Arabic-English Dictionary: The Hans Wehr Dictionary of Modern Written Arabic | 
|  | | | Title: | Arabic-English Dictionary: The Hans Wehr Dictionary of Modern Written Arabic | | Author: | Hans Wehr | | Publisher: | Spoken Language Services | | Type: | Book / Paperback | | Publication Date: | 01 May, 1993 | | ISBN / ISBN-13: | 0879500034 / 9780879500030 | | List Price: | $45.00 | | You Save: | $4.50 | | Amazon Price: | $40.50 | |
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Product Description
Its scholarship, accuracy and reliability make it one of the most significant contributions to Arabic lexicography. It is hoped that this masterpiece will point the way ot wider use of modern lexicographical principles in the compilation of dictionaries for earlier periods of the Arabic language.
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Customer Reviews:
• A Great Arabic Language Learning Tool To Help You Stay On Course, As Well As Translation Instrument 20 October, 2008
This dictionary is monumental in several ways. first, it is invaluable in that it seeks to provide the learner with the means to easily see how more complex words are built from the basic consonantal roots. second, the number and quality of the entries is excellent such that, regardless of what level the Arabic student is at, it won't disappoint. It certainly will be the only one you will ever need unless/until you are doing very specialized work. Thirdly, the fact that it is Arabic to English only is not disadvantageous if the learner approaches the language by learning to read basic stories and other writings once they have completed a basic, intermediate and advanced course and so have a strong foundation for thinking in the language, this dictionary will motivate one to continue learning Arabic through Arabic, where they need translation only to confirm their understanding of the meaning of specific words/phrases.
Moreover, it is one of those dictionaries that motivates you to read it, and it is easy to glean information from it so as to naturally build your vocabulary over time. it is designed by scholars to encourage the student who earnestly wants to learn the language rather than scaring them away.
And so, it is a must-have learning tool and resource (NOT JUST A REFERENCE!!!) for any serious student of Arabic, regardless of their level of specialty. it is essential for building THAT SOLID VOCABULARY one would need into college and graduate level studies.
The only negative thing (AND THIS BY NO MEANS TAKES AWAY ITS 'INVALUABLE/5STAR STATUS) about this 1130 page edition is that the font is no doubt on the small side, but that's what magnifying glasses are for. After living in Asia for a number of years, books are smaller and so one gets used to carrying around a pocket magnifier with them anyway.
Best wishes in your studies. this book will not only give you an intense jumpstart, but will help you stay motivated when you're 'down in the valleys'. Enjoy!!!
- Reviewed by customer ID: A1GFTIM1TKQE1B
• Covers An Ample Range Of Vocabulary 14 November, 2008
I have found this dictionary to be very complete as I have used it in my study of Classical Arabic. It includes obscure literary words as well as modern technical vocabulary.
The words are listed by root, which can be frustrating for beginners. However, anyone who intends to advance beyond the most rudimentary tourist Arabic will have to learn all about Arabic roots anyway. After even one semester with a good instructor, you should be able to find most roots with little difficulty. The changes that Arabic roots undergo in the course of conjugation and derivation are minimal by comparison with the changes one finds in other Semitic languages, such as Hebrew and Aramaic.
It would be nice if this book had an English-Arabic part. Since it does not, however, I recommend the Al-Mawrid : A Modern English-Arabic Dictionary 2002, which was recommended to me by my professor and which has proven very helpful. (Don't worry much about the year in the title. The publisher puts out a new edition each year, but the content doesn't change much if any. Look for the best deal on the web.)
The physical quality of this book is excellent. From what other reviewers say, an earlier edition was printed on cheap paper in India. The fourth edition, though, which I am reviewing, is well printed and bound. The type is a little small, but legible. I would recommend that the publisher consider adding a hardback edition in a larger size for easier reading.
All in all, I strongly recommend this book to anyone who is planning to study Arabic at the college level. It will prove very useful to you.
- Reviewed by customer ID: A3JVEZEL9C2DM5
• The Standard For Arabic Students 17 June, 2008
The Hans-Wehr is the standard for Arabic-English dictionaries. The comprehensive manner in which it explains the word forms provides you with a fantastic picture of meaning.
Although it is laid-out in word root order, once you get a handle on how to approach it, it's English-style layout makes searching for words simple and relatively quick. The layout (root order) also provides you with an insight into where common meanings are derived from a single idea (i.e. the word for United comes from the root which also gives you the word for the number 1). If this doesn't suit you, maybe you should also have a dictionary such as Al-Mawrid.
A word of advice to anyone looking at the Hans-Wehr: Read the introduction. If you don't, you probably won't know what's going on at all and I suspect this is the problem that some have had (and subsequently rated the dictionary poorly). From this book, you will get context, grammatical info and even a degree of pronunciation guide.
Good luck!
- Reviewed by customer ID: A4CT0IFP09UAX
• The Fundamental Arabic Learning Tool 12 July, 2008
I can't say anything more than what has already been said by the majority of the other reviewers. Great resource for students of Arabic once past the basics.
- Reviewed by customer ID: A2HDASDN97JNUS
• An Outdated, Frustrating Reference Book. 12 September, 2008
I was very excited about getting my Wehr dictionary having read so many good reviews about it, and was very disappointed when I began to use it. First of all I got the small 3rd edition, which uses size 5.5 print, which is small enough to give one a headache when reading. Also, the print process is obviously insufficient, as many pages are not printed evenly, which, when combined with the already tiny type, makes them almost impossible to read. Also, some of the pages in the "ya" section were blank; not just extra pages added in, but missing words.
As for the content, it is indeed comprehensive, but not very useful. Many modern terms are not included, and a large amount of the lexicon is extremely outdated and obscure. Very often I've found terms in my Awde & Smith Arabic Practical Dictionary which the Wehr won't have, which is surprising given the difference in number of words between the two. The simple fact is that this is an outdated book. I might recommend it for someone studying scholarly or Koranic Arabic, but for the modern student, I found it more frustrating than useful, and more trouble than it was worth.
- Reviewed by customer ID: A2ZU8G7H3P92CO
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