Showing posts with label Language. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Language. Show all posts

Thursday, July 21, 2011

French Dictionaries - An Incredibly Simple Way To Master The French Language!


There are several different reasons why somebody would need access to one of the French dictionaries that are available. They may need to look up the definition of a word that they heard but are unfamiliar with, they might be trying to translate something from their language into French or back to their language or they may need to learn how to speak a few basic French terms.

For those that need to look up the definition of the word in the French language, there are several different French dictionaries that are available. Some of these are available online but if you're going to be referencing it on a regular occasion, it is always good to have a hard copy. The same would be true about an English dictionary, most people have them in their home even though they are readily available on the Internet.

As far as translating something into French or from French into your language through the use of these French dictionaries, there are several available online which will do this easily. If you do not have access to a computer or are traveling, you may want to get one of the handheld French dictionaries in order to take care of this for you.

In order to learn a few basic French terms, there are some dictionaries that will help you to do this. It is much easier, however, to get a basic French language tutorial CD or book as many of them will contain the most commonly used phrases.




If you want to learn French Fast on the Internet, then download your copy of Rocket French today!

Franck Silvestre is a French native speaker who teach others How To Speak French online. Visit his website today at http://www.learnfrenchexpert.com/





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Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Language Dictionaries Really Help


All right, so you are not a natural English speaker, your mother and father isn't even English speakers. In fact, no one in your family is English speakers, but you may have many friends that speak English.

However, having friends that speak English will not help you out when it comes to writing in English. If you have noticed, there are a lot of clients demanding work to be done in English and if you are not an English speaker, they are not going to want you. You sit behind the computer all day typing up those articles and you are trying your best to succeed in the writing world. We do not want you to fail in the writing world and that is why we are writing this article on the language dictionary software. We believe with the right type of language dictionary software, you will be able to find all of the words you are in need of.

If you are like many non English speakers, then you have a hard time trying to figure out that word you want to write down. You can't quite think of that English word that describes what you need. If this is your problem, then you should look at the language dictionary software. In many cases, you will be able to have the software installed in your writing program and sometimes, writing programs come with the language software. You can look like an all natural English speaker, as long as you play all of your card right and invest in good software.




To use software to learn a language or to translate text is a smart decision. But why? Fact is, it's cheap and effective in the surrounding of your quiet home or in the office. Language Software offers great software for translation and language learning purposes at decent prices. Read more





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Making the Dictionary a Friend - Proper Use of the English Language


The English Dictionary

Everyone knows that grammar and spelling matters in school. But what about the real life? Does grammar really matter when you're trying to score a job? What about when you're just sending a formal letter to friends? Since you're reading this article, you probably have already guessed 'Yes'. And you guess right!

While everyone may not admit that proper language is a reason for selecting or tossing applicants, it really matters. Well-written work creates an impression. Misused language just goes to show that you're not qualified enough to take your work seriously, which can devastate your chances to getting the desired job.

The English language is vast in size and contains several words with the same meaning. However, choosing the best word is what really matters. For example, I could say that this article is really interesting. Or, I could say that this article is thought-provoking.

See what just happened there? Changing one word changes the whole impression of the statement. Learning how to use these "impressive" words is what this article is all about.

It can be really easy to just look up a word in a thesaurus and then pick the synonym that sounds the best. However, most of the time, the synonyms don't fit in the statement. Unless you really understand the meaning of the word you are plugging in, your document will probably contain mistakes from top to bottom!

Therefore, use a combination of reference books. This includes the thesaurus and the dictionary! Yes, the boring dictionary. But there's some good news, you don't have to pick up the old dusty books and search words, you can do everything electronically!




You can use this Dictionary Download [http://www.dictionarydownload.net] for instance, to get an electronic version of the Oxford Concise English Dictionary! There are also many downloads out there to get a great thesaurus! So next time you create a new document, take in account which words you use. The dictionary can be your best friend!





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Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Homeschooling French As a Second Language - Using a Dictionary to Build Vocabulary


When you have access to a good quality, comprehensive, French-English dictionary, you open up a world of possibilities to your French as a Second Language students. Vocabulary building is an important part of language learning, and having a good dictionary makes it easy and fun.

