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The English-Lao, Lao-English Dictionary has become a standard reference tool in creating understanding between speakers of Lao and speakers of English ever since it was first published by Tuttle in 1970. The dictionary provides users with meanings of the most often used words in both Lao and English based on a selection of words from frequency lists and vocabulary in commonly available language texts. Romanization has been added to convert the Indian-based Lao script into the English alphabet so that the layman can read Lao words without the necessity of learning the Lao alphabet. Romanization also indicates tones, which are critical to word meanings. As an aid to Lao speakers learning English, the dictionary explains in Lao how English alphabetical order works to provide the basis for the use of English languagge dictionaries. For the convenience of English speakers learning the Lao language, there are also sections covering the rules for alphabetizing and spelling Lao words. To the publisher's knowledge, this is the only dictionary of its kind to date.
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