Berlitz Greek Phrase Book (Berlitz Phrase Book)

Amazon.com

It's a petite book, small enough and light enough to sit easily in your hip or jacket pocket without being a burden, yet it covers all the bases, including Boro na se feeleeso? (May I kiss you?), Sas parakalo afeeste me eeseekhee! (Leave me alone, please!), and Yatee yelas? (Why are you laughing?). There's also an introduction to the Greek alphabet, a guide to the pronunciation of Greek letters, a page of basic and essential expressions, and a page to turn to during communication difficulties. And since every English word or phrase is translated into Greek letters as well as their English phonetic equivalents, if your Greek pronunciation isn't up to par, you can always point to the intended line and let the other party read the Greek that asks, "When does the train arrive?"

With chapters on accommodations and eating out, travel and sightseeing, leisure and making friends, shopping and health, there's a phrase for most situations you're likely to find yourself in, and there's an easy reference section on numbers, calendar terms, and greetings, holidays, time, and emergencies, plus an A-to-Z English-Greek dictionary and index, and a Greek-English glossary of common Greek road and airport signs, hotel and restaurant signs, and signs you might encounter in public buildings and tourist sights. There's even a map of Greece in the back. You could lug a five-pound comprehensive dictionary on all your outings, but what you gain in knowing how to say, "Ecru" and "Eclipse," you lose in comfort and convenience, and more often than not, that big dictionary stays in the hotel when you go out. It's far nicer to have a book that's easy to pack and a pleasure to use. --Stephanie Gold

Book Description

Soon, "It's Greek to me" will have new meaning. This phrase book is an easy-to-use, easy-to-understand, color-coded guide to the Greek language. Greek letters and their English equivalent are represented, allowing you to communicate with confidence and travel with ease! The Berlitz phrase book is the unparalleled market leader in its category.

Customer Reviews:

Very Practical.......2007-10-15

Lots of helpful phrases, expressions and information is this handy little book that fits right into your pocket. Even if you can't always get your tongue around the foreign word or expression, you can point it out to someone to communicate.

Great Travel Book.......2006-07-13

This book will come in very handy for my trip to Greece. The book is easy to follow and use. It's a great guide.

Very good phrasebook for non-Greek speakers.......2005-09-06

This book will help you communicate in Greek very well. The sections are divided up into easy-to-find, color-coded categories (basic expressions, accommodations, eating, travel sightseeing, leisure, making friends, stores & services, health) and include the Greek word, the English translation, and the proper pronunciation. A great reference!

The phrase book you want to have on your person in Greece.......2003-03-24

One big advantage to the "Berlitz Greek Phrase Book & Dictionary" is that it feets easily in your back pocket, shirt pocket, purse, whatever. The key thing is to pay attention to the pronunciation guide (as you travel around Greece you can practice by sounding out words on signs and such). You will do a lot better if you can look at the Greek words and sound out the words rather than relying on the phonetic spellings in English. The first key section covers Basic Expressions, so the basics are up front where they need to be. Other sections deal with key areas such as Accommodations, Eating Out, Travel, Sightseeing, Leisure, Making Friends, Stores & Services, and Health. The back of the book has both an English-Greek dictionary & index as well as a Greek-English glossary, along with a nice little Reference section (public holidays, maps, emergency, info, etc.). The final comment is that you have to make a real effort to use what you learn because you will probably be stunned at how many people speak English. We just came back from a week there and we had no problems. Still, it was nice to be able to show I knew a little something and was not afraid to totally embarrass myself by opening my mouth. You might be using some other book to learn the language, but for carting around this little Berlitz book is the obvious choice.

Herete! Philo Ellenika poli!.......2000-05-26

Of all the Greek language resources I picked up before travelling to Greece, this handy little book is definitely the most valuable. By using this book and having some patient instruction from some friendly Greeks (who will be very happy that you've taken the time to learn something of their language), I was able to go through nearly all of my daily activities without resorting to English. This gave me a much richer experience in Greece and allowed me to develope closer relationships with many of the locals I came to know. If you're going to ELLADA, please please please buy at least this one little book. Invaluable. Efharisto!

