ITS STILL ALL GREEK TO ME (Lonely Planet Phrasebooks)

Name: C_Padd

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Product:	Lonely Planet Phrasebooks
Date:	24/04/02 (64 review reads)
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I like to try and learn a bit of the local language when I go on holiday. People appreciate the effort you make and it can help you a lot when you are there. I also like to play with languages and have a good memory so it helps a little. There is a slight problem with Greek though. Not only do they have a different language, they also have a totally different alphabet. How inconsiderate of them. Well I like a challenge, but if I am going I had better get a good guidebook.

The Lonely Planet guidebook looked to be as good as any. The Lonely Planet series does all sorts of city guides, country guides and of course phrasebooks. They have loads of books that cover just about every sort of place you could ever consider traveling to. The Greek phrase book is written by a local, Markella Calimassia who was educated in England. This book is well written and is just about full of all sorts of words and phrases that you could need, as well as for good measure loads of history and culture details. It is in fact the best guide that I could ask for.

The first chapter covers the new alphabet that Greece uses, as well as basic grammar and other literature like verbs and pronunciation. The alphabet is not too difficult once you get to know it. After a week I was beginning to crack some words, unfortunately the lower case where everything changes still was confusing me. There are some familiar letters like, A, E, K, Z and others, but other confusing ones that are the different in Greek to English. Other letters are totally new, but come up in maths and physics terms like delta, pi and alpha. Grammar is difficult with masculine, feminine and neuter all change the endings. Each word in Greek has its own letter than you put the strain on for the pronunciation.

The rest of the book is split into 17 chapters each detailing a different section of life and new words. There is also a starting introduction with a brief history of Greece and maps and the boo
k ends with a Greek-English and an English/Greek dictionaries. The chapters each have a theme, like meeting people, traveling around and food. The chapters are around ten pages in length, so quite short with a comprehensive dictionary. It is pocket sized, easy to carry around while you are on holiday. It is also a very bright orange colour, so you are not likely to lose it. £4.50 in the UK and ISBN 0-86442-683-6

Each chapter follows the same basic lines. It starts off with an introduction to the new topic saying what it contains. It then follows up with some background information on the subject. Lots of cultural information along with the rest of it. It makes very interesting reading as well as adding something more while you are learning the language. The most important bits the actual Greek language. A basic sentence structure is given for you. There is a lot of actual vocabulary behind the subjects that gives you the power to mix and match the things you say. The words are written three ways. First the English word, then the word in Greek spelt out in English and help pronouncing it and finally in the Greek language as it would appear on signs and written down.

Overall, a great guidebook. It has the words you could ever need, as well as lots of other interesting background information on the area while you are learning the words. My one criticism would be there is too much information here. It can be hard to quickly skip to the page you want it you need a basic sentence or word. Other than that an excellent buy.

A Quick Greek Lesson:

Good morning – Kalimera
Good afternoon – Kalispera
Good night - Kalinichta
Hello – Yia sou
Please – Parakalo
Thank You – Efcharisto
Yes – Ne
No – Ochi

Well enjoy the lesson. People do appreciate the time just to say good morning. It is not a hard language just to learn something like above. Take care, Chris

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