5 comments about Langenscheidt's Pocket Russian Dictionary: Russian - English / English - Russian.

1. I'm entering my third year of Russian study, and I am becoming frustrated with this dictionary. It is the only one I used the first two years, and it served me well during that time. The small size is convenient, and the grammar tables in the back have been invaluable. However, I have found (especially in the English to Russian section) many inaccuracies, and the Russian to English section lacks many words that are necessary--even fairly basic ones. If you want a good jumping-off point, this will suffice, but pretty soon you would be better off buying a reference grammar and a more complete dictionary.



2. I bought this dictionary right before my first Russian course, and I was impressed by it's cool/durable cover, small size, etc. but not impressed with its content. Although the interface and layout make words very easy to find, my problem is that it's not easy to find out if something is an adjective, pronoun, noun, etc. So, it gets a "D" in the grammar department, but I would suggest it as a quick reference for going on a trip or something of that nature. Other than that, I would go with the Oxford version if you really want to learn the language and have the words "defined."



3. While my Russian grammar is relatively solid, I have been noticing a lack of vocabulary knowledge. In an effort to remedy the problem, I purchased this dictionary. Needless to say, it has done wonders for my Russian vocabulary.
   
   I work in a restaurant as a server, and I carry this dictionary around (usually in my pocket, it fits nicely) and basically just look up any word, item, phrase, etc. that pops into my head. For example, tonight I saw someone wearing a yellow shirt, so I looked up the words "yellow" and "shirt".
   
   In addition to vocabulary help, it has some VERY useful and very comprehensive grammar tables in the back, listing all of the major case endings and verb conjugations. These tables go a long way in helping you form phrases and complete sentences with the words you look up.
   
   Physically the dictionary seems very sturdy. I've been using it for several weeks now and the binding is holding firm. The cover is also made of a nice plastic material. This has obviously come in handy since I work in a restaurant. I've spilled sauce on it, dropped it on a wet, dirty kitchen floor, and abused it in many other ways, and it always comes out clean-as-a-whistle.
   
   The dictionary doesn't have every word, and in some cases it lists two words without adequate explanation about which to use in which instance. But this has to be expected in a pocket dictionary. My recommendation is to use this on the go, and keep a heavy-duty, full dictionary at home so you can clarify any questions regarding word usage.
   
   For anyone trying to master Russian I highly recommend this dictionary. Use it well and often and you will quickly multiply your vocabulary and even increase your grammar knowledge.



4. I like it very much. It's got the most important Russian words, so I can use it to learn vocabulary. Great !



5. I had to return this because it did me no good without having knowledge of the Russian alphabet. Maybe when I'm more advanced I would find it helpful. Langenscheidt's language books are normally very good and I'm sure this is too, but I was just not ready for it.

5 comments about Using Russian: A Guide to Contemporary Usage.

1. As a speaker of several languages I tend to collect these sort of grammar text books. I have textbooks of Russian written in German for example - and very good they are given that for a substantial part of the German population it had been a compulsory language and a whole host of quality text were published to that end. However, in the couple of decades I have been studying languages this is still about as good a reference guide to the secret intricacies of any one language I have yet to come across, although books similar to this do exist for other languages.
   
   All sorts of secrets are unveiled here but to give just one example I would mention the highly useful list of different forms of a person's first name - not just the usual informal but also a whole host of forms such as the hypocoristic informal - even the vocative forms appears in a table. It became clear to me why someone was calling out to catch her friend's attention saying 'Tan!' (the vocative form of the formal 'Tatiana') rather than the usual informal 'Tania'. Tania it turned out had majored at university in Slavonic languages and when I pointed out my new found discovery of a vocative case (the lost seventh case that exists in remnant form only in select instances) in Russian, even she was surprised. This is so typical of this insightful book which is crammed full of linguistic insider tips of a sort that have a grammatical basis but extend into the very heart and core of Russian culture and socio-linguistic etiquette. In short - these are all the sort of things that make learning a language so much fun and such a wonderful lifetime's adventure.
   
   While I agree that even though a good basic grammar text with tables of cases endings, conjugations and so on will still be necessary along with a good dictionary, I nonetheless think anyone who has read this book would wholeheartedly agree that this is a textbook that you unconditionally MUST have if you are seriously considering learning Russian. I strongly recommend it even to absolute beginners in Russian as well as to the most advanced of learners. This book is a lifetime's investment for learners of Russian as a second language, so you might as well get it right at the beginning because it will serve you for a lifetime.
   