Berlitz Greek Travel Pack (Book and CD) (Phrase Book and CD)

Average customer rating:

Close
Greek to me!
Berlitz Greek
Not as useful as I had hoped...
A new edition of an old standby -- not necessarily improved

Berlitz Greek Travel Pack (Book and CD) (Phrase Book and CD)

Manufacturer: Berlitz Multimedia
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

General | Foreign Languages | Reference | Subjects | Books

General | Reference | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 2831514975

Book Description

This completely revised and updated program gives you a practical, quick, and convenient way to communicate in Greek. Over 70 minutes of audio and our best-selling Phrase Book and Dictionary provide the conversational skills you'll need to handle a variety of situations while traveling abroad - from ordering a meal to asking for directions and finding emergency help. There are dialogues, featuring native speakers, that present over 300 essential expressions, a flexible format that allows you to listen and repeat in your car, at home, or on the go as well as a quick-reference, color-coded phrase book that includes more than 1,200 useful words and phrases, travel tips, dictionary, and pronunciation guide.

Customer Reviews:

Close.......2007-01-04

Compact. However, for the beginner, would have liked a section in the tape with repetitive single word-at-a-time instruction. Sentences come later

Greek to me!.......2007-01-04

My experience with Berlitz guides in other languages is very mixed. Berlitz has some of the best teaching guides and they have some of the rest. This travel pack appears to cover some important language situations, but it does not do a good job. A traveler in Greece first needs to conquer the alphabet, and pronounce Greek letters properly. Those of us who learned our Greek pronounciations in an American college fraternity will be shocked to learn the Greeks do not say Beta, they say Veeta, and Phi is pronounced Fee, and so on. Secondly a visitor to Greece should learn how to read the Greek alphabet, so when you see a sign in Greek, or read something (a menu) in Greek, you could begin to translate.

They could reduce the number of expressions and variations on the same message and do it more thoroughly.

Berlitz Greek.......1999-12-23

This is a good guide for learning Greek. It has a simple format, and the c.d. shows exactly how to pronounce words. It was easy to use, and can be used for quick reference.

Not as useful as I had hoped..........1999-08-14

The Berlitz book contains a lot of information, but it is neither organized nor readily accessible. It contains an abridged English-Greek dictionary, but lacks a Greek-English one. The tape has multiple problems. It does not follow the book verbatim. And there is a lot of filler on the tape ("Now let's repeat that whole bit and you take the part of the teller... Did you understand that part? We hope you don't need a doctor, but..."). At least one word, Oreeste, is used in a dialogue and never defined! I have used the Barron's "Now you're talking" series for German, Italian, and French, which has a cassette tape, miniscript, and book. They are superior, and cover much more useful material on the tape. I have gotten by well in Europe using nothing but their tape and phrasebook. Unfortunately, there was no Barron's Greek program.

A new edition of an old standby -- not necessarily improved.......1999-07-27

This is a completely revised edition of the Berlitz Greek Phrase Book and Cassette Pack. The earlier edition dates back to 1973. Unfortunately, it is not at all clear that the new edition is an improvement over the older one. The new phrase book is a bit longer -- 224 pages vs 192, but the very useful summary of Greek grammar is no longer present, nor is the index of Greek words that appear in the text. The sections are still color coded, but the names of the sections are no longer given along the righthand margins of the pages, having been replaced by rather cryptic icons in the corners. As a result it is no longer possible to find sections quickly by thumbing through the pages. On the positive side, two sections have been added with the Greek words appearing in large type -- one as a guide for reading restaurant menus, the other to help in identifying words and phrases that might appear on signs and public notices.

