# Franklin Language Master Talking Dictionary

Category: accessible Devices

## Post 1 by kolby12091988 (Generic Zoner) on Monday, 07-Nov-2005 17:24:07

Hello Everybody!
I am thinking of purchasing the Franklin Language Master Talking Dictionary, and I was wondering if any of you used it? If so, can you please give me some feedback as to how it works, and how easy-to-use it is? As well as what it comes in handy for? My reason for thinking of this product, is that I want a portable dictionary that I can carry with me at all times, in case i want to look up a word or something, and there isn't a computer in front of me. How practical would this solution be, and are there any alternatives?
Thanks!
Kolby

## Post 2 by Twinklestar09 (I've now got the bronze prolific poster award! now going for the silver award!) on Monday, 07-Nov-2005 19:03:59

Would that be the same thing as the Language Master SE? (I believe that's what it's called.) If so, that one works very good. Not only does it have a pretty good-sized dictionary, but it also has some word games, a thesaurus, the ability to make message lists and word lists, a feature that groups most words into "classmate" (or "related") groups, and a grammar guide. I liked it for the most part, although, I wonder if there willl ever be updates to it, as some of the definitions seem old-fashioned to me )such as the definition for autism), and others really don't have a meaningful definition (such as people's names). But other than that, the rest is nice, and very convenient to carry around everywhere you need to.

## Post 3 by blink183 (I can't call it a day til I enter the zone BBS) on Monday, 07-Nov-2005 19:51:11

Well it's a very accessible device, but because it's a self-contained unit, the dictionary is the same as it was ten years ago. I'd much rather have access to a notetaker with Internet and just look up my words on the web. The other annoying thing about the Language Master is that it says each wrod one at a time with gaps after every word.

## Post 4 by Blue Velvet (I've got the platinum golden silver bronze poster award.) on Monday, 07-Nov-2005 21:19:27

I find it useful for a few things. Like someone else said it does have games for when you are bored. I like it because even though I have spell check on my computer at work, sometimes it is just easier and more convenient to look up the spelling on my Language Master, especially if I also want a definition. I also like the "confusables" feature. For example if you are typing and want to use a word that has several spellings for the same pronunciation, you can type one of these words into the Language Master and get the confusables and a short definition of each one. For example if you are not sure whether to use b e a r or b a r e, you can quickly find out which word is correct in your sentence. Mine came with instructions on cassette tape which helped to learn all its features.

## Post 5 by the wrath of fire (Veteran Zoner) on Thursday, 15-Dec-2005 14:45:15

I find the franklin language master very useful. I've had mine for about four years and haven't found a fault with it. I do find the speech somewhat choppy, but this is because as it is speaking, it is also highlighting the words on the lcd display. If I were you, I'd purchase the language master if you want a portable and a cessible dictionary that is easy and user friendly.

## Post 6 by ArtRock1224 (move over school!) on Thursday, 15-Dec-2005 17:46:12

It's useful and If you're bored you can waste time, however the dictionary itself is somewhat outdated. I've had mine for eight years.

## Post 7 by nikos (English words from a Greek thinking brain) on Tuesday, 03-Jan-2006 19:33:22

I have got it as well and i was wondering if they are going to update it. For example it doesn't recognise words like internet, mobile phone and other words that i don't remember at the moment.

## Post 8 by Tecsic (Account disabled) on Wednesday, 04-Jan-2006 11:32:21

I like the Franklin Language Master because it is easy to use and there are instructions on tape. The only thing I don't like about it is the speech.

## Post 9 by laced-unlaced (Account disabled) on Wednesday, 04-Jan-2006 15:06:21

i used to have one. it was okay but i don't think it was the best. i could have just surfed the net

## Post 10 by sparkie (the hilljack) on Wednesday, 04-Jan-2006 20:28:16

I have a language franklin thingy, and I like it. As mentioned there's a manual on casette which is like a totorial where the narator has one of her own and goes step by step with you. I think you'll like it.
Troy

## Post 11 by sparkie (the hilljack) on Wednesday, 04-Jan-2006 20:32:08

I have a language franklin thingy, and I like it. As mentioned there's a manual on casette which is like a totorial where the narator has one of her own and goes step by step with you. I think you'll like it.
Troy

## Post 12 by bozmagic (The rottie's your best friend if you want him/her to be, lol.) on Sunday, 19-Feb-2006 13:17:50

I have a Franklin Language Master. I orriginally got it because i had a go on my friend's and i didn't want to carry 60 odd volumes of Braille paraphonalia around with me, so I opted for the one which did cost £250 from RNIB Peterborough, but, it fits in your pocket. The word games are a bit babyish, but good when you've nothing else to do with your hands and you're bored stiff. It is a handy portable spell-checker, dictionary and thesaurus all-in-one, but the speech never pronounces anything properly and I'd rather take notes on my mobile than in the Messages function because it doesn't recognise what you put in there, and it's always correcting things which can be annoying.

