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Foreign Phrase Book Helps Travelers and Scholars Alike

(ARA) — Throughout the 20th century, inventions and technology have enabled people to travel to places once reachable only in dreams. With the Internet, digital communication, and rapid globalization, languages increasingly intersect and intermingle. Many everyday English words come from foreign languages—more than most people realize.

Many Americans, often thought of as monolingual, would be surprised to discover just how many foreign expressions they already know. And these extend far beyond ordering a croissant at the local bakery.

Whether preparing for international travel or simply expanding one’s conversational repertoire, a new reference work compiles thousands of useful foreign expressions. The World Dictionary of Foreign Expressions, by Gabriele G. Adeleye and Kofi Acquah-Dadzie, includes phrases from more than twenty languages—some familiar, others less so.

Many readers recognize the saying “It’s Greek to me,” but this dictionary illustrates how many English words derive from Greek—ancient and modern. Words such as “psyche” and “nectar” entered English long ago from Greek sources. French expressions are also widely represented, from grand cru to film noir. Hawaiian, Spanish, Hindi, Chinese, German, and many African languages also contribute to this global lexicon.

The dictionary’s African dimension reflects the backgrounds of its coauthors. Nigerian scholar Dr. Gabriel Adeleye and Ghanaian-born attorney Kofi Acquah-Dadzie use African publications as sources, demonstrating the influence of European languages—especially Latin and Greek—among educated African writers.

Acquah-Dadzie, Principal Magistrate for the Administration of Justice in Mahalapye, Botswana, conceived the book after observing how many students of law struggled with Latin terminology. “I wanted to help my friends who did not like Latin but couldn’t escape from it,” he says. Their collaboration now assists students, scholars, and legal professionals worldwide in understanding the Latin expressions embedded in law.

Whether you are a writer seeking richer vocabulary, a law student confronting unfamiliar Latin, or simply curious about that French phrase you keep hearing, the World Dictionary of Foreign Expressions offers an invaluable guide to the world’s linguistic heritage—and provides more than a few bon mots along the way.

For more information, visit www.bolchazy.com.

Courtesy of ARA Content, www.aracontent.com, e-mail: info@aracontent.com