What dictionary should you buy? I highly recommend investing in the biggest and best one you can afford. Small paperback and pocket dictionaries just don't have all the information you will need. A larger version, on the other hand, will contain conjugations, grammar, word histories, examples of world usage, and even sample letters and phrases to help you in conversation and composition.

Having a comprehensive dictionary allows you to build your French lessons based on other topics that you may be studying. If you are studying the continents of the world, for example, you can look them up and label them on your map in both French and English.

As you work through your history or science lessons, you can also do themed projects in French, such as booklets, posters, and oral presentations using the vocabulary of the specific areas you are working on. You might assign, for example, a poster on the mammals of North America. Your students can label their projects in English and French to double up on the learning potential.

One favorite project, when I taught my middle school classes, was always a restaurant menu. In our unit on food, students would make themed menus, designing colorful covers, inventing interesting restaurant names, and listing off the various meats, vegetables, beverages, and other foods they were learning about. Some students chose a sports theme, some a garden theme, etc. As a follow-up we would use the menus to act out a visit to the restaurant.

Having a comprehensive dictionary allows you to follow areas of interest to your children such as soccer, basketball, animals, cooking, etc. For a few years, I taught a group of homeschooled boys in my home once a week. One of our projects was learning about hockey equipment. I brought out my son's smelly hockey gear and spread it around my kitchen and we named each piece. Then the boys drew pictures of hockey players, labelling their equipment. It was great fun, and the boys were motivated because it was a topic they were interested in.

Are you planning your vegetable garden for next spring? Map out where you will plant your beans, tomatoes, etc. and label it in French. Do you feed the birds in your backyard? Make a checklist in French of birds that are common to your area and check off each bird as you see it. Are you making a fun dessert for the family? Find the recipe in French and see if it tastes just as good!

With a comprehensive French-English dictionary, you can make French a relevant and fun part of your homeschool curriculum.




If you are interested in adding French as a Second Language to your homeschool, or are looking for teaching aids for your French classroom, take advantage of the free resources available at http://nallenart.org/. Norma Allen is a veteran homeschooler and curriculum writer who has also taught French either in the classroom or online for over 25 years.





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Monday, July 18, 2011

The Oxford Dictionary Creation and The Future of Language


Have you ever read the encyclopedia? Well, I guess you are not a; know it all, after all? Have you ever read the dictionary? It seems like a boring thing to do but you really should read it, as it is quite good actually. In my life I have read two dictionaries; an abridged Oxford dictionary and a regular dictionary.

It is amazing how the language changes over the years in each society and in each new generation. If you ever want to read a book on the subject, then I recommend; "The Meaning of Everything; The story of the Oxford English Dictionary" by Simon Winchester.

What will the future of the English language be? Well, a lot of that depends on professors and scholars and what they consider words, as each year new words are added to the dictionary. But in the information age we have compound words that take on entirely new meanings. We also have industry professionals and consultants creating new words in their fields. Many words that are quite unique and in industry terminology and new industry buzzwords are not in the Oxford dictionary although as time marches on they may actually earn a spot.

But still, what will the future of language be with all this instant messaging and abbreviated words? Our language is evolving and changing whether the professors and Oxford scholars like it or not. Slang is becoming acceptable and hyphenated shortened words are also. Still authors who are popular often invent new words and they are readily accepted if the writer is recognized. The future of language is involving faster than ever before and perhaps you will think of this in 2006.




"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is an online writer in retirement.





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Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Franklin Electronic Dictionary - Learning Language Made Much Easier


Not that many people might know it, but a Franklin electronic dictionary is actually a helpful gadget to have especially if you want a handy dictionary with you at all times. In fact, there are countless people that use an electronic dictionary all across the world. These types of dictionaries are perfect to use for people who go out of the country on business trips. Tourists would also benefit a lot from this type of device.

Moreover, students will also find this device helpful especially if they are studying a foreign language in another country. There are also many types of dictionary that any person can choose whichever works for them best.

