Comments on: Best French-English/English-French science dictionary?

Question: Best French-English/English-French science dictionary?

solotoro — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 08:53:46 -0800

Francofilter (part 2) (part 1): What's my best option for a science/technical French-English/English-French dictionary?

It's official. In a few months, I will be teaching science in a secondary school in Burkina Faso. My French is coming along, thanks to your kind suggestions and Rosetta Stone. The problem is, I'm going to need to know more than just how to ask for directions or tell people about my family. I'm going to be teaching middle school or high school level science classes. (My expertise is in chemistry, but there's a good chance I'll be teaching other courses as well). Amazon has several French/English science dictionaries, varying in price from $2 to several hundred. How is my money best spent? There aren't any reviews on the cheaper stuff, and I can't afford the higher end stuff. If it is absolutely worth it, I could spend up to $100 on a really good dictionary. What's worked for you, hive mind?

By: pearl228

pearl228 — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 09:30:29 -0800

This website has an extensive list specialized French dictionaries in an incredibly wide range of disciplines (chemistry, economics, ethnology, shoes, couture, atomic energy, philosophy, dermatology, education...), mostly free and online.

Good luck in Burkina Faso. Sounds like you're doing something really neat. :)

If you still need music recommendations, a friend recently turned me on to Malian duo Amadou & Mariam.

By: pearl228

pearl228 — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 09:32:56 -0800

Oups! ...I should probably mention that many of the dictionaries on that site are French only, although there are a decent number of French/English, English/French as well.

By: solotoro

solotoro — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 10:37:33 -0800

Sorry, I should have been more specific...

I need something dead-tree that I can take with me. My online time will be sporadic at best, and since I don't know what my electricity situation will be I'm not planning on bringing a computer.

And thanks!

And the IATE looks awesome!

By: lunchbox

lunchbox — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 11:09:20 -0800

IATE is a good one. The best place to get an answer to this question is Proz, a large translators' community on the internet. Non-translators can submit questions for the experts there: http://www.proz.com/?sp=k2

By: zadcat

zadcat — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 13:10:17 -0800

I've no idea how good an internet connection you'll have in Burkina Faso, but while you're brushing up, Quebec's Grand dictionnaire terminologique might be very handy. I've mostly used it for computer-related terms, but it's got lots of science and technical terminology in it too.