Even more drastic changes have been made in the tape cassette. The new cassette is longer, a little over 90 minutes compared to a little less than 90 minutes for the old one, and it covers more ground. But in the old cassette most Greek phrases were spoken twice -- first slowly and then at normal speed. There is no such repetition on the new cassette, making it much more difficult for novices to grasp the unfamiliar language. And the old edition came with a "Miniscript," in which the text of the cassette was given verbatim. This greatly assisted the user in following along with the tape, and it is entirely absent from the new edition. Although the new tape does track the text of the phrase book fairly closely, this is not at all the same as having a verbatim text available to work with.

Book Description

This comprehensive study guide allows beginning students to master and reinforce critical language skills at their own pace, offering a quick, practical, and simple approach to learning. Berlitz Essential German features interesting dialogs and entertaining illustrations that provide a thorough introduction to the language within its cultural context. Grammar basics are taught through phrases and illustrations, with no complicated rules to memorize. Extensive practice exercises, self-tests, a pronunciation guide, and a helpful bilingual glossary make this lively guide perfect for anyone looking to tackle the basics.

Customer Reviews:

Great introduction to the German language........2001-12-27

I also own another book in the Berlitz Essentials series along with the German one, and they're great! They present the language in life-like senarios, which is VERY helpful. The phonetic guide is also of great assistance.

This book is a definitely must-own for anyone wanting to learn German.

Clear, entertaining, thorough.......2000-04-22

Each chapter starts with a conversation. The phonetic pronunciation for each word is shown. Then comes a bit of grammar, lots of vocabulary, and, lastly, a quiz. The book is thorough, and practical. The best I've seen. Highly recommended

Average customer rating:

Berlitz Greek for Your Trip
Berlitz Guides
Manufacturer: G. K. Hall & Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

BERLITZ GREEK PHRASE BOOK (BERLITZ PHRASE BOOKS S.)

Average customer rating:

BERLITZ GREEK PHRASE BOOK (BERLITZ PHRASE BOOKS S.)
BERLITZ
Manufacturer: BERLITZ PUBLISHING COMPANY LTD
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Foreign Languages | Reference | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 9812460535

European Phrase Book & Dictionary (Berlitz Phrase Books)

Average customer rating:

A good tool for crossing multiple borders

European Phrase Book & Dictionary (Berlitz Phrase Books)

Manufacturer: Berlitz Guides
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Foreign Languages | Reference | Subjects | Books

General | Reference | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 2831577403

Book Description

If your next European trip takes you from the fjords of Norway to the baths of Istanbul, the Berlitz European Phrase Book is the only tool you'll need to converse with confidence and travel with ease. You'll find useful, everyday expressions in the languages of Western and South-Eastern Europe and Scandinavia. Contains Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Italian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish, and Turkish.

Customer Reviews:

A good tool for crossing multiple borders.......2000-09-15

The "Berlitz European Phrase Book" is a good tool for the traveler that will spend just a little time in several European countries. This edition covers: Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Italian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, and Turkish.

You are not going to find the depth of material you would in another single language book (I recommend the Lonely Planet phrase books as my first choice). You will find the basics compiled in a single format. Once you learn how to use one, it is easy to find the same items in the other languages. It is also the same if you happen to pick up Berlitz's's Eastern European book as well.

There is not room for a dictionary and the pronunciation guides are at the back of each section. I'm sure Berlitz felt the main reason you would buy this was for the instant use phrases.

If you want more than this, be sure to purchase individual books for each language. If you are doing a tour, or only spending a few days here and there, you will be fine with this multiple-language version for basic phrases and words.

Average customer rating:

Greek (Casette Pack with Phrase Book)
Berlitz
Manufacturer: BERLITZ
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000J4GG8W

Average customer rating:

Greek for Your Trip
Inc. Berlitz International
Manufacturer: G K Hall
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Reference | Subjects | Books

General | Classics | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0029654807

Book Description

Joseph Campbell is one of this century's great disseminators of the psychological wisdom of mythology. One of the basic functions of myth, he contends, is to help each individual through the journey of life, providing a travel guide to reach fulfillment — a map to discover "bliss." In Pathways to Bliss, Campbell once again draws on his masterful gift of storytelling to apply the larger themes of world mythology to personal growth and transformation. Looking at the more personal, psychological side of myth, he begins to dwell on life's more important questions — those that are often submerged beneath the frantic activity of our daily life. With characteristic wit and insight, he draws connections between ancient symbols and modern art, schizophrenia and the Hero's Journey, revealing the way myth helps identify one's heroic path.

