| English Spanish dictionaries come in all | | | | glossaries and dictionaries. Glossaries are |
| shapes, sizes, specialties, and mediums. | | | | lists of translations while dictionaries have |
| There are paperback dictionaries, medical | | | | definitions included. |
| dictionaries, desktop dictionaries, | | | | |
| electronic dictionaries, good dictionaries, | | | | 4. Determine the language(s). Obviously this |
| and bad dictionaries. | | | | article is all about English Spanish |
| | | | dictionaries. However, you do need to ask |
| All the options can be confusing for anybody | | | | yourself: |
| deciding on how best to start (or improve) | | | | |
| their Spanish translation resource library. | | | | Do I need (or want) the dictionary to be a |
| | | | monolingual one or a bilingual one? |
| The most important thing to remember is that | | | | |
| individual needs will (and very rightly | | | | This may sound like a silly question at first |
| should) vary. People who love Spanish | | | | but it's important to realize that there are |
| translation (and English Spanish | | | | a lot of specialized dictionaries that are |
| dictionaries) are a unique breed. | | | | written in only Spanish or only English. |
| | | | |
| (It's what makes us special!) | | | | Legal dictionaries are an excellent example |
| | | | of this. Because laws are different in |
| What works for you or your buddy down the | | | | different parts of the Spanish-speaking |
| street or on the other side of the | | | | world, inividualized resource books have been |
| information highway might not work for you. | | | | written which explain the laws of that |
| | | | particular region. These will undoubtedly be |
| However, there are a list of guidelines that | | | | different from other regions and will usually |
| I like to follow when deciding how to spend | | | | be monolingual (as opposed to an English |
| my money on English Spanish dictionaries. I | | | | Spanish dictionary). |
| think this checklist can also help you. | | | | |
| | | | It's important, then, to have a good library |
| 1. Don't trust the Internet. Just because | | | | of reference materials in both languages |
| it's on the Internet, doesn't mean it's true. | | | | because that will help you translate more |
| This is a warning call to be careful when | | | | effectively. |
| doing research online for translations of | | | | |
| specific words. | | | | For me personally, I like to have both |
| | | | bilingual and monolingual dictionaries in |
| Due to the nature of the web, anyone can | | | | order to cross-reference them with each other |
| claim they know everything about Arctic ice | | | | on meanings of words. |
| fishing and how to translate every related | | | | |
| word in both Spanish and English. Don't make | | | | 5. Determine the medium. Where do you do most |
| your translation final until you've verified | | | | of your translation work? |
| your sources and feel good about them. | | | | |
| | | | Do you like to work at your home office? |
| 2. Determine your needs. There are so many | | | | |
| choices to choose from when deciding what to | | | | At the park? |
| get. Narrow down what kind of work you'll be | | | | |
| doing. | | | | In the library? |
| | | | |
| Are you interested in translating for the | | | | Outside by the pool? |
| medical field? You'll need to invest in | | | | |
| medical dictionaries. | | | | In your bed? |
| | | | |
| Want a good generalized dictionary? Don't | | | | The last thing you want to be doing is |
| spend your time looking at specialized ones. | | | | carting around every English Spanish |
| | | | dictionary you own wherever you go to work on |
| I always end up spending more on resources I | | | | your translations. |
| don't need when I haven't determined what | | | | |
| exactly I want. It's kind of like going to | | | | Thanks to this technology age, however, there |
| the grocery store when you're hungry. Not | | | | are many options to choose from. Electronic |
| very good on the bank account. | | | | Spanish English dictionaries, computer |
| | | | software, or even programs for your pda all |
| 3. Determine the format. Are you looking for | | | | will help you with your needs. |
| just Spanish English translation equivalents | | | | |
| or do you want definitions included? | | | | There are still plenty of books, too, if you |
| | | | like the feel of having a book in your hand |
| That's usually the difference between | | | | while your doing your research. |