A Review of a Mexican Spanish Dictionary - The Dictionary of Chicano Spanish

As every Spanish translator knows, Spanish is afor answers, it's good to have a series of dictionaries
diverse language and can vary among speakers,with regional words in them. One of the more
depending on the region where it is spoken. Therewell-known (Chicano) Mexican Spanish dictionaries
are many different regions in the world whereavailable is The Dictionary of Chicano Spanish.This
Spanish is spoken and translators have to know howdictionary, according to the preface written by a
to deal with these regional varieties in theirformer governor of New Mexico, "contains the
translations.For example, Spanish spoken in Cuba isspecial colloquial, euphemistic, slang, and commonplace
slightly different than Spanish spoken in Spain, whichexpressions of the speech of Mexican-American
is slightly different from the Spanish spoken in Mexicocitizens in the United States, along with the spelling
or the Dominican Republic.Because of the differencesand pronunciation variants common to Chicano
that exist in the Spanish of different regions of theSpanish."While it doesn't contain all slang terminology
world, Spanish translators have to know whatspecific to Mexico, it does have over 9,000 "words
audience their translation is intended for. However, asand expressions not usually found in standard
good as translators can be in understanding thesereferences" and it also has variant spelling for these
differences, they might not know them right off theChicano words and phrases. The author has also
bat all the time, and therefore rely on help andincluded a very useful appendix listing 650 common
translation aids to clear up any confusion they mightproverbs and sayings, as well as a bibliography that
have. This is especially true when translating slangyou can use to find even more resources on the
terms and terminology.One of the best translationtopic.The book is less than 250 pages and while the
aids to have is people who are from different regionslatest edition was published over 10 years ago (1995),
so that you can ask them their advice and opinion onit's still a great book to have in your Mexican Spanish
word usage or terms you might run across.dictionary collection. Also, you can find used ones for
However, sometimes translators are unable to findfairly cheap on Amazon.com, which make it a bargain
someone to help them out and have to usedictionary to have.Clint Tustison is a Spanish English
dictionaries or other written aids to help them out.Intranslator interested in helping businesses and
the case where a translator has to go to a dictionarytranslators better understand the translation industry.