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From: pablo@uw-june (David Cohn)
Newsgroups: net.travel,net.nlang
Subject: Re: Usenet Phrase Guide--request for help
Message-ID: <563@uw-june>
Date: Tue, 18-Mar-86 14:47:15 EST
Article-I.D.: uw-june.563
Posted: Tue Mar 18 14:47:15 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 22-Mar-86 04:48:34 EST
References: <1646@mtgzy.UUCP> <184@cucca.UUCP>
Organization: U of Washington Computer Science
Lines: 29
Xref: watmath net.travel:2278 net.nlang:4321
Summary: Utility ofForeign Phrase Books


> Evelyn's query reminded me of it because there is a phrasebook in it
> which gives a few phrases in 25 different languages.  The
> words/phrases are listed in the roman alphabet with pronunciation
> guides.  They are "excuse me", "please", "thanks", "where is ...",
> "how much is ...", "yes", "no", and "good".  He gives many other
> phrases in different parts of the book.  Kind of silly, but nice to
> have in one place, and fun to read.  You'll know what to say to your
> Swahili buddies.

I bough one of these (Berlitz) while hitching through north Europe. It *was*
very useful but not for the reasons that the publisher intended. My rides
always spoke some English, frequently perfect English with an American
accent. As a source of amusement during long rides, I would attempt to
read some of the anglified phrases and they would try to guess what I was
saying.
Some one the more amusing entries (remember, this is Berlitz!) were:

"Excuse me, you've dropped your handkerchief"
"Do you live alone?"
"Do you *have* to go home tonight?"

Really, though, the phases you need are ones that need to be popped out
in a moment when there's no time to look up: "Thanks", "Please", "Excuse me".
Just asking "English?" is a clear enough question to any European; prefixing
it by an "Excuse me" in the appropriate language is even better.
---------------
blue skies,
 -pablo