The Firefly Visual Dictionary

Sandy Campbell is a reference librarian in the Science and Technology Library at the University of Alberta.

This hefty tome contains 6000 computer-generated color entries
illustrating 35,000 terms. What is left out is as interesting as what is
included. For example, breeds of dogs and cats are shown, but not breeds
of cattle, horses, sheep, and hogs. There is an image of a manure
spreader, but not of a seed drill. And (out of politeness?) the book
leaves out toilet tissue, sanitary napkins, and condoms.

The Firefly Visual Dictionary has the feel of a European translation
into North American English. Macaroni is called elbows, and an “ox”
without a yoke is shown instead of a bull or steer (how many North
Americans keep oxen?). In the examples of birds, where you would expect
to find American robins, chickadees, and Canada geese, there are a
European robin, a bullfinch, and a chaffinch. The magpie looks strangely
like a shrike.

There seems to have been little attempt to take into account Canadian
vocabulary. The toque shown is a small hat unlike anything worn by Bob
or Doug MacKenzie (their kind of headgear is called a “stocking
cap”). And instead of poutine or pyrogies, there are virtually
indistinguishable dishes and bottles of color representing various
culinary ingredients. The sections on the human body, sports, and
durable goods seem to be stronger than other sections.

By insisting that items have only one name, the editors have done away
with some of the most interesting and rich parts of the English
language, including regional variation, dialect, and synonyms. The
editors refer to having selected their preferred terms from “the most
highly regarded sources,” but they don’t tell us what those are.

This is a wonderful resource for ESL students, but it should not be
considered an authority on the English language. Recommended for school
and public libraries.