Travel to Provinces

Quebecois-English English-Quebecois Dictionary & Phrasebook (Hippocrene Dictionary and Phrasebooks)

Format: Paperback
Author: Renata Isajlovic
ReleaseDate: September, 2002
Publisher: Hippocrene Books
Rating:

Useful for beginners and travelers
In fact, I find linguist-guy's criticism to be harsh and unfair ("Quýbýcois" IS, after all, a dialect of French--how could the book NOT include French words?!). Unlike my fellow reviewer below, I found this dictionary and phrasebook to be useful. As far as I can tell, the pronunciation guide the authors provided corresponds to pronunciation in Montreal, the province's largest metropolitan city; if you are looking for "joual" pronunciation, you'll have to look elsewhere. As for his criticism regarding palatalization, well, nowhere does it state that this dictionary and phrasebook is a book on linguistics, so the authors cannot be faulted for not covering that topic. Truth be told, I'm not sure anyone other than people who study/are interested in linguistics would find that useful anyway.

People interested in buying this book should note that it is a basic pocket dictionary and phrasebook for English-speakers visiting the province of Quebec (NOT a book on the linguistics of Quebec French), and in that respect, it serves its purpose very well. If you are visiting the province, you should be able to get around with ease with this pocket D&P. There is a large section on common phrases for travelers (when at Customs, when shopping, when ordering food in restaurants, etc). There is a section on French grammar that is a good refresher for those of us who don't have the opportunity to practise our French often. There are also a few pages of colorful expressions included at the back of the book which are fun; it would have been nice if more had been included.

All in all, for the price, it's a good buy. By no means is the dictionary and phrasebook exhaustive, but it'll fit in your pocket. I've referred to it quite a bit when in Montreal and Quebec's Eastern Townships and have found it practical and useful.

Useful for beginners and travelers
In fact, I find linguist-guy's criticism to be harsh and unfair ("Quýbýcois" IS, after all, a dialect of French--how could the book NOT include French words?!). Unlike my fellow reviewer below, I found this dictionary and phrasebook to be useful. As far as I can tell, the pronunciation guide the authors provided corresponds to pronunciation in Montreal, the province's largest metropolitan city; if you are looking for "joual" pronunciation, you'll have to look elsewhere. As for his criticism regarding palatalization, well, nowhere does it state that this dictionary and phrasebook is a book on linguistics, so the authors cannot be faulted for not covering that topic. Truth be told, I'm not sure anyone other than people who study/are interested in linguistics would find that useful anyway.

People interested in buying this book should note that it is a basic pocket dictionary and phrasebook for English-speakers visiting the province of Quebec (NOT a book on the linguistics of Quebec French), and in that respect, it serves its purpose very well. If you are visiting the province, you should be able to get around with ease with this pocket D&P. There is a large section on common phrases for travelers (when at Customs, shopping, restaurants, etc). There is a section on French grammar that is a good refresher for those of us who don't have the opportunity to practise our French often. There are also a few pages of colorful expressions included at the back of the book which are fun; it would have been nice if more had been included.

All in all, for the price, it's a good buy. By no means is the dictionary and phrasebook exhaustive, but it'll fit in your pocket. I've referred to it quite a bit when in Montreal and Quebec's Eastern Townships and have found it practical and useful.

quebecois?
What about the pronunciation? Please do correct me, but isn't oi in Quebec waw, not wah/war. Well, I can't say much about the choice of vocabulary, but I bought Quebecois and not French, and I received something that differed from a short French dictionary only in some Canadianisms. What about palatalization of t (so that moitie is not mou-a-ti-e but rather mou-o-tsi).

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