Product Description

Essential words and phrases in Burmese, Khmer, Lao, Malay & Indonesian, Pilipino, Thai and Vietnamese.

• the only phrasebook to thoroughly cover the languages of Sout-East Asia
• written by leading experts in each language
• script used throughout
• each word and phrase has a clear pronunciation guide alongside, to assist travellers with more difficult sounds
• additional cultural information provided
• detailed sections on the cuisine of each destination
• includes everyday expressions and colloquialisms to help

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #947842 in Books
• Published on: 1997-03
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 380 pages

Customer Reviews

"Where is the toilet" is in the book
The reviewer who complained that they could not find the phrase "where is the toilet" in this phrasebook was not trying very hard. For every language, it is either present in the section "Around Town" under the question heading "Where is the ...", or else it can easily be created by combining that half question with the word for "toilet", found in the immediately preceding section, "Useful Words". One small annoyance is that the tone key in the Vietnamese section shows the tonal contours, but does not key them to the accent marks. However, the Quick Reference Vietnamese chart on the last page does give this information. Overall, the book is a handy compendium of phrases for eight different languages, and includes a modicum of cultural hints. No space is available for brief grammars or dictionaries, but if these are desired, the reader can purchase separate Lonely Planet phrasebooks for any of the individual languages.

Where is the toilet?
This book reviews a number of South-East Asian langauges. Overall the layout is understandable. The overview of tones in each language (there are a few tonal languages in the region) is handled well, and the pronounciation is good enough that you can be understood when you try to speak the sentences.
The book falls short in what it decides to translate. We found out, to our dismay, that the phrase, "where is the toilet?" was not to be found. This is the primary reason for the low rating. The first words presented in the chapter are basic introductions, which are good. However there are some emergency phrases that should be placed better. "Where is the pharmacy?" is a phrase that was cleverly hidden in the text.
Hopefully these issues will be cleared up by the second edition. I would recommend against using this book as it stands now as your only reference when travelling.