   A classic and indispenable textbook. Don't hesitate - just buy it!



2. Mr. Offord has done an amazing thing by developing this book. I'm not exaggerating when I say it has clarified the language and helped me speak it more than did living for months in Russia -- or maybe the combination of the two was the trick. I can't wait to see what he's added for the 2nd edition.
   
   The book -- and the others in the series (German, French, etc) -- will appeal especially to those who enjoy learning language using a formal approach, organizing topics into e.g. registers, augmentative suffixes, homographs, modal particles, etc. Don't be afraid! It all adds wonderful clarity. His English equivalents of words and phrases with subtle meanings are very well done.
   
   After having studied it, I still enjoy picking it up and looking through a random section. Don't hesitate to get it if you enjoy Russian and are past the basics.



3. I've always had my command of the Russian language complimented by native speakers. Not only do they praise the refineness of my speech, but also the varying degree of registers and different applications of style of my spoken Russian. My written Russian has gotten no less compliments; it has always been compared to that of an educated Russian - well-refined, very correct and very upscale, with a nice touch of colloquialism to spice up the writing. When chatting with Russians of my age (21), I will often resort to colloquial speech. As a result, what people compliment the most about my Russian is not only my command of the language (which does get its fair share of compliments), but also its 'flexibility.'
   
   However, this is not a review on my fluency in Russian, but what has become of my Russian after reading and studying this book.
   
   Not only does it take your command from advanced to proficient, it also covers different aspects, styles and registers of the Russian language; something which is often ignored in other conventional Russian textbooks. I have books of the same series focusing on different languages (i.e. Using German), and none of them was as in-depth as the Using Russian textbook. It even covers aspects of the Russkiy Mat - or Russian swear words, that other, more "politically correct" textbooks are often inclined to ignore. Russian swear words are an essential part of Russian colloquial speech, whether we like to admit it or not. This book, unlike other Russian textbooks, acknowledges this issue and dedicates a small, but detailed, section about the Russian swear words. That's only a small part of it.
   
   While it does explain the grammar at some points, this book is primarily focused, as the book title suggests, on the APPLICATION of the language, and different circumstances that require different registers. It also gives the varying dialects and different words used across different styles (from colloquial to elevated) in order for the learner to add more flexibility to his command of the language.
   
   In sum, I cannot say anything but agree with what every other review has said about this book. It is simply awesome and truly helpful to those learning Russian.
   
   However, I would disagree with those who say that Using Russian substitues Wade's "A Comprehensive Russian Grammar" because both books are important and both books are invaluable to the Russian language learner. The only difference is that both books have two DIFFERENT FOCUSES, where one is more concerned with the grammar and fundamentals of the language, and the other is more concerned with the actual application of the language. Both books, in essence, compliment each other.



4. There's not a whole lot I can say about this book that hasn't already been said. I noticed, however, that most of the reviews were written before the second edition of this book was published. Rest assured that Mr. Offord has made a great book on Russian even greater.
   
   Perhaps the most useful part of the new edition is the section on computer and Internet terminology in Russian, a lexicon that is conspicuously absent from most of my other Russian books. Thanks to the revision, this volume is now every bit the contemporary usage guide its subtitle indicates. And if you want an idea of just how authoritative the book is, the Schaum's Outline of Russian Grammar (which has earned five stars practically across the board) lists "Using Russian" as its source for the entire chapter on Russian prepositions. And the prepositions section of "Using Russian" is only a tiny fraction of its rich repository.
   
   The only drawback to this book is that it is a bit expensive, especially for a paperback, but it will reward you with a constant return on your investment. No serious Russian student's reference library should be without it.



5. It is an amazing and helpful book. It really is a guide to using contemporary Russian. The best book I purchased in 2007. I use it often. It is one of the five important books for learning Russian. What do I list as the five book? Wade's A Comprehensive Russian Grammar, Wade's Using Russian Synonyms, Beyer's Pronounce it Perfectly in Russian, a dictionary and this book.
   
   If you want to master Russian as a secound language, this book is a major help.

5 comments about Essential Russian Grammar.

1. The book itself is very helpful and well organized. It has all the grammar rules and plenty of examples in a clear, concise format. A must have for anyone serious about learning Russian.



2. This book serves an as excellent reference guide. I agree with another reviewer, I've had several "ah ha" moments myself. In particular were the rules for the formation of active and passive participles. I'm not saying that it makes them any easier, just understandable.



