Two Klett German-English
Dictionaries: A Hit and a Miss
Klett's "Super-Mini" and "Modern" Dictionaries
UPDATE: There is now a newer 2003 edition of the large Klett dictionary. More below. (I hope to have a review of the new edition soon.)
In an earlier review of two hardcover English-German dictionaries, we examined two similar publications from two different publishers. Now we look at two very different kinds of English-German dictionaries from a single publisher. One of these dictionaries I can recommend highly, while the other falls short in two critical areas.
The compact version of these two paperback dictionaries costs just under $8.00 and claims "35,000 words of contemporary vocabulary" packed into a 720-page pocket edition. The larger Wörterbuch costs about $27.00, claims "over 100,000 words and expressions" and weighs in at over 1300 pages. Each one is aimed at a completely different market, but both come from the respected Ernst Klett Verlag (publishing house) in Germany and are published in North America by the NTC Publishing Group.
Let's start with the disappointment. When I first laid eyes on Klett's compact Super-Mini German and English Dictionary I thought, at last, a nice thorough little dictionary I can recommend for students. I was pleased to see it is related to the larger Klett "German and English" dictionary, also edited by professor Erich Weis. But on closer examination, it turns out that Klett's (and NTC's) "Super-Mini" dictionary is a major disappointment. Under the cover it is nothing but an old 1981 edition dressed up in shiny new regalia to resemble its newer and larger cousin.
"It fails two critical tests for a modern German dictionary."
But alas, despite such claims on the back cover, the "Super-Mini" is not at all super. It fails two critical tests for a modern German dictionary: (1) It does not use the new German spelling (which the larger Klett does), and (2) it falsely claims to be new and "totally up-to-date"—while failing to include modern words such as "e-mail" or "fax" (which the bigger Klett does). For NTC to boldly claim that its Klett super-mini is a "handy new reference" is bad enough, but to pass off a 19-year-old unrevised edition as "new" is shameless. It's also a bit mystifying, because the mini's "parent" is now in its third revised edition, and it would take little effort to transfer the larger Klett's revisions and additions to the junior edition.
My disappointment over Klett's compact edition is heightened all the more by comparison to Klett's Modern German and English Dictionary (Fourth Edition). With a 1999 copyright (see links for the newer 2003 edition below), the fourth edition shines precisely where the super-mini fails. Originally published in Germany by Klett as the PONS-Kompaktwörterbuch Englisch-Deutsch, the NTC/Klett third edition is a paperback, mid-sized reference that is truly "new" and "up-to-date." It is a worthy alternative to the more comprehensive (and more expensive) hardcover Harper Collins German Unabridged Dictionary we reviewed earlier. (Although it also bears the names "PONS" and "Klett," the Harper Collins reference seems to be an entirely separate compilation by different editors.)
Like the hardcover Harper Collins, the paperback NTC/Klett "Modern" edition includes a German grammar summary and lists current terms such as "Bildschirmschoner" ("screensaver" — but also only in the German-to-English section). Klett's "Modern" dictionary also lives up to its name by using the new German spelling (neue Rechtschreibung). Even though the cover promises both the "traditional and reformed German spellings," I only saw the new spelling for reformed words (marked with a small "RR" designation) such as "Schloss" (old spelling: "Schloß") or "Tipp" (old spelling: "Tip"). You have to guess what the old spelling is, but that's a minor problem. (If you thumb through the dictionary, the reformed words don't seem to pop up that often. What was everyone so worked up about, anyway?) The range of vocabulary covered in the Klett "Modern" compares favorably with other German dictionaries of similar size.
New > Cambridge Klett Comprehensive German Dictionary (2003 edition)
Bottom line: Unfortunately, until a revised, truly new edition appears, I can't recommend Klett's Super-Mini German and English Dictionary from NTC. That's a shame, too, since it is the ideal price, size and format for students and travelers. On the other hand, I can strongly recommend NTC's Klett's Modern German and English Dictionary, Fourth Edition (compare prices on the newer 2003 edition). It is a good value for the money and will meet the needs of the average language student, traveler or business person.
Related Links
Klett's Modern German and English Dictionary, Fourth Edition
Compare prices for the newer 2003 edition of the Klett dictionary (Cambridge Klett).
Advanced German Dictionaries
A comparative look at two "serious" German-English dictionaries.
More Dictionary and Other Reviews
Your Guide evaluates German-English dictionaries, software and videos.
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