• Spanish-Speaking Student Population Surges in the United States
• The American Heritage^® Line of Spanish-Language Reference Works

The Newly Revised American Heritage^® Spanish Language Dictionaries Provide a Common Vocabulary

AUGUST 10, 2001. Recent census statistics have been analyzed by journalists and academics in hopes of finding a clue to the makeup of our society and hints about where we are headed. One of the most interesting findings is the growth of the Spanish-speaking population, especially of student age, in the United States.

The American Heritage^® line of Spanish-English bilingual dictionaries is uniquely positioned to help link our present and future. Newly revised and updated for the twenty-first century, these five dictionaries—from full-size hardcover to convenient pocket edition—are part of a reference line that includes the most trusted work on American English, The American Heritage^® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition.

Featuring American English and Latin American Spanish, The American Heritage^® Spanish Dictionary, Second Edition, is now fully abreast of our changing world. More than 2,500 contemporary words and phrases have been added from such fields as business, sports, ecology, and the culture of the Americas, with a special emphasis on computer technology and the language of the Internet. How do you say browser or laptop south of the border? What about paragliding or beeper or telecommuting? These are just a few of the up-to-the-minute terms in this indispensable new edition from the trusted authority on American language and usage.

It's not only words that have been changing in recent years—it's society as well. According to a New York Times analysis of the recent U.S. census, the student population in the U.S. reached a high not seen since the baby boom crest of 1972. There is, however, one major difference: in 1972 only 6 percent of elementary and secondary grade students were Hispanic, while in 1999 this segment grew to 15 percent.

"The implication of this cultural shift is significant," says David Pritchard, editor of The American Heritage^® Spanish Dictionary, Second Edition. "The foundation of cross-cultural communications relies on a common vocabulary. The American Heritage^® line of Spanish-English reference works is an important building block."

Another recent study, undertaken by the National Education Association, revealed that Hispanic youth are "the most enthusiastic and prolific readers of all." In a survey of twelve-to eighteen-year-olds, 56 percent of Hispanics rated reading as enjoyable (a rating of 4 or 5 within a range of 1 to 5, with 5 being the most enjoyable). Only 47 percent of white students responded in that range. At the same time, according to the New York Times analysis, the dropout rates for Hispanic students was significantly higher (7.1 percent) than that of the population at large (4.7 percent).

"This contradiction is troubling," says Pritchard. "We have a population of young, Spanish-speaking students that clearly love to read, but who are having trouble flourishing in our schools. The media seem to recognize the need for more Spanish-language news and entertainment. For instance, Nickelodeon has a bilingual cartoon that has become the top-rated show for preschoolers. In addition, Spanish-language publications are flourishing in major cities. New York City alone has nineteen publications for Spanish speakers. Houghton Mifflin Company is ahead of the curve. Our five reference works are an indication of Houghton Mifflin's commitment to providing the most accessible, authoritative, and up-to-date guides to language—both English and Spanish—as it is used in America today."

The American Heritage^® Spanish Dictionary, Second Edition
Spanish/English, Inglés/Español

English and Spanish speakers are coming into increasing contact throughout the Americas, as businesspeople and tourists, students and neighbors, readers and Web surfers. The American Heritage^® Spanish Dictionary, Second Edition is the perfect resource for everyone who uses, studies, or simply enjoys learning more about these two important languages.

The Concise American Heritage^® Spanish Dictionary, Second Edition
Spanish/English, Inglés/Español

Compact and easy to use, this is the perfect reference for students and travelers. This second edition has been newly revised to include the most current computer, telecommunications, and Internet vocabulary in both English and Spanish. Featuring American English and Latin American Spanish, it contains 70,000 entries, with more than 120,000 meanings. It also includes handy guides to irregular verbs, pronunciation, and people and places of the world.

The American Heritage^® Pocket Spanish Dictionary
Spanish/English, Inglés/Español

The Pocket Spanish Dictionary is a handy new reference tool for use at home or abroad. Packed with more than 40,000 translations, this affordable bilingual reference tool features U.S. English and Latin American Spanish and hundreds of useful idioms and phrases. It is one of the only pocket-size dictionaries to feature tables of irregular verbs in both English and Spanish.

The American Heritage^® Notebook Spanish Dictionary
Spanish/English, Inglés/Español

The Notebook Spanish Dictionary is a convenient new study reference for Spanish students of all ages—middle school, high school, and college level. It features more than 40,000 translations, U.S. English and Latin American Spanish, the latest Internet and computer terms, irregular verb tables, and numerous common idioms and phrases.

Diccionario Inglés
Edición Revisada

The only dictionary to explain in Spanish the full meanings of English words has now been revised and expanded. English and Spanish definitions are presented side-by-side in a unique two-column format, with hundreds of sample sentences and numerous common idioms and phrases. An ideal learner's dictionary, this useful volume provides the foundation for more advanced English-language study.

In addition to these adult reference works, Houghton Mifflin is publishing two children's reference works:

The American Heritage^® Picture Word Book
The American Heritage^® Libro Ilustrado de Palabras

These two works provide a colorful introduction to the joys of reading and the discovery of language in English and Spanish editions. The Picture Word Book and Libro Ilustrado de Palabras are designed for prereaders as well as for children who are already beginning to recognize letters and words. Each page contains a lively scene full of familiar items to search for and talk about. There are more than 400 items to discover and name throughout the books, with 240 of them labeled to promote word recognition—a critical step in achieving reading readiness. Roberta Collier-Morales, an award-winning artist with more than thirty years' experience illustrating children's books, illustrates these books.