Resource Desk

The Accounting, Business Studies, and Economics Dictionary was primarily developed for students studying business and commerce related subjects. However, the value of the resource is not limited to students, as over 3000 business related terms are defined on the site. The dictionary can serve as a quick reference tool for the international business person.

AltaVista's translation site translates text between English and Spanish, German, Portuguese, French, Russian, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Dutch, and Chinese (both ways), as well as between French and many of these languages. It is a great tool to make sense out of a document or web site in foreign language. However, do not expect the translation to be grammatically correct.

Automated translation available in most major languages, performed by different translation engines. The web site also contains a link to international news and radio stations.

The Maritime Dictionary provides terms used on-board commercial ships. The drop down menu at top of page allows user to choose from a number of categories such as abbreviations, technical terms, financial terms, and specialist calculators, among others. Lists are updated frequently.

SYSTRAN offers free online translation services, both for text up to 150 words and for websites. Six translations are available for free, after which other pay services are offered. The translator covers communication in 36 language pairs, mostly European and Asian.

This dictionary consists of more than ten thousand words and expressions in four languages relating to the textile sector, ranging from the various types of fabrics to the industrial processes applicable to these fabrics and including promotion and publicity, machinery, chemical products etc. To obtain the translation for a word or expression in all four languages, simply enter the word(s) to be translated and indicate the language you are using. Available in English, Spanish, French, and German.

TravLang offers many resources to travelers and other interested readers. The site's core competency is translating dictionaries in 18 languages. Other resources that the site offers include “Foreign Languages for Travelers” which is in over 80 languages that teaches many of the key phrases needed for international travel, as well as “Word of the day” that gives a different word or phrase in over 80 languages. Most of the tools that are placed on this site are at no cost to the reader.

WordReference.com provides one English dictionary and three multilingual translation dictionaries, including French, Italian, and Spanish. Searching for a word results an explanation of the most common translation, as well as less common translations; also listed are compound forms of the word and short phrases in which the word is commonly used.

A reference section from the World Cargo Alliance, the largest network of independent air and ocean forwarders in the world that provides information on the Incoterms, with detailed explanations and graphical representations of each term.

This website is a glossary of exporting and trade terms, provided by the Australian government. Although there are terms that apply specifically to Australian businesses, most terms are used globally by English speakers.

This site, hosted by the University of Michigan, provides definitions of international economics terms, as well as international finance and trade terms to a more limited degree.

A glossary consisting of a variety of terms one might encounter in the shipping and logistics business, provided by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

InvestorWords.com offers definitions for over 6,000 financial related terms grouped by subject for searching ease. The site also publishes a term of the day email newsletter providing one definition and investing adage per day to subscribers.

Reference tools from NextLinx including Incoterms, Acronyms and a Glossary. Find them in the resource library section.

Powerofknowledge.com provides a wealth of information pertaining to real estate transactions around the world. The real estate and mortgage glossaries, dictionary, and lexicons are available in English, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, and German.

The Global Trade Finance Glossary Centre offers key definitions of frequently used international trade terms. Available resources are a Documentary Collections Glossary, Letters of Credit Glossary, and a list of Most Common Shipping Terms.

The Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition is one of the U.S. Department of Education's Language Resource Centers. The website introduces the center's research and programs, as well as its support to language professional development. In addition, it offers a number of resources to language teachers including a battery of second language proficiency assessments and a working paper series.

This site provides detailed lessons and information on vocabulary and phrases, as well as grammar, and includes follow-up practices and exercises for further learning. The languages covered are Chinese, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish. Nearly all the content is free, excluding only podcasts and other multimedia sessions.

This electronic version of "Ethnologue: Languages of the World" has an online database with a list of languages spoken in each country and their specific geographical location. The website also has links to the the International Academic Bookstore as well as other reference material.

Includes a listserv for foreign language educators to discuss various aspects of foreign language teaching. All postings are archived in a database which allows the user to search for messages by entering the author, date, subject thread, and/or key words. In addition, it also provides a list of web resources on foreign language teaching.

Voice of America pronunciation guide presents the pronunciation of government officials and other newsworthy organizations/individuals around the world in both written and in audio format. It is possible to search the guide by country, by keyword, or by browsing the list.

This site provides a short series of beginner level lessons on speaking and writing Modern Standard Arabic. There are also mp3-formatted sound bytes of the words to help with pronunciation.

A very unique site, offers direct sentence translations from English to French. It allows the user to use an easy cut-and-paste method for sending emails or letters in French. Also useful for those who would like to practice their French. A small telephone common phrases section is also included.

This website provides a grammar guide for beginner and intermediate level Brazilian Portuguese, along with lists of common vocabulary, useful phrases, and quizzes of use to a traveler. There is also a pronunciation guide and audio examples of the words and phrases.

Local Lingo was established with the goal of creating an online community and a resource for those interested in the Czech Republic. The Czech language resource offers an audio pronunciation guide, grammar overview, phrases, vocabulary and online exercises.

Automated Albanian-English dictionary.

This page, hosted by TJC Translation and Interpreting Services, provides some insight into Japanese etiquette and the Japanese language.

A tool provided by the BBC, Work Talk French provides videos, snapshots, activities, and phrases that people in sales, hotel/catering, travel/tourism, and engineering use in their everyday work lives. Each situation is taught using images and sound bites of real people conversing. Audio needs Real Player to function.

A tool provided by the BBC, Work Talk Germany provides videos, snapshots, activities, and phrases that people in sales, hotel/catering, travel/tourism, and engineering use in their everyday work lives. Each situation is taught using images and sound bites of real people conversing. Audio needs Real Player to function.

A tool provided by the BBC, Work Talk Italian provides videos, snapshots, activities, and phrases that people in sales, hotel/catering, travel/tourism, and engineering use in their everyday work lives. Each situation is taught using images and sound bites of real people conversing. Audio needs Real Player to function.

A tool provided by the BBC, Work Talk Spanish provides videos, snapshots, activities, and phrases that people in sales, hotel/catering, travel/tourism, and engineering use in their everyday work lives. Each situation is taught using images and sound bites of real people conversing. Audio needs Real Player to function.