English As She Is Spoke Being a Comprehensive Phrasebook of the English Language, Written by Men to Whom English Was Entirely Unknown |
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| Author:
| Da Fonseca, José
Carolino, Pedro
McSweeney's Books Staff, |
| Editor:
| Collins, Paul |
| Series title: | Collins Library |
| ISBN: | 978-1-932416-11-4 |
| Publication Date: | Jun 2004 |
| Publisher: | McSweeney's Publishing
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| Book Format: | Paperback |
| List Price: | USD $9.00 |
Book Description:
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In 1855, when Jose da Fonseca and Pedro Carolino wrote an English phrasebook for Portuguese students, they faced just one problem: they didn't know any English. Even worse, they didn't own an English-to-Portuguese dictionary. What they did have, though, was a Portuguese-to-French dictionary, and a French-to-English dictionary. The linguistic train wreck that ensued is a classic of unintentional humor, now revived in the first newly selected edition in a century. Armed with Fonseca...
More DescriptionIn 1855, when Jose da Fonseca and Pedro Carolino wrote an English phrasebook for Portuguese students, they faced just one problem: they didn't know any English. Even worse, they didn't own an English-to-Portuguese dictionary. What they did have, though, was a Portuguese-to-French dictionary, and a French-to-English dictionary. The linguistic train wreck that ensued is a classic of unintentional humor, now revived in the first newly selected edition in a century. Armed with Fonseca and Carolino's guide, a Portuguese traveler can insult a barber ("What news tell me? All hairs dresser are newsmonger"), complain about the orchestra ("It is a noise which to cleve the head"), go hunting ("let aim it! let make fire him"), and consult a handy selection of truly mystifying "Idiotisms and Proverbs."