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Penguin English Dictionary (Penguin Reference Books)
 
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Penguin English Dictionary (Penguin Reference Books) (Hardcover)
by Robert Allen (Editor)
5.0 out of 5 stars 3 customer reviews (3 customer reviews)

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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Lexicographers have been arguing for centuries--since Dr Johnson produced his authoritative Dictionary of the English Language in 1755--about whether dictionaries should be arbiters of correctness or describers of living language. Refreshingly forward-looking and impressively comprehensive, The Penguin English Dictionary inclines to the latter.

In it you'll find definitions of "dot com company" as well as "dot com fever". Also there amongst the burgeoning computer and Internet vocabulary and its spin-off metaphors are "people carrier," "ring-fence" and "zero tolerance". But that is not to say this large, single-volume dictionary is not also strong and clear on standard English and English of earlier periods as well as on scientific and specialist terms--all with scholarly derivations. "Fugacious" ("lasting a short time, fleeting"--from Latin fugac--fugac from fuger to flee) is there along with "ollgoclase" ("a common feldspar mineral of the plagioclase series found in many rocks eg granite"--from German Oligoklas, from Greek OLIGO + klasis breaking").

Two features distinguish this attractive dictionary. First, like larger multi-volume rivals, it quotes from writers past and present--and people in the news today--to illustrate established, changing and modern language usage. Thus Shakespeare and John Locke rub shoulders with Eric Cantona and Germaine Greer. Second, the dictionary is liberally supplied with inset usage notes, which explain the complexities of, for example, shall and will, supplement and complement, effect and affect. There are also editorial notes and occasional very entertaining word histories. It makes for engrossing browsing. The (signed) editorial notes give supplementary information and have been written by a team of experts. Thus you get a useful elucidatory extra paragraph about film noir by film writer David Thomson, a comment about equality by Helena Kennedy QC and, by BBC economics correspondent Evan Davis, a piece about monetarism.

The New Penguin English Dictionary is being marketed as a dictionary "with attitude" and it's certainly that--firmly in the Johnsonian tradition, although the range of opinions makes it a much more multi-faceted dictionary than anything we've seen before. --Susan Elkin --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Synopsis
Revised and updated, this dictionary is accessible yet authoritative. It offers clear, detailed definitions with particular emphasis on difficult meanings, and there are usage notes, explanations of key concepts and word histories. The entries cover technical and specialist vocabulary, slang and the most up-to-date jargon and buzzwords.


 
Customer Reviews
3 Reviews
5 star: 100%  (3)
4 star:    (0)
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent dictionary with a modern feel, 22 Dec 2004
By Budge Burgess (Kilmarnock, Scotland) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)   
This is a really excellent dictionary, packed with words and with a decidedly modern feel to it. Reference books these days are escaping the fusty old image - they have to compete with CD-Roms and the Internet, so they have to create a contemporary yet timeless, user-friendly feel.

Penguin provides a very up-to-date dictionary - its vocabulary covers an extensive range of modern terms or new words, and it generates a very cool, with-it feel. You are offered over 1600 pages, densely packed with information, but you may find that, compared to some other dictionaries, the definitions can be a little bit abrupt and restricted. In general terms, this is not a problem, but it doesn't have the etymological or historical depth and range that even bigger dictionaries offer.

Print quality is excellent - dense, dark, crisp, highly legible ... but you may still need your glasses if you wear them. Now, I write professionally, and have recently had to resort to glasses, so this has become a relevant factor for me. I also have a number of dictionaries - the tools of my trade. I feel that the print quality provided by Penguin is of the best and that this dictionary is easier to read in dim or poor lighting than many of its competitors. This may be a major factor for many people.

Paper quality is excellent and has a good, robust feel to it. Penguin offer (or offered) two versions of the dictionary - paperback or hardback. Choose the hardback! If you use a dictionary regularly, the hardback is far more forgiving and is definitely built to last. I started with a paperback version and, while it is still an invaluable servant, it is beginning to show signs of strain.

This is a heavy, but not overly bulky volume. It might just fit conveniently on a desk top, though perhaps not in a drawer, and is over heavy for a younger child to handle with ease. But it has a good feel to it, and I've found it to be a useful tool.

But, as always, when reviewing dictionaries, I always conclude by suggesting that you try to find a copy in your local book shop and see if it suits your purposes. Dictionaries are a very personal, almost intimate, artefact, so it's worth seeing them and handling them before you make your choice. I'm very impressed by the Penguin offering, but you should take time to consider whether it or one of its competitors best fits your needs, your pocket, and your lifestyle.

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12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars If you enjoy words, buy this book!, 29 Nov 2000
By A Customer
I am a Briton who has been working in Silicon Valley (California, USA), the home of many "dot-com" companies. On a recent business trip to Rome, while browsing in the English Bookshop on Via Ripetta, I spotted a new dictionary. Scanning it, I was pleasantly surprised to see "dot-com fever" listed. Becoming quite engrossed after another 15 minutes of browsing, I decided to buy a copy, despite already owning a full suitcase and an entire shelf of dictionaries at home.

I have not been disappointed. In addition to providing interesting reading, it has already supplied the answer to one puzzle, namely why my American partner could not see that the answer to a crossword clue about "posts" was "bollards". It turns out that the first definition listed (a traffic barrier) is actually limited to British English, a fact that had previously escaped me despite 22 years in the USA, but one that the Penguin dictionary notes. Having become used to American English dictionaries, which tend to assume US usage and note only the (non-US) exceptions, I found this usage note commendable in a British dictionary.

In short, this book looks like a really useful addition to my shelf. If you enjoy words, you should get one too!

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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent quality, extensive, modern vocabulary, 11 Dec 2004
By Budge Burgess (Kilmarnock, Scotland) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)   
This is a really excellent dictionary, packed with words and with a decidedly modern feel to it. Reference books these days are escaping the fusty old image - they have to compete with CD-Roms and the Internet, so they have to create a contemporary yet timeless, user-friendly feel.

Penguin provides a very up-to-date dictionary - its vocabulary covers an extensive range of modern terms or new words, and it generates a very cool, with-it feel. You are offered over 1600 pages, densely packed with information, but you may find that, compared to some other dictionaries, the definitions can be a little bit abrupt and restricted. In general terms, this is not a problem, but it doesn't have the etymological or historical depth and range that even bigger dictionaries offer.

Print quality is excellent - dense, dark, crisp, highly legible ... but you may still need your glasses if you wear them. Now, I write professionally, and have recently had to resort to glasses, so this has become a relevant factor for me. I also have a number of dictionaries - the tools of my trade. I feel that the print quality provided by Penguin is of the best and that this dictionary is easier to read in dim or poor lighting than many of its competitors. This may be a major factor for many people.

Paper quality is excellent and has a good, robust feel to it. Penguin offer (or offered) two versions of the dictionary - paperback or hardback. Choose the hardback! If you use a dictionary regularly, the hardback is far more forgiving and is definitely built to last. I started with a paperback version and, while it is still an invaluable servant, it is beginning to show signs of strain.

This is a heavy, but not overly bulky volume. It might just fit conveniently on a desk top, though perhaps not in a drawer, and is over heavy for a younger child to handle with ease. But it has a good feel to it, and I've found it to be a useful tool.

But, as always, when reviewing dictionaries, I always conclude by suggesting that you try to find a copy in your local book shop and see if it suits your purposes. Dictionaries are a very personal, almost intimate, artefact, so it's worth seeing them and handling them before you make your choice. I'm very impressed by the Penguin offering, but you should take time to consider whether it or one of its competitors best fits your needs, your pocket, and your lifestyle.

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? YesNo (Report this)


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