More than just the meaning of a word (Collins-Robert French Dictionary)

Name: frangliz

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Product:	Collins-Robert French Dictionary
Date:	14.11.06 (256 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Much more than just word definitions

Disadvantages: It's so heavy!

Although aimed mainly at advanced learners or professional users such as translators, I would recommend this dictionary to any serious learner of the French language, partly because of the informative central section, but also because it will show you the correct word to use where there are several possibilities. Brits who emigrate to France or have second homes there will find a wealth of material to make life easier if they are not already fluent in the language.

The introduction explains how to use the dictionary and recognise synonyms, parts of speech, letters for different meanings, asterisks indicating informal language, etc.

Some entries have a box underneath that gives cultural information, for example, arrondissement, which has no direct English equivalent, but is the word for the numbered areas into which Paris is divided. I was unaware that departements are also divided into three or four arrondisements, or administrative areas. 'Fetes Legales' gives the dates of religious and secular holidays that French workers have a right to as well as their paid leave, such as Bastille Day on July 14th and All Saints' Day on November 1st.

Grammar rules can be taxing at the best of times, but the dictionary helps here as well. Irregular plurals, such as cheval, are given as cheval (pl -aux). Irregular French feminine forms of adjectives, e.g., belle, are shown as separate headwords with a cross-reference to the masculine form (in this case beau).

It is essential to understand what degree of formality a particular expression or word has. A phrase you would use when talking to close friends would not be suitable in a business letter. Some words and phrases are marked with asterisks to guide you and avoid you making a faux pas (which, strangely enough, in French is un impair or une bevue). One * indicates 'language used by all educated speakers in a relaxed situation', e.g., 'fixer quelqu'un sur quelque chose' means to put someone in the picture about something; ** indicates 'language used by some educated speakers in a relaxed situation': 'ferme ta gueule' meaning 'shut your trap' (not the most polite turn of phrase); but *** mean danger - words to be avoided by non-native speakers! (I will refrain from quoting any examples here.) A cross sign indicates an old-fashioned word, e.g., etalagiste for stallkeeper, which would nowadays be marchand.

Colloquialisms that would not make any sense if translated word for word are given plenty of attention. For example, 'faire la tete' (literally to make or do the head) is a phrase that means to sulk. Proverbs are included in the definitions of key words. This is especially useful when the French proverb is not a direct translation of the English one, as in "Il ne faut pas vendre la peau de l'ours avant de l'avoir tue" for "don't count your chickens before they are hatched." (The French proverb translates as 'don't sell the bear's skin before you have killed it.)

A black triangle in the margin next to a word indicates there is a note at the bottom of the page that refers you to a topic in the Language in Use section in the middle of the dictionary. For example, 'jamais' refers you to section 39.3, which tells you that you would start a sentence with "Jamais je ne....." to translate the English expression "I wouldn't dream of doing..."

There is a section on French pronunciation as well as one on English pronunciation, each including a guide to the phonetic alphabet used. Sentence stress and intonation are explained.

At the end of a dictionary is a section of numbered verb tables. When you look up any verb in the dictionary, you will see a small number following it, and this tells you that it follows the same pattern as that numbered verb table in the appendix. These tables are so comprehensive that you would not need to buy a separate verb book unless you want something small and light to carry around.

The dictionary has very detailed coverage of complex verbs such as avoir, faire and aller. For example, a phrase such as "Vous avez la gare tout pres" translates as "The station is nearby." (It would translate literally as "You have the station nearby.')

French speakers learning English would find this dictionary equally useful. It doesn't matter whether they are learning British English or American English. Look up 'robinet' for instance, and you will find tap (Brit) ou faucet (US). As in the French section, cultural notes are given in boxes after certain English entries, e.g., Social Security Number gives an explanation in French of the system in the USA.

The central Language in Use section gives examples of expressions that can be used when making suggestions, offers, requests or comparisons; giving advice; stating opinions; agreeing and disagreeing; apologising and so on. There are alternatives for making requests tentatively: "Nous aimerions connaitre...", more assertively: "Je dois vous demander de...", or in writing: "Je vous prie de bien vouloir..." to cite one of each.

For residents in French speaking countries, there are extremely useful models for letter writing, including job applications (with an example of a CV), commercial and general correspondance, with standard closing and opening formulae for both formal and informal letters. Expressions of thanks, best wishes, announcements and invitations follow. The next half dozen pages are devoted to essay writing. The Language in Use section concludes with expressions used when making telephone calls, such as "Ne quittez pas'" for "Hold the line, please."

Appendices on numbers, times and dates; weights, measures and temperatures are all included at the end. If you still like measuring in feet and inches, you can learn to do so in French, or take note of the fact that the French refer to decimal points as commas, or virgules.

This dictionary has been my bible for French for a number of years now, and I can't imagine that I would want to swap it for another one. A worthwhile investment it is.

Summary: An excellent dictionary that includes letter writing, proverbs, colloquialisms, and much more.