Customer Reviews:

A great intro to Campbell.......2007-05-11

If you are looking for something more in depth than the Moyers interviews and something less intimidating than Campbell's more academic works- this is a great one to read.

This is a collection of lectures which cover most of Campbell's fascinating work in comparative religion, but in a way that is accessible and entertaining. The editing is fantastic, so it reads very natural and you'll find some of the most complex ideas are clear and easy to understand. Highly recommended for anyone new to the idea of religion as myth.

Even more enlightening than The Hero with a Thousand Faces.......2007-02-22

I am grateful for having read this fantastic piece of work that brings together mythology and personal transformation in such a profound and articulate manner. I could notice how it strikes multiple harmonics in my mind as I read on, very much along the lines of Jung's view on the unconscious.

Pathways to Bliss provides both a framework and an inspirational context for anyone interested in the Self as Hero. As such, I have utilized it as a prime reference for my forthcoming work in designing board games and processes that would be useful for furthering the usefulness of the Hero's Journey archetypical metaphor as a tool for personal and group learning, growth, and advancement.

Perhaps it is best to bring forth this excerpt from the book: "There's nothing you can do more important than being fulfilled. You become a sign, you become a signal, transparent to transcendence; in this way, you will find, live, and become a realization of your own personal myth." (Last paragraph, page 108). In this book, Campbell offers a rich ground for constructing that personal myth, one that would enhance the wisdom, love and inner beauty of a person's Self to mythical proportions!

A Mythology Self-Help Book!.......2006-11-16

Everyone with the slightest familiarity with Joseph Campbell, of course, knows the famous catch-phrase: "Follow Your Bliss". And everyone pretty much knows what it means, as well: Figure out whatever your passion is, and responsibly and diligently move forward, and pursue it... for the rest of your life... above and beyond anything else.

Sounds like words of wisdom from a worthy and knowledgable teacher.... but how exactly does one go about following their bliss?

That's what this book aims to answer.

Joseph Campbell, of course, died in 1987, yet this book didn't appear on store shelves until 2004. That's because it has been assembled posthumously by the Joseph Campbell Foundation from many of Campbell's unpublished notes/lectures/interviews/drafts/etc... Their aim is to bring the great mythologist's unfinished works into a form suitable for public consumption. With that as their aim, the Foundation had the inspired idea to organize a whole book around the premise: How To Follow Your Bliss.

So, it's the usual brand of Campbell's 'Mythology as Psychological Resource', albeit this time around in the guise of a sort of 'mythological self-help book'. A satisfying one nonetheless.

As ever, Campbell's basic premise is that the grand purpose of mythology is to ground an individual in relation to an order of being that is larger than himself. Through metaphor and through ritual, an individual is brought into accord with:

1. The great mystery
2. The physical world
3. The societal order
4. The appropriate stage in one's own development as an individual

(These you may recognize as Campbell's four functions of myth.)

The book starts by laying out all four of these as the foundation for the overall theme, and then focuses on the fourth one, the 'personal development' function of myth, throughout the remainder of its pages. A typical scenario where the fourth function of myth may be considered is the following:

All is well, of course, when an infant lives in a dependency on its mother. It is not alright, however, when a thirty-year-old man depends on his mother for decision-making capabilities. Obviously, at some point between infancy and maturity must come the realization that the correct value is to become an autonomous being. Often these realizations that come at specific transition points in the lifecycle are challenging for a developing ego to embrace.

