The University of Chicago Spanish Dictionary, Fifth Edition, Spanish-English, English-Spanish: Universidad de Chicago Diccionario Espanol-Ingles, Ingles-Espanol: Amazon.ca: David A. Pharies: Books

Product Description

From Publishers Weekly

It's no secret that the Latinization of America is proceeding at a quick pace, so it follows that one of the more important reference books for the new century would be a Spanish-English dictionary. The University of Chicago Press has a history of publishing foreign-language textbooks dating back to the 1920s, and their Spanish-English dictionary has always been well regarded. Lacking the European air of a Larousse or a Langenscheidt, this new edition (the first in 15 years) stresses the malleability of both the American version of English and the Latin American version of Spanish. Besides the obligatory concise descriptions of grammar and verb conjugation, this edition includes new "context cues," which distinguish layers of meaning. For example, "soft" can be used to describe both butter and skin in English, whereas in Spanish, soft butter is blando, and soft skin is suave. Editor Pharies, a professor of Spanish at the University of Florida, also includes an array of jargon for the high-tech world (e.g., en linea for "online"), proving that Latin America is not yet succumbing to vulgar Spanglishisms. While the task of cataloguing regionalisms across Latin America is daunting, this dictionary does capture much of its slang, and even sometimes off-color usage, making the book as warm as its easygoing typeface.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Book Description

The University of Chicago Spanish Dictionary is the most popular dictionary of its kind. Its familiar name is known to millions of general readers, students, educators, and travelers. Improved for greater ease of use, and brought completely up to date, the fifth edition of The University of Chicago Spanish Dictionary is now more than ever the perfect resource for both language learners and experienced language users.

With thousands of added entries, the Dictionary builds on the features that have made it the leader in its field for more than fifty years: authority, scope, clarity, and conciseness. And with this edition, the Dictionary brilliantly captures the current core vocabularies of two rapidly changing—and increasingly connected—languages and cultures.

Entirely bilingual, the fifth edition focuses on two contemporary international languages—American English and a basic, worldwide Spanish that draws from both Latin American and Iberian sources.

Designed for a wide range of users, including travelers, businesspeople, students, teachers, and professionals, the new Dictionary is the essential first resource for speakers of both languages—from beginners to those at all other stages. Up to date, just comprehensive enough, and extraordinarily clear and easy to use, the new edition of The University of Chicago Spanish Dictionary stands alone. No other dictionary offers so many users so much help—or so much value.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely THE Best Spanish Dictionary Out There, Mar 8 2004

By

Jesse James "Fan of high quality music" (La Mesa, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The University of Chicago Spanish Dictionary, Fifth Edition, Spanish-English, English-Spanish: Universidad de Chicago Diccionario Espanol-Ingles, Ingles-Espanol (Paperback)

I have looked hard and long at many different Spanish dictionaries to find the best one. I had never been fully satisfied with any previous dictionary -- until now. This new edition is by far the best, most useful, and easiest to use Spanish dictionary ever. There are several important reasons why I say this.

First, right after each Spanish word, it has an easy to read and simple abbreviation in upper case letters to describe the word either as an adjective (ADJ), adverb (ADV), masculine noun (M), femminine noun (F), transitive verb (VT), intransitive verb (VI), etc. This is also done with the English side, with the exception of using N (not M or F) to describe the noun.

Second, if a word has multiple meanings, which most do, it gives an example of each usage in parenthesis, and then the correct word to use. Here is an example for the word "check":
(stop) refrenar; (restrain) reprimir; (hand over luggage) facturar; (hand over coat) dejar; (verify) verificar; Am chequear; (in chess) dar jaque

Third, you may have noticed in the above example the "Am", which in the book is actually italicized. This refers to the (Latin) American usage of the word chequear. Contrary to the first reviewer, this dictionary does have regional usages, including those for (Latin) America, Spain, Mexico, and Rio de la Plata.

Fourth, and maybe the most helpful, and useful aspect, are the multiple idiomatic usages of each word which are included at the end of each word entry. (I should note that each listed word in the dictionary, and the idiomatic phrases are in bold face, which makes things even easier). Here are the ones for the word "cheap" (I added the / mark, which is not in the book):
life is -- there /la vida no vale nada alli; talk is -- /hablar no cuesta nada; to feel -- /sentirse despreciable; -- shot/ golpe bajo; --skate/ tacaño -ña

Fifth, are the many new words used today in both English and Spanish involving technology, pop culture, medicine, science, and other modern usages. Also, many common vulgar terms and idioms are included, which are marked by the abbreviations "pej" for pejorative and "vulg" for vulgar.

For all those who have never been fully satisfied with the Spanish dictionaries they own, or who are looking for the best one to buy, this is MUST HAVE!!!

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3.0 out of 5 stars Dumbed down, Sep 9 2002

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bukhtan (Chicago, Illinois, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The University of Chicago Spanish Dictionary, Fifth Edition, Spanish-English, English-Spanish: Universidad de Chicago Diccionario Espanol-Ingles, Ingles-Espanol (Paperback)

In this new edition the editors eliminated the greater part of the indications of regional usage. This had been one of the great selling points of the earlier editions of the University of Chicago Spanish Dictionary. In their introduction there is some explanation to the effect that tracing regional usage is "notoriously difficult". It is true that good lexicography is "notoriously difficult" and if the editors find it too difficult, they should go into another business.
In addition, the number of entries has been reduced. Anyone who has used a dictionary on the ground knows that smaller dictionaries are poorer dictionaries. Some of the space saved was used on parenthetical guide-words which distinguish separate meanings. This sounds like a fine idea but in practice the editors use it compulsively, in places where it really isn't necessary.
Those who need a Spanish dictionary may want to get the older editions of this dictionary or one of the larger editions of Larousse.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely THE Best Spanish Dictionary Out There, Mar 8 2004

By Jesse James "Fan of high quality music" - Published on Amazon.com