The Right Word in Chinese, by Irene Saunders (PB, 1985, $2)
Back in the 1980s businesses were starting to look at China with interest. Yet few people could speak the language. Someone from Westinghouse Electric decided to do something about it. Included here are just enough words to get you out of trouble. There are the words you need as a tourist, and there are technical words your interpreter might not know. The part I think helpful is the way the words are first written in English, then in the "Pinyin romanisations" of Chinese (pronunciation using our alphabet letters), and finally in both traditional and simplified Chinese characters. Saunders meant the book to be used by people who know a little Chinese, and are brave enough to want to try out new words, as well as those travelers who just needed Chinese characters to point to when they want something.
I would imagine Chinese dictionaries for travelers have come a long way since 1985, but according to Saunders, this one was the first. As a Westinghouse chemist living in Beijing she saw the need, and so wrote one. Living in China as an American in 1985 sounds brave enough to me, but she also cared enough to make it easier for those English-speakers who came after her. To her I say, nicely done. Look for this in the Chinese language section.
