have a classroom of people signing and understanding eachother.
It is clear, Eric's idea is by providing the reader with survival phrases the reader will find themselves picking up the language faster...as opposed to attempting to master it before speaking. Using Dondero's technique the reader will soon find that using these phrases and receiving the expected answers will provide the speaker with success...speaking a foreign language!!!
Well done...Dondero!
Rating:
Summary: A HANDY book for travelers
Review: I have a copy of this book, and it's very handy for those who have little or no knowledge of the language spoken in their travel destinations. I am very interested in languages and the chapters on languages I'm not familiar with were a great introduction for me. I speak Spanish, Portuguese, German, Dutch, the Scandinavian languages and basic Russian. I particularly liked the section on Asian languages. Most Americans are monolingual, and this book will help you at least survive when you can't get by with just English. I'm a travel agent and have recommended it (among other more language-specific books) to my clients. I have no criticisms other than the fact that I noticed a few typos in the German section, but these minor errors would not prevent you from getting your point across. The US military should issue this book to our fighting men and women overseas. I can't tell you how many times I have noticed obnoxious GIs or squids abroad thinking that speaking louder will make the locals understand them. A little effort to learn the local lingo goes a long way, and this book makes it simple. Get it today, if not for yourself, for someone who needs it.
Rating: 
Summary: Not a bad start...
Review: When I found Dondero's little volume, I was delighted. Then I scanned the entries for languages I knew a little about. While this isn't a bad survey for someone who travels a lot, there are too many errors in spelling and pronunciation suggestions for the serious language learner to use it as a reference. Going round the world and need to be able to ask for the essentials? Buy this. But if you're looking for authoritative references, better collect a few Lonely Planet regional guides.
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