Customer Reviews

Colloquial Bengali

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

It is interesting to note that both of the other readers who have reviewed this book so far have specifically compared it with 'Teach Yourself Bengali.' The universe of Bengali-language resources is regrettably very small. (the only other work I have is the venerable introductory book By Dimock)I have also used both books and agree with some points that each of the other reviewers has made. This book keeps material simple in the beginning and is quite user-friendly from the point of view of developing skill at speaking. The conversations in each chapter aren't particularly deep or profound, but they certainly get more interesting as the book goes along. A particularly valuable feature is the extensive section on pronunciation which comes at the beginning and which the accompanying CD tracks very precisely. It is