These dictionaries are also quite easy to use and incorporate many different functions. Some of its main functions apart from translating a foreign word would be to provide spell checks, find the meaning and synonym of any particular word or even provide examples of how a word is used in a sentence.

Moreover, a typical Franklin electronic dictionary can also do a reverse lookup. By entering the meaning of a word, you would be able to pull up the exact word that you are looking for.

There is an extensive database that includes about 1 million words and synonyms. It also incorporates idiomatic expressions, medical, technical words or ones commonly used for business.

All these things can help you learn and understand any particular language that you choose. With the Franklin dictionary, you won't have to worry about not getting the meaning right.

A Franklin electronic dictionary is a very helpful tool especially if you want a pocket dictionary that you want to be able to carry with you anywhere. Franklin Electronic Publishers have been one of the leading manufacturers of handheld electronic gadgets. Its main office is located in Burlington, New Jersey and has been in the business of creating these electronic devices since 1981.

Some of the original devices that they produced included spelling correctors, of which the first was the Spelling Ace created in 1986. These devices were and continue to be a great help to students all over the globe.

They are also perfect for professionals who have are working in a country with a different language. Franklin products, including dictionaries, are great for enhancing the confidence of non-native speakers. At the same time, it is the best aid to the entire learning process.

The company continues to service clients from all over the world. Although they are popular in the United States, especially targeting the Hispanic market; Franklin's products are also quite well-known in Asia, particularly Japan.

The Japanese market has embraced the company's products and they continue to expand their product range to accommodate various people's needs. The company aims to address this growing need for language tools as more people are aiming to learn new languages.

Thus, if you want to have something that can help you learn and understand a particular language much easier, then get yourself a Franklin electronic dictionary right now.




You can get Franklin Electronic Dictionary at 15% off at Christian Book Store.



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Monday, July 11, 2011

Second Language Studies - The Importance of a Good Dictionary


For most of today's school-age children, the internet has become the go-to reference place for facts and definitions. However, there is still much to be said for an old-fashioned, bound paper dictionary, especially for learning a second language.

While there are several internet translators available, these are generally unreliable. Language is so full of idioms which are difficult to translate! For example, one of my French students handed in a composition that made "I'll be right back" sound like the equivalent of "I'll be left front." His translation, while word for word and literal, made no sense at all. This is less likely to happen if you own a good dictionary that gives examples of word usage.

What is a good dictionary?

If, say, you are at all serious about learning French, or teaching French in your home school, you will need to invest in a good French-English dictionary. From an experienced teacher and life-long learner, my advice is not to settle for less than 100,000 words. A dictionary of this size will have all you will ever need, including complete pronunciation guides, grammar, and conjugations.

I have seen the frustration experienced by my students in the classroom as they tried to use pocket dictionaries that didn't have the words they were looking for. It is better to invest early in a dictionary that will serve your needs for years as you progress in your studies.

Warning! A comprehensive dictionary will include the "bad" words as well as the good ones. This is only a good thing as you should also learn what not to say when you learn a new language! My giant Collins-Robert French-English Dictionary, for example, uses icons to mark informal expressions, slang expressions that should be handled with care, and dangerous words that are liable to cause offense and should be avoided at all times. This is very valuable, as sometimes a seemingly innocent phrase can have an inappropriate meaning in a certain context.

Won't my dictionary go out of date?

But what if my dictionary goes out of date? It is true that languages are changing all the time. The explosion of technology in my lifetime alone has added many new words to my everyday vocabulary. Even just having a discussion with someone who works in a different field can leave me scratching my head. Our language is becoming more and more complex and specialized all the time.

This, in my opinion, is not a good enough reason to discard the idea of a print dictionary. Having the language, vocabulary, grammar, verb forms, etc., at your fingertips is still an amazingly valuable resource. If you encounter vocabulary that isn't included in your print dictionary, the internet is then a good resource to use. There are several basic translators available. For more in-depth explanations, Wikipedia has articles in a wide range of languages to satisfy your need for information.

Ask yourself, "What are my goals in studying a second language?" If you are hoping to gain any level of fluency, I highly recommend investing in a comprehensive dictionary.




