Talking Dictionaries for your Pocket PC

[Darius Wey]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.lingvosoft.com/Pocket-PC-Dictionary-Software/' target='_blank'>http://www.lingvosoft.com/Pocket-PC...onary-Software/</a><br /><br /></div><i>"The latest installment of talking software for Pocket PC from LingvoSoft features twenty bidirectional dictionaries: English &lt;-> Albanian, English &lt;-> Bulgarian, English &lt;-> Hungarian, English &lt;-> Polish and English &lt;-> Swedish. Now, you might be asking yourself, "Hmm, I wonder why it says twenty dictionaries there when I only counted five." The truth is that each of these excellent products comes in Gold, Standard, Basic, and Free versions!"</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-20050114-LingvoSoft.gif" /><br /><br />LingvoSoft have just updated their dictionary suite, so if you have the urge to learn a new language or you just want to confuse your friends with languages they've not heard before, be sure to check them out.

[Pat Logsdon]

These are awesome. I have the English &lt;-> Spanish Talking Phrasebook, and it has a ton of recorded Spanish phrases for many different situations. Just tap the phrase, point the speaker at the person you're "talking" to, and it'll play the phrase in their language. Very useful. They have a mind boggling selection of supported languages as well. I'm actually a bit shocked that "Eskimo" isn't an option. :wink:

[MadBison]

This type of software has always intrigued me. It is only half the puzzle. How do you then go about understanding their response?

Its OK for directions to a something that is within sight, but otherwise?

We need a voice translator like the HHGTTG Babelfish.

[Gulforemia]

Talking phrasebooks can be fantastic learning tools. Keep in mind that there's a lot of variation among the different brands in audio quality, content, and ease of use. Pocket PC Magazine groups them under the category "Travel/Multilingual Dictionaries" for purposes of its annual software awards. You can find the most recent winners, and all the elibigle products, at http://www.pocketpcmag.com/awards/category_2004.asp?catid=43#MultilingualDictionaries.

[Pat Logsdon]

This type of software has always intrigued me. It is only half the puzzle. How do you then go about understanding their response?

Its OK for directions to a something that is within sight, but otherwise?
That was my thought as well, but a lot of the phrases are spoken in a way that would encourage a simple response, like yes or no, or a number, etc.

Ex: Could you do me a favor, repeat it once more please, etc.

We need a voice translator like the HHGTTG Babelfish.
While I think that would be awesome, I think most people would freak out if you tired to put a fish in their ear. :mrgreen:

[Darius Wey]

That was my thought as well, but a lot of the phrases are spoken in a way that would encourage a simple response, like yes or no, or a number, etc.

To add, as you expose yourself to the language, you tend to pick it up over time. So not only will you be learning what to say, you'll be learning what to listen to as well. Sure, it's not an overnight change, but with time, you can learn quite a lot from a simple phrasebook.