3. I've been studying Russian for 4 years and have bought a host of books to support my endevours. This simple, compact, accessible book is a real gem and one of the most useful I've ever seen. It's written in a simple and straightforward manner with just enough examples to illustrate each new concept (it seems that so many language books bury one in endless exercises following every new grammatical concept ...). Additionally it's handy and convenient to carry around on travels, on walks, in the metro, the gym, and all those other places where language revision gets squeezed in. If I were to buy only one book on Russian grammar, this book would be it.



4. The other reviews I had read here were somewhat negative but given the low price I thought I would take a chance. When the book arrived I was surprised at how short it was and therefore had low expectations. However when I started reading it was was pleasantly surprised at how complete it was. I would not recommend it as a first or only book but as a handy guide or refresher to look up common grammar stuff it's great. If you are like me and have made a folder of notes for the common stuff to save wadding through reference books then this could be a handy alternative.



5. I wish I had discovered this little guide earlier; it would have saved so much work.
   
   Intended as study aid & reference, it excels at precisely that. Deceptively slim, it packs all the essentials in an accessible form. The section on propositions (which are used very idiomatically in Russian) demystifies with hand-slapping-forehead clarity. Similarly for (im)perfective verb moods. And it is nice to have declension & conjugation tables handy without having to carry a full-sized textbook. My only complaint: make it pocket size!

2 comments about Dictionary of Russian Slang and Colloquial Expressions (Dictionary).

1. This book has a lot of popular expressions and words for the more ADVANCED student but, as in English, great care should be taken in using words or expressions that might sound relatively innocuous to a foreigner but could be very offensive to a native speaker. Make sure you ask a native speaker if and when certain expressions can be used. A word to the wise......



2. This is a fantastic book. While there are vulgarisms, the bulk of the entries are purely idiomatic and inoffensive. Many definitions contain English equivalents that would be baffling if translated literally. For instance the idiom for "unkempt" or "slob" is literally the Russian word "scratched up".
   One caveat for beginners; while the idiomatic words and phrases display accent marks, they are not shown above the surrounding words in sample sentences. A small quibble for an otherwise indispensable resource.

No comments about Teach Me Everyday Russian.

5 comments about Easy Russian Phrase Book: Over 690 Basic Phrases for Everyday Use (Dover Easy Phrase Books).

1. If you can read Cyrillic, and know basics of pronounciation and a little grammar, this book is great! A fellow reviewer commented that you can't lose by buying a book for $1.50 or $2.00, and I agree, as long as you fulfill the few basic conditions above.

   This book is packed with "690 basic phrases for everyday use." There's very short mundane and useful phrases like "Please speak slowly", "I am an engineer", "Wait a moment!", "Please show me the way --", "Send my regards to your aunt and uncle" to longer, more useless phrases like "You indicate the amount of insurance on the form. What does it contain?" (Useless unless you work in the Russian insurance business, of course.)

   Each phrase is written in English, cyrillic, and then a phonetic english representation of the cyrillic. It's not too bad, if you follow just the phonetic representations, but preferably you should go pick up some pronounciation from a recording or a friend or a teacher who speaks russian.

   When you're at the stage of knowing a little Russian, having a small book like this to read through helps build vocabulary and idiomatic knowledge.

   Caveat Emptor: it's totally worthless by itself! The inside of the book says that this was originally a manual accompanying a Dover recording called "Listen & Learn Russian." Of course, leave it to Dover to squeeze a buck out of a now-defunct recording.




2. Why not buy one that's worthwhile? I bought this and it's worth what it costs, i.e. not much. Spend a few more bucks and get the Lonely Planet Russian Phrasebook. It has a small dictionary, lots of phrases and traveling info.

   I can't even give it two stars for being so cheap. Don't waste your time.




3. Arrived quickly,in great condition



4. I have never read most of these authors and each story was as enthralling as the previuos one. I had a great time using the Russian side of the book and trying to read out the words. Fabulous having the orginal language next to the English translation. A bit hard for beginner readers, but worth a shot.



5. Taking a 10 week Russian language class and found this book very helpful with the at home learning process.

5 comments about The Long Walk: The True Story of a Trek to Freedom.

1. This book was impossible to put down. If I hadn't known it was a true story, I would have thought it fiction. The human spirit and longing for freedom is truly the basis for their endeavor.



2. After reading snippets of this book for years, I finally got it. The story was interesting and entertaining from the initial captivity in the European prisoner camp, through the trek to the Siberian camp, until the end of the long walk that led from Siberia to freedom.