## Post 13 by cuddle_kitten84 (I just keep on posting!) on Wednesday, 22-Feb-2006 9:33:57

i agree with the previous poster about this. i've had one for about 9 years now, and it's good for when you're bored. i used to have many a good day playing the word games when i was younger. it used to help me learn too.

## Post 14 by The SHU interpreter (I just keep on posting!) on Saturday, 11-Mar-2006 12:54:40

i used to have 1 to, it was good. i find the definitions everywhere. but is there a smaller version of that dictionary?

## Post 15 by The SHU interpreter (I just keep on posting!) on Saturday, 11-Mar-2006 12:56:08

oops

## Post 16 by spfan15 (O&A Party Rock!!!) on Sunday, 26-Mar-2006 5:44:26

Its very easy. Once you turn it on you just type in the word you want to look up and if you did not type the word right or something its going to give you a correction list. You can also put words in a list just incase you want to look back at that words again. There is a lot more things. If you want information, just PM me.

## Post 17 by Reyami (I've broken five thousand! any more awards going?) on Friday, 30-Mar-2007 0:44:13

Where in heck do I find another one. I had one for, like, ten years, and then once after the batteries died, I changed them and it wasn't working at all. So, I decided the thing was finally shot. Is there another, up-to-date, version of this handy device out there? please respond

## Post 18 by Blue Velvet (I've got the platinum golden silver bronze poster award.) on Friday, 30-Mar-2007 1:04:48

I just did a quick google search, and while I didn't find this exact item, it does look like there are a lot of talking dictionaries on teh market. I would also try some of the websites that sell products for the blind such as independent living aids, maxi aids, speak to me, etc. I can't remember where I got mine. I'm sure even Radio Shack carries talking dictionaries.

## Post 19 by Reyami (I've broken five thousand! any more awards going?) on Saturday, 14-Apr-2007 21:59:51

Thank you very much. I'll look in to those places. Heaven knows I need another one. lol

## Post 20 by SensuallyNaturallyLiving4Today (LivingLifeAndLovingItToo) on Wednesday, 27-Jun-2007 15:29:35

I find it superior to my spellchecker in only one major way, that it has a much higher probability of figuring out which word I meant, than does MS word. Oh, and it's fun to play with when I'm bored beyond belief.

## Post 21 by YankeeFanForLife! (Picapiedra: king of the boards!) on Wednesday, 27-Jun-2007 18:29:21

IRTI has them for like, 459 or some thing like that. you can always give them a call @ 1-800-322-47-84

## Post 22 by Blue Velvet (I've got the platinum golden silver bronze poster award.) on Wednesday, 27-Jun-2007 18:36:51

Yes PNA, that's one thing I like about mine. I keep it in my desk drawer at work even though I have spell check on the computer. Sometimes I need to decide which of two or three words that sound alike but are spelled the same I need to use. I also like using it for definitions at times as I find it more convenient than going to dictionary.com.

## Post 23 by The SHU interpreter (I just keep on posting!) on Thursday, 23-Aug-2007 13:40:41

i desperately nead a very small pocket dictionary for school since i am in such demand for writing papers.
I really need it because i can never find synonums for the words i need. and i have to always search on the net.

## Post 24 by soaring eagle (flying high again!) on Thursday, 23-Aug-2007 13:46:58

I have had a language master for my goodness over 10 years. I baught it first because of the games. I soon found out how useful it became in writing business papers, looking up how to use a certain punctuation mark and more. Yes I wish they would update it, but its still a neat item.

## Post 25 by hypatia (Much Scarier in Person) on Friday, 07-Sep-2007 17:37:38

I got one a long time ago after reallly wanting a dictionary. That was before all these on-line dictionaries. I found myself disappointed as what I really wanted was all the stuff in print dictionaries I had used as a kid - word etomologies and the like. I used it mostly to play anagrams which is a rather expensive way to play that game. However, if you really need a thesaurus and need it to be portable, this one is good for that. Also for just checking spellings, etc. I would look on the various used products mailing lists or at www.blindbargains.com because people seem to be selling them off cheaper than the stil-too-high retail price.

