Phrase Books? - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

artvandalay417 · 05-04-2006, 08:13 PM

Does anyone have any suggestions on good European Phrase Books?

**tumblezweedz** · 05-05-2006, 12:50 AM

I have a very old Berlitz one, an Arabic phrasebook (it's orange, no idea the brand), and a Baltic Phrase Book (it's purple, no idea the publisher). For a general one, I'd just peruse it at the bookstore, see which one has the most likely things you'd need to ask. (mine would focus heavily on directions and food, rather than pick up lines). Though I must say, I had a great time giggling over the pick up lines with some Polish girls I met - we all agreed that they sounded as stupid in Polish as they did in English...

**bellelass** · 05-05-2006, 12:52 AM

As much as I personally dont go for LP guidebooks, I have an Egytian Arabic and a Hebrew one that I like really well. Its good if you want a basic rundown on grammar, as well as if you want a few handy/interesting phrases or utilitarian ones. Also, it includes blurbs about the culture, and non verbal communication.

**expatben** · 05-05-2006, 02:47 AM

I have a lonely plannet for Germany and it really works for me. Berlitz is pretty good too.

**simply_angelic** · 05-05-2006, 06:56 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by tumblezweedz@May 5 2006, 03:50 AM
* (mine would focus heavily on directions and food, rather than pick up lines).* Though I must say, I had a great time giggling over the pick up lines with some Polish girls I met - we all agreed that they sounded as stupid in Polish as they did in English...

[snapback]118044[/snapback]

sounds like the one my friend got in Italy....while it did have some useful stuff as well, it had the some of most RANDOM sections. I mean how many people really need to know how to ask for cocaine, heroine etc, and of course if you're asking for that, you're going to want to know where to get needles and hookers....and once you've got the hooker you are going to want to tell her all the sexual things you'd like to do her/have her do to you...

**aliz** · 05-05-2006, 07:02 AM

yeah I have to lonely planet german book - its great. its also got a 'romance' section, with handy phrases such as 'touch me here' and 'dont stop now' and even 'oh dont worry, I'll do it myself'.... I'm sorry would anyone here think to whip out a phrasebook in an... intimate situation? yeah, thats a real turn on...

**florencia9699** · 05-05-2006, 09:14 AM

^^

**LostFarmboy** · 05-07-2006, 06:49 PM

Yeah, i got the LP Spanish phrase book. It's really good for phrases if you don't have any clue how to speak the language. The dictionary at the back was a bit lacking though.

RootBrewskies · 05-11-2006, 11:35 AM

i find phrase books to be more of a novelty. half the time i cant even pronounce the stuff in them, and then i cant understand the response unless its a yes or no question or unless i'm ordering food or something and they just give it to me.

i also find it funny that when someone realizes you dont speak a foreign language they slow down their speech and speak really loudly. its like they think if they yell slowly at me in russian that i will magically understand everything that they say.

normally my conversations start with 3 questions. do u speak english? do u speak spanish? do you speak german? if they dont then i'm probably in trouble.

but if i'm getting a phrase book i typically just head to my local used bookstore and pick up whatever they have. i hardly ever use the books i get. the only time i really ever use them is in small towns when i cant find anyone who i can at least communicate some sort of broken english/spanish/german with.

or you could just search online for vital questions/words u will need. i just normally find the 100 page phrase books not worth it since i usually use a combined 5 phrases out of them.

futboller · 05-11-2006, 05:39 PM

I have a nice little Lonely Planet one that covers a bunch of Western European languages, including Basque and Catalan, but also several useful ones. I don't expect it will be much help but just in case.

RootBrewskies · 05-12-2006, 06:52 PM

covering euskera (the basque region language) is pretty much worthless since its impossible to pronounce anyway. i remember being there and i was clueless. how do u pronounce something that isspelled 'xywichy' or something

**expatben** · 05-13-2006, 08:22 AM

Yeah Basque is hard eh? When I was in Vitoria I would watch Basque TV-I forget the channel I think it was ETB or something. VERY hard.