3. Well, the story itself may be untrue, and come to a point where it's even farcical in what it tries to put over on readers (seeing a pair of menacing yetis in the Himalayas while crossing the mountains in winter with all of rusty wire and animal dung as provisions). But! This is a moot point, because as a tale, it's first-rate. If you can allow the fraud (and there's no real reason to get upset about it), there are large rewards to be had from The Long Walk. The story of the trek to freedom is incredible and very compelling, page b' page. The prose isn't the best, but it serves its singular point well in keeping the action moving and gripping. It's entirely designed in this way, to be a terrific story, and true or not, it only assists itself with all its narrative tendencies.



4. This book has been thoroughly reviewed on Amazon already. I add this review in the hopes on contributing something to the discussion.
   
   This is the story of Slavomir Rawicz, a Polish cadet who was arrested by the Soviets on false charges and sentenced to prison in Siberia for 25 years, and of his amazing escape south, across 4,000 miles past Lake Baikal, through Mongolia, across the Gobi Desert, over the Himalayas, and finally into British India. The book is engaging, extremely well-written, heart-breaking and inspiring.
   
   The problem is that it may not be true. I agree with other commenters that the book loses all of its value as an inspirational story if it was fabricated. My five-star review assumes that it is true.
   
   Critics of the book can rely on two types of evidence: internal and external. (I reject objections that such a journey is impossible. Modern adventurers have retraced Rawicz' steps; granted, they were much better equipped, but they also weren't fleeing for their lives).
   
   The external evidence shows that Rawicz was released from prison and sent back to Poland; that the British (probably) have no record of Rawicz or his companions arriving from the Tibetan plateau; that no one has ever located or identified his companions. The first objection can be met by pointing out that the Soviet Cheka was not necessarily above forging documents, especially if necessary to avoid a humiliating admission that seven prisoners escaped. The second objection is undermined by the history of the book's criticisms -- for years, people pointed out that the Soviets had no record of Rawicz' imprisonment at all. The discovery of his papers is a dramatic illustration that the absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.
   
   The final point is simply a mystery. One would expect that Rawicz's companions would try to contact him after the book was published. But that assumes his companions survived long enough to do so -- they arrived in India in 1942, and the book was not published until 1956. It is possible they died, or returned to their homes in communist countries and never saw the book, or were imprisoned again. Of course, all we can do is speculate.
   
   For me, the more interesting question concerns the internal evidence. Is Rawicz' description of a Soviet prison camp consistent with actual practice? When Rawicz crossed the border into Mongolia, he described a series of signs marking the border -- is his description accurate? He describes the clothing, houses and certain material culture in Mongolia, China and Tibet -- is it consistent with local practice at that time?
   
   Adventurer Peter Fleming supposedly challenged the internal evidence as unrealistic shortly after the book was published, but I have not found a copy of Fleming's specific charges, so I cannot evaluate them. In addition, according to a wikipedia article on Rawicz, Fleming supposedly discovered military records that contradicted Rawicz' claims. One must wonder why Fleming would bother with such external evidence if he thought the case against the internal evidence was so clear.



5. Rawicz's trek is an amazing story, and a great read. His voice comes through so strongly, and authentically that you find ourself with him almost every step of his journey.

5 comments about Oxford Russian Dictionary.

1. I have many Russian English dictionaries, including some you can only get in Russia and some written entirely in Russian and this is by far the most complete and helpful dictionary I have. I use it almost exclusively.
   
   I must confess though that I don't use the English-> Russian part very often. I'm usually translating from Russian. I usally learn new words from movies and books and am not looking up so many words just from English. In correspondence I use it and it always has what I need.
   
   You can look up some of the most clever dialogue in films with this dictionary.
   
   Of course, a dictionary is not a grammar book and there are stylistic things about Russian that create ennumerable combinations of useage that a dictionary cannot address.
   
   There are some complaints I have but they are not addressed by any other dictionaries I have seen. For example, the ppp is troublesome because it's hard get the stress right and they try to put all the most common ones in there but they miss them sometimes but so do all the other dictionaries. In that case you have to guess from grammar rules or consult the real dictionaries for such that are written totally in Russian.
   
   The only places it fails me are in situations where you need to go to a Russian dictionary that is written entirely in Russian. There are a few classics used there. It would not be possible in general to create such a dictionary for English speakers because the assumptions about language familiarity and grammar could not be met by any but fairly advanced users and in that case, why not just use the actual dictionary Russian speakers use?
   
   If you want to buy one dictionary, get this one. Don't get the concise version though, spend the money and get the full version. It's worth it!



