Essentials of Modern Literary Tibetan

Half of the words are read by implications." This Tibetan saying explains the main difficulty Westerners face in learning to read Tibetan fluently. Unlike previously available materials, this book will allow beginners to understand the logic of Tibetan grammar and syntax through graded reading and narrative explanations. The large glossary, which includes particles and is indexed by page, will serve as an invaluable reference for readers of Tibetan at all levels. The reading course includes the Tibetan alphabet and its pronunciation, as well as a wide range of modern literary styles from literature, history, current affairs, newspapers, and even communist political essays. Cassette tapes to assist students learning on their own are available through Case Western Reserve University's Center for Research on Tibet. "This [grammar] will make the study of written Tibetan a lot easier and more pleasant that it has been up to now."-James A. Matisoff, University of California, Berkeley. "The first really practical general grammar of the language."-F.K. Lehman, University of Illinois.