## Post 26 by Harmony (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Saturday, 22-Sep-2007 18:09:15

I used to have a language master for about a year when I was at school and thought it was quite useful for looking up words. I liked to play some of the games on there ad it did help a bit with spelling, but I was already really good at spelling anyway. Unfortunately, I had to give it back to the school when I left.

## Post 27 by matt02392 (Veteran Zoner) on Wednesday, 31-Oct-2007 13:27:52

from what i heard, they have announced that they are no longer updating it. And did any of you guys that used them find the hifon hifon hifon comands? Those things wer fun, especially the speaker test.

## Post 28 by Reyami (I've broken five thousand! any more awards going?) on Thursday, 01-Nov-2007 6:15:17

The what? I don't remember those.

## Post 29 by Harmony (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Thursday, 01-Nov-2007 16:24:53

I think they've got a newer version out, or is that a different talking dictionary?

## Post 30 by Siriusly Severus (The ESTJ 1w9 3w4 6w7 The Taskmaste) on Monday, 12-Oct-2009 23:45:55

I use to have it. I liked it. My favorite was the games. Well, it's good for looking up words I guess, but hey... I prefer the OXford dictionary on the BN.

## Post 31 by kithri (Help me, I'm stuck to my chair!) on Tuesday, 13-Oct-2009 14:55:16

I have one from about 20 years ago and it still works great. Yes, there has been an update to the dictionary, done 4 years ago and this is straight from Franklin manufacturing itself. I do a lot of writing and it really comes in handy for that like for definitions, or thesaurus for finding similar words. I want the newer version, but don't have the $400 to $500 needed to purchase it.
There are actually two versions, the fully speaking one that speaks everything you type on the keyboard including letters and such and this the LM-SEV 6000 version. The other only has semi-speech. It doesn't say each key, but will read back definitions and things like that with large print screen and that one is a bit cheaper. I use the fully speaking one. However, if you're looking for something like a spanish/english version, there isn't one that speaks yet.
Chastity

## Post 32 by Siriusly Severus (The ESTJ 1w9 3w4 6w7 The Taskmaste) on Tuesday, 13-Oct-2009 21:04:49

I didn't know that, the semi speaking one seems interesting. However, I don't think it would be the one for me, if I chose to get one.

## Post 33 by jaguar (Addicted to the Zone) on Wednesday, 14-Oct-2009 0:08:47

I have had the Franklin dictionary for years and love the games, especially anagrams. A great spell checker and easy way to look up words though I wish they wouldadd more words. I believe they changed the male voice to a female voice but I still have the old one, and over all I think it's a great little device.

## Post 34 by Siriusly Severus (The ESTJ 1w9 3w4 6w7 The Taskmaste) on Wednesday, 14-Oct-2009 0:25:24

A female voice...? How does it sound?

## Post 35 by MBULLET4058 (awww. see? i knew my opinion mattered to you!) on Wednesday, 14-Oct-2009 0:49:08

i've heard the female voice 1. i didnt like it! since theyre saying there's an updated 1, i wanna get it!! but i hope they have a male voice 1!! cuz that female 1 sounds weird!!!!! i like this dictionary, except for 1 thing. some of the definitions r complex!!!! but other than that, its cool! i would recommend getting 1.

## Post 36 by BryanP22 (Novice theriminist) on Wednesday, 14-Oct-2009 16:05:06

I used to have a lot of fun with those things in Elementary School.

## Post 37 by Siriusly Severus (The ESTJ 1w9 3w4 6w7 The Taskmaste) on Wednesday, 14-Oct-2009 20:55:00

Well, it's a dictionary, most dictionaries' definitions are complex.

## Post 38 by Darth Vader (Luke, I am your father.) on Wednesday, 14-Oct-2009 21:17:10

Lol, I used to have one, might even still have it. Very useful when I was in my world geography class.

## Post 39 by Darth Vader (Luke, I am your father.) on Wednesday, 14-Oct-2009 21:17:23

Lol, I used to have one, might even still have it. Very useful when I was in my world geography class.

## Post 40 by MBULLET4058 (awww. see? i knew my opinion mattered to you!) on Saturday, 17-Oct-2009 0:20:23

actually, thats not true! the Oxford dictionary for the Braille Note has the most understandable definitions ever!!! i've never wondered what a word in the definition meant with that 1.

## Post 41 by Siriusly Severus (The ESTJ 1w9 3w4 6w7 The Taskmaste) on Saturday, 24-Oct-2009 17:57:21

I use the BN as well, and the oxford dictionary on it is great. I never noticed how it’s less complex then the franklin’s though. I like and could understand both.