2. Usually my reviews pertain to classical-music since that's my biggest field of interest by far! However, of all the several dictionaries I've so far been consulting relative to various translations and other work that these days has necessitated my dealing with the Russian language, this most certainly is the best! Pocket and concise dictionaries just won't hack it with my type of work; and this one truly is worth it!!! It has a good word-database as well as lots of expressions covered; also good is that it gives the stress for all the Russian words (VERY VITAL in that language!!). Most highly recommended!



3. I've had this for a short while and have already discovered several words missing, that sent me scurrying back to my Katzner, where the words were clearly defined. Katzner appears to have more phrases and usage examples too. The Oxford also feels cheap for its price - the paper and nondescript fonts and page design are disappointing. Only a couple of pages of extras on grammar, verb conjugations, and letter samples. The Oxford is good to have, but if I had to carry only one Russian dictionary around, it would be Katzner.



4. This product is very difficult to use. The supposed russian phrases are not there. This is just a plain dictionary in 2 languages. Not at all what it is advertised as having in it!



5. This a UK English-Russian/Russian-UK English Dictionary. It is very fine and complete for UK, but not USA English. It makes some efforts with each new edition to give more American English but...
   
   One example will show why I write 3 star USA.
   
   In most parts of the USA, a person in a public place will ask "where is the nearest restroom?" Rare/never do I hear "where is the nearest toilet?" If this dictionary is really going to present American (USA) English, it needs to have such a basic common word. Listing words with UK and USA spelling is great. However it needs also have basic USA English words. Just think you are standing is one of Moscow's airports, you need to find the restroom. Do not count on this dictionary to help. If you do, you may also need a change of cloths, before you figure out the needed word!
   
   While smaller the Random House pocket Russian dictionary has better coverage of USA English. At least you can find the word for restroom!
   
   This dictionary is helpful, but limited in help for USA English.

5 comments about The New Oxford Picture Dictionary (English/Russian Edition).

1. Wonderful book!! Saw it first in Spanish/English version. Was very happy to find it in Russian for my wife. It has been very helpful to her.



2. As an ESL tutor I simply love these books. Each page provides a lesson's worth of vocab for practice in sentences. The latter pages (eg. prepositions) are less useful when tutoring someone illiterate in their own language, especially if the tutor is not bilingual, but because the pictures are so clear, even point-and-say usually works. True, these books don't have any pronunciation guides for Russians learning English or Americans learning Russian, but they are an excellent tool for tutoring; I don't expect everything from a picture dictionary that I would from interactive language software.



3. As a native English-speaking, beginning student of Russian language, I am finding this a very useful book. The format is great for me because I learn well visually. Each page is a busy picture (e.g. "In the Living Room", "Outdoor Activities") with relevant items in the picture numbered. Under the picture is a legend to provide the name of each object from the picture in English and Russian (in Cyrillic). It is a fantastic resource because there are so many objects and situations: just about every action and activity in the house, most of the animals in the zoo, etc...
   
   For native Russian speakers, the book provides English pronunciations. Unfortunately, the same is not given for the Russian words (though once I master Cyrillic, I imagine this will be unneccesary.) Overall, this is a great reference for English and Russian speakers to build their vocabulary and easily answer their own questions as they come up.



4. I took Russian for nine years in the Chicago Public Schools, and this was one of my greatest references. Granted, it is not meant to be the ONLY tool a student of Russian will use. I compare this book to Richard Scarry's Greatest Word Book Ever, except with Russian words for everything pictured. And don't be fooled by the "Picture Dictionary" title. This is not merely for children. I am 24 years old, and trying to re-learn some Russian, and am still using this great book. This would be a great reference for any student of Russian.



5. Although its great to have pictures and words together, especially for those of us who learn faster with visual aids, this book is difficult to use for native English speakers. Why? Because accent marks are not provided, nor declensions, nor the two dots over the "e" that distinguish between the letters "yo" and "ye." In other words, in order to benefit from this dictionary, an English speaker has to look up every word in a separate dictionary to find out all the above information when learning the words. Otherwise, what is learned will be only part of what is needed. So, since English is my native language, I give this book 2 stars. It would be great to find a book like this one meant for learners of Russian.

1 comments about V Puti: Russian Grammar in Context, 2nd Edition.

1. If you really intend to become fluent, this is a necessary text.
   Schaums Outline is great, but this gives so much profound nuance, is great concise form. Pity that I already bought the awful 'Troika.'
   
   Academia seems to dumb down teaching languages, so student must pay for more courses. Why else would academe push such trash, as Troika?