Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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53 of 53 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Essential, user-friendly and appreciated by the locals, 26 Oct 2001
Wonderful little book. Pocket sized - so it's easy to carry. English to Turkish and vice versa together with phonetic spelling. I found it extremely useful, relatively easy and definitely user-friendly. Useful little tips (not to be ignored) about the Turkish way of life.
Although it is described as a "phrase book" it is more a mini dictionary but with adequate conversational phrases throughout. I think they should be selling this type of book in airports because it's definitely to be recommended.
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35 of 35 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A "must have", 17 Aug 2004
For anyone who likes to engage in the courtesy of learning at least a few words in the language of the country you're visiting, this book is brilliant. It has to be said that it is more useful to those who have learnt another language before, and therefore understand grammatical terms, but that shouldn't put anyone off.At first sight, it looks more like a dictionary than a phrasebook, but the more you "get into" it, the more you gain, and realise that it's giving you an actual insight into the language, rather than just stock phrases to be trotted out when appropriate. The hints and tips about culture, manners and general quirks of Turkish society are spot-on, and invaluable. How so much can be packed into so small a volume is amazing. If you're going to Turkey, want to "have a go", and carry a comprehensive reference work around in your pocket, this is the only one to choose.
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25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Should be compulsory reading before travelling to Turkey!, 29 Nov 2005
This dictionary/phrasebook is one of the handiest companions I've ever had on holidays.
The first section is rules of grammer, how to construct verbs etc. aimed at someone who's learned a foreign language before and using vocabulary that you'd recognise from that, eg 'possessive suffixes' and the like. Then follows a basic phrase-book: hello/goodbye, yes/no, please/thank you, 1-100, 1st, 2nd, days of the week, etc. After this is the dictionary.
But what a dictionary! After key words throughout are phrases commonly associated with that word eg 'another - Can we have another room please?/Another beer please.'
And then there's the hints and tips. When you look up 'address', not only do you get the direct translation of the word and the phrase 'What's your address?', you also get a description of how signs are posted in Turkey for streets, and how to find an address when looking at an envelope! Whn you look up 'appointment', you also get a common dialogue associated with making an appointment. When you look up 'bank', you get a piece on their opening hours and recommendations on where to exchange your money. Then there's the advice on local customs, haggling, drinking tea (or declining!)...the list is endless!
All in all, this is probably the most comprehensive and well-written phrasebook I have ever come across. I can't recommend it highly enough and yes, as a previous reviewer has said, it should be a compulsory purchase before leaving the airpost.
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