If you are interested in adding French as a Second Language to your homeschool, or are looking for teaching aids for your French classroom, take advantage of the free resources available at http://nallenart.org/. Norma Allen is a veteran homeschooler and curriculum writer who has also taught French either in the classroom or online for over 25 years.



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Saturday, July 9, 2011

The Best and the Worst Language Dictionaries - for Turkish-English


A native Turkish-language site visitor, studying English as a foreign language in the UK, wrote us a while back asking advice about which dictionary he should use while studying for his English-language proficiency exam. He indicated his personal preference for the Redhouse Dictionaries -- the Büyük El Sözlüğü in particular. But then, to our surprise, he told us that his foreign-language examiner thought the Redhouse Dictionaries too Americanized.

That rang my bell, and I replied...

Quote>

I'm sorry, but your foreign-language examiner is mistaken. The Redhouse Dictionaries go out of there way to include current British language usage. I quote, "The dictionary reflects the American point of view of its editors; however British usages in vocabulary, meanings, spelling and pronunciation have usually been noted."

And anyway, the Redhouse Dictionaries are by far the best of all the available ones on the market. I especially recommend the large 2-volume set, simply titled Redhouse Sözlüğü. It's the next step up from the Büyük El Sözlüğü. Find more detail about the 2-volume set on our 'Best Books for Turkish' page.

Nothing else even comes close to the Redhouse Dictionaries. My Redhouse Dictionary CD Edition is so useful that I leave it in one of my computer's CD-bays all the time.

Our friend John Ma, who got his Ancient Civilizations Doctorate from Oxford University, explained it quite well when he said, "I wish the world-famous Oxford University Library had more copies of the Redhouse Dictionaries. The students are always using them. And the Oxford Turkish-English-Turkish Dictionary just gathers dust."

But I'll go a bit further than John...

The first Turkish-English-Turkish dictionary I ever owned was the "Concise Oxford Turkish-English Dictionary" by A.D. Alderson and Fahir Iz, published 1959 and reprinted several times up through 1985. And, I can't think of a worse foreign language dictionary.

I tried using it for years as I struggled unsuccessfully to get a handle on the Turkish-language. (I bought my first copy of the Oxford Dictionary for my work-area in Ankara in 1976 and my second copy for my bedside in 1987 -- also in Ankara.) And, except for my being able to express and understand the standard 'amenities', I was absolutely befuddled by Turkish-language during the entire time.

I only began to successfully understand and use Turkish-language after I dropped the Oxford Dictionary and began using the various editions of the Redhouse, the Langenscheidt, and selected local-specialty dictionaries -- like the Commercial and Technical Dictionaries published by FONO. So I'm afraid I disagree with your foreign-language examiner. Deeply.

But, the largest Langenscheidt Dictionary is a passable second choice if your foreign-language examiner won't let you use the Redhouse Dictionaries. Still, the Langenscheidt Dictionary is curiously weak in places. And in comparison with the large 2-volume Redhouse Dictionary Set (which has 160,000 entries in each book), the Langenscheidt Dictionary is small (with only 80,000 entries total).

Nontheless... whatever you do, avoid the above-mentioned "Concise Oxford Turkish Language Dictionary". It's terrible.

[Click following to access a fully illustrated HTML version of Worst and Best Dictionaries.]




Jim and Perihan Masters are a husband and wife team, living on the Aegean Coast of Turkey just 50 miles south of Izmir. Jim was born in Shanghai, China -- of American military parentage. Peri was born on the Black Sea coast of Turkey near Trabzon, of Turkish military parentage...Enticed by a Financial Times advertisement, Jim joined a NATO sponsored enterprise in Ankara in 1974 where he met the beautiful and brainy Perihan, a rising young Turkish banking executive. Settled now in the heart of what was once the ancient Ionian Empire -- the couple live an idyllic life by the sea.. writing, drawing and painting, teaching English, and providing computing service support to local businesses. They also sponsor the MSNBC award-winning Learning Practical Turkish Website which has built an enthusiastic international following of devoted Turkophiles and inquisitive language students of all ages.



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