Anglicko-český slovník s nejnovějšimi výrazy [English-Czech dictionary, containing the most recent expressions] (review)

262Reviews Expressive words and substandard, demotic forms and words are listed in the strings of synonyms — widi suitable labels, of course. What these lexicographers consider "wrong" words or forms (incorrect is their term) are quoted, but diey are distinguished by die typeface used: they are not printed in boldface like the other synonyms. Also, diese "incorrect" words are labeled as such, diough indirectly: the form considered incorrect is followed by die form considered "correct," which is printed in boldface. For instance, "dielci [= 'partial '] správ. [= correctly] ciastkovy." Sometimes, however, the labeling is direct and die sequence reversed. For instance, under otvorit', in sense 2, we find "zacat' otvorit', zacat' zasadnutie parlamentu [= 'begin, open the session of parliament']; nespráv. [= incorrectly] zahájit': zahájit' schôdzu, správ. [= correctly ] otvorit' schôdzu." In some cases the disapproval is not explicitly stated and is conveyed only by not printing the synonym in boldface; for instance, under pohodlny 'easy going', the synonyms komótny and nenáhlivy follow, and then lázo-plázo [not boldfaced] indeclinable, with an explanation and examples . This form is both substandard and a Bohemianism, but we are warned by the typeface only. In most if not all cases, the unboldfaced forms are Bohemianisms — a phenomenon that one would expect in an 'Aufbausprache', as Heinz Kloss would call it, which Slovak is. The dictionary encompasses a rich vocabulary. Still, diere are a few lacunae . I could not find olovrant 'lunch' or zrkadlovy 'mirror', although there is the synonym zrkadlovky under okuliare 'spectacles', widi the explanation 'okuliare so zrkadlovymi sklami' (= spectacles widi mirror glasses) , in which the adjective occurs. Nor does one find the lexicalized collocation stará dievka 'spinster , unmarried woman'. Perhaps the notion is archaic or taboo. The dictionary is so well organized and, owing to Vladimir Benko's efficient application of the computer, so full of cross-references that it will offer good service not only to native speakers but also to linguists wishing to become acquainted with one of the least known of die Slavonic languages. Anglicko-cesky slovník s nejnovéjsími vyrazy [English-Czech dictionary, containing the most recent expressions].Josef Fronek. Voznice: LEDA, 1996. Pp. xxx + 1204. Price unavailable. Electronic version available from the publisher: LEDA, 26301 Voznice 64, Czech Republic. This is the most recent medium-sized English-Czech dictionary, following the four-volume dictionary published in Prague 1984-1985 (Karel Hais and Bfetislav Hodek, Velky anglicko-cesky slovník [Large English-Czech dictionary ], Praha: Academia) and the PASSWORD semibilingual English-Czech Dictionary (Praha: Miada fronta, 1991). Its main advantage is its modern vocabulary and the wealth of English idioms and collocations, as far as possible translated by equivalent Czech idioms. We find entries for yuppie, zombie, and even dyke/dike; the only recent widespread expression I failed to find is cool, in the sense 'chic'. Busboy and the more recent busgirl could also have been con- Reviews263 sidered for inclusion, although they are not such trendy words as the preceding ones. The wealth of idioms and collocations included is easily illustrated by the entry for make, which occupies more than three columns. There are not only such very frequently used idioms as thejob is madefor him, translated as 'je pro tu práci jak stvoreny' (= he is as if created specifically for that job) , but also those whose meaning is deducible from dieir constituents, such as it's sheer lunacy, translated as 'to je ciré bláznovství', which has the same constituents and the same overall meaning. Sometimes several Czech equivalent sayings are given as translations, for example, that's the way the cookie crumbUs, translated as 'takhle to tedy vypadá, tak to na svëtë chodí' (= so does it look, this way tilings go in the world) . If one sense of a fixed expression is deducible from its constituents and the odier is not, both are given a translation, with a disambiguation (which is, as always, in English): he likes his pint (1) 'má rád pivo' (= he likes his beer), (2) [is fond of alcohol] 'rád si prihne' (= he likes to lift one). Even easily understandable collocations are translated, particularly if the Czech version requires a...