And myths are often stories that show us, through metaphor, that it is possible to negotiate these thresholds-- often they even point a way as to HOW these thresholds may best be negotiated. In a nutshell, what the great stories tell us is this: let the you that you are now DIE so that something new can be born in its place. Let your current incarnation go.

Following the development of the above ideas, the book continues on into the territory of Jung and the idea of one's personal myth. Each of us may become sensitive to one particular myth over another because it has something essential to tell us specifically about our own unique particular journey.

Finding one's own myth, and living it, in essence, is one's pathway to bliss. Campbell gives suggestions to his students (and to us readers) as to how to find, identify and live one's personal myth.

So, here you get the flavor of the book. If you like the ideas behind The Power of Myth and/or Hero With A Thousand Faces and find them to be a nourishing resource in your own life journey, here's a book that attempts to express and focus on those ideas in a way that makes them seem much more immediately relevant and applicable to one's own life journey.

So, if that's what you're into, you'll find it in this book. Because 'mythology as resource for one's psychological development' is what primarily compells me above all else when it comes to myth, I devoured this book and then cried like a little baby when I finished the last page because I was sad it was all over. Those who can't stomach Campbell should move along move along, because they'll find more of the same here as to what they're used to.

* As a bonus, for everyone out there who finds Campbell's ideas of the Hero's Journey to be somewhat not inclusive of women, this book tries to address that as well. The final chapter is a transcript of dialogues in which many of Campbell's students (male and female) challenge him to broaden the conception of the Hero's Journey to include women in a fuller way. It brings what many consider a sour omission from Campbell's writings to light and is definitely worth the read for anyone who follows that discussion closely.

- Phil Robinson
http://www.PhilRobinson.net
"Paint the walls of your cage with a dream."

Western Myth, Indeed.......2006-11-01

I read 'Hero With a Thousand Faces' by Joseph Campbell first, and although I found it to be insightful, I thought it was a bit sterile, scholarly, and downright technical for my taste. My prejudice was, science should be cold and sterile while myth should be warm and lively.

With this publication of 'Pathways to Bliss', I decided to give Mr. Campbell another read.

I am glad I did.

This book, in contrast to 'Hero', I found to be warm, friendly and engaging. The overall style of the book, in my view, matched the subject matter.

In it, Campbell defines myth as 'other people's religion' and provides a lively history of our religious symbols through time, how they effect us as a society, and finally how myth impacts us personally and today. His mythology is rooted in existential causes i.e. tropical societies noticed fruits fell to the ground, died, and produced more fruit thus offering a glimpse into the necessity of death where a rebirth is required, while land based societies looked upon the animals they killed as kin, and thus came up with rituals to offer the animals rebirth by pouring their blood out onto the ground, an agreement between hunter and hunted that life would continue for the animal.

But Campbell also realizes there is something perhaps more significant at play where myth is concerned than purely environmental causes, and offers the viewpoints of C.G. Jung and Sigmund Freud concerning the unconscious, the psyche and the self, and the role they may have played in developing the stories that have shaped our lives so profoundly.

It is amazing to me that a comet thousands of miles away is more predictable than my next door neighbor, but Joseph Campbell helps me understand myself, and perhaps my fellow man, just a little bit better with this wonderful little book.

One of my favorite Joe Campbell "books".......2006-10-25

Over the past few years I've become an avid Joseph Campbell fan, my only regret is that I didn't have the honor to attend one of his lectures. His scholarly works, such as Primitive Mythology, Occidental Mythology, etc. delve more deeply into the actual interpretation of specific myth, and I love these books. But I find so much wisdom in those "books" that are actually a compilation of interviews and or lectures. Joe Campbell has a unique ability to dish out life-changing nuggets of wisdom in a sentence and that comes across clearly in his conversations and lectures. Of these conversational books, this is one of my favorites. As some of the other reviewers have stated, its a great introduction to Campbell's ability to translate mythic archetypes and metaphors into meaningful dictives about life and our own personal journeys. My book is adorned with bright yellow ribbons of highlighting on nearly every page. Inspiring in every sense of the word!

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books