Burmese (Myanmar)
An Introduction to the Script
Author: John Okell, U. Saw Tun and Daw Khin Mya Swe Series: Southeast Asian Language Text
This is the second book in a four-part series. Also available Burmese--An Introduction to the Spoken Language, Book 1
The second volume in a four-part language course, this textbook builds on the spoken language lessons from Book 1 and contains more advanced speaking exercises and practice dialogs, as well as activities to reinforce the material presented in Book 1. The material of Book 2 is arranged in five levels, each of which covers the same set of topics, but each succeeding level both consolidates and extends the learner's proficiency in the topic. The lessons are followed by appendices on etiquette and social behavior in Burma and an outline of Burmese grammar. Okell also presents more extensive vocabulary lists, both Burmese-English and English-Burmese, which are arranged by topic and include such categories as names of clothes, foods, and talking with Buddhist monks.Like the other titles in this series, Book 2 is accompanied by audio files and can be used either under the instruction of a teacher or for self-study. The series was developed over a period of several years and was tested, modified, and expanded after use in the classroom. Language professors and their students or those learning Burmese on their own will appreciate the accessible approach and the manageable size of the lessons of the very practical textbooks in this series.
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Summary
This is the second book in a four-part series. Also available Burmese--An Introduction to the Spoken Language, Book 1
The second volume in a four-part language course, this textbook builds on the spoken language lessons from Book 1 and contains more advanced speaking exercises and practice dialogs, as well as activities to reinforce the material presented in Book 1. The material of Book 2 is arranged in five levels, each of which covers the same set of topics, but each succeeding level both consolidates and extends the learner's proficiency in the topic. The lessons are followed by appendices on etiquette and social behavior in Burma and an outline of Burmese grammar. Okell also presents more extensive vocabulary lists, both Burmese-English and English-Burmese, which are arranged by topic and include such categories as names of clothes, foods, and talking with Buddhist monks.Like the other titles in this series, Book 2 is accompanied by audio files and can be used either under the instruction of a teacher or for self-study. The series was developed over a period of several years and was tested, modified, and expanded after use in the classroom. Language professors and their students or those learning Burmese on their own will appreciate the accessible approach and the manageable size of the lessons of the very practical textbooks in this series.
Description
Burmese has two styles of speaking and writing: the colloquial style, which is used for talking to friends and for writing letters, and the literary style, which is used in more formal contexts, such as academic articles, newspaper reports, and narrative passages in fiction. This volume, the final book in a four-part Burmese language course, introduces learners to the literary style. It assumes a prior knowledge of Burmese script and a grounding in the colloquial style. Okell starts with simple sentences, and, over a series of short lessons, gradually increases the range of vocabulary and the level of complexity. The texts Okell uses for study are excerpts from Burmese children's schoolbooks highlighting themes of home- and school-life and Burmese nationalism and independence. Each passage is accompanied by a full translation and is followed by a set of exercises designed to familiarize the reader with the new vocabulary and sentence structures. Accompanying audio files allow students to hear the texts read aloud. Language professors and their students, or those learning Burmese on their own, will appreciate the accessible approach and the manageable size of the lessons of the very practical textbooks in this series.
About the Author
John Okell, now retired, was for many years Lecturer in Burmese at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London. He is the author of First Steps in Burmese and A Reference Grammar of Colloquial Burmese and coauthor of Burmese/Myanmar. He continues to teach short courses in Thailand, in Burma, in Spain, in the USA, and at SOAS.
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