Next to English, Spanish is the most spoken language in the United States. In the horse and agricultural industries we often find ourselves trying to converse in this popular tongue. Here are a few books we have picked up over the years that may help with your communication skills.
Thomson's Spanish-English/English-Spanish
Illustrated Agricultural Dictionary
by Dr. Robert P. Price Jr.
This is a hands-on book of English to Spanish and Spanish to English devoted strictly to agricultural terms. Agricultural, botanical, horticultural, livestock, equipment, tools, weeds, diseases, insects, etc. are all listed, both in English and Spanish. Also, a portion is illustrated with English and Spanish terminology. Designed to be used on a day-to-day basis.
Farm and Ranch Spanish and Spanish for the Housewife
are two books by George W. Kelly and Rex R. Kelly. Both authors were born near the Mexican border and have been associated with all classes of Mexicans their entire lives.
The purpose of their books is to give the reader a working knowledge of Spanish, therefore saving much time and getting better results on the job, be it on the farm, ranch or in the home. Both books are laid out in similar fashion: the first section of the book gives you common phrases for ordinary tasks, the second section goes into some basic grammar, and it finishes up with commonly used English words with their Spanish equivalents and vice-versa.
Horseman's English/Spanish Dictionary
by Maria Belknap
is woven from the same threads as the previous books. Its purpose is to serve as a communication tool for both Spanish and English-speaking horse people. Over time, people who use the horse for work, transportation, and pleasure have developed a very specialized unwritten language. The words and phrases used by horse people worldwide seldom find their way into conventional dictionaries. This equivalency dictionary is arranged by topic into four sections: the Horse, the Horse and Rider, Equine Facility management and Conversation Basics. A separate section, 5,000 Everyday Words, is structured for both the English and Spanish reader.