Which dictionary do you find most useful in your job?
Thread poster: lara1
lara1
lara1
United Kingdom
Local time: 13:04
Czech to English
Jan 8, 2002

I am not myself a translator as yet but I\'m toying with the idea of becoming one. Since I\'ve started learning English I\'ve come across so many bad dictionaries and had difficulties with finding one that would fully satisfy my needs. What is your idea of a perfect dictionary?

 
Ursula Peter-Czichi
Ursula Peter-Czichi  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 09:04
German to English
+ ...
I don't think there is a perfect dictionary. Jan 9, 2002

You use them, and they are all right for a while. Then you need a newer one, plus one or two on your specialty, like a Technology Dictionary, a Business or Chemistry Dictionary.

Unless you want to spend a lot of money on dictionaries, try the internet. At www.foreignword.com you will find a catalog of dictionaries and many links. If dictionaries don\'t help, there are always search engines. You can find many glossa
... See more
You use them, and they are all right for a while. Then you need a newer one, plus one or two on your specialty, like a Technology Dictionary, a Business or Chemistry Dictionary.

Unless you want to spend a lot of money on dictionaries, try the internet. At www.foreignword.com you will find a catalog of dictionaries and many links. If dictionaries don\'t help, there are always search engines. You can find many glossaries for all kinds of specialties.

Of course there are also dictionaries on CDs.



Good luck with your translations.
Collapse


 
Clarisa Moraña
Clarisa Moraña  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 08:04
Member (2002)
English to Spanish
+ ...
I've +160 dictionaries Jan 9, 2002

You might need a good English dictionary, Websters, Cambridge, Longman, and so on.But all depends on the subject matter to be translated.

Also, I suggest you to study translation. A translator is not only someone who speaks two or three languages. It shold know grammar, phonetics, translation techniques, and so on.



 
Mats Wiman
Mats Wiman  Identity Verified
Sweden
Local time: 14:04
Member (2000)
German to Swedish
+ ...
In memoriam
Tell us more for us to help! Jan 9, 2002

Please:

You must tell us:

In which lanuage domain are you operating/will you operate?

AND

into what languages?

AND

from what languages?

AND

in what context (literary, technical, medical, business, marketin etc.)?



I fyou tell us I promise you\'ll get solid advice.



Best regards



Mats Wiman


 
Alan Johnson
Alan Johnson  Identity Verified
Germany
Local time: 14:04
German to English
Beware Jan 9, 2002

The best dictionaries are on CD, as this saves having piles of them on your desk (as I do). You will need at least one very good general dictionary, plus your specialist areas. Which are best will depend on your language combination. But always beware and take them with a pinch of salt. Be prepared to not believe what your dictionary says! I have a large range of specialist dictionaries and have, over time, noticed that some translations (especially in the areas where I really know what I\'m tal... See more
The best dictionaries are on CD, as this saves having piles of them on your desk (as I do). You will need at least one very good general dictionary, plus your specialist areas. Which are best will depend on your language combination. But always beware and take them with a pinch of salt. Be prepared to not believe what your dictionary says! I have a large range of specialist dictionaries and have, over time, noticed that some translations (especially in the areas where I really know what I\'m talking about) leave a lot to be desired. Never accept a dictionary as a bible (which is why you should have a specialist area!).Collapse


 
Helle Kaiser-Nielsen
Helle Kaiser-Nielsen  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 13:04
Member
English to Danish
+ ...
Eurodicautom Jan 14, 2002

Hi



One on-line dictionary which I find extremely helpful for the more technical/specialised terms is the electronic dictionary website http://europa.eu.int/eurodicautom/



The terms are dated, referenced, explained etc.



/Helle


 


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Which dictionary do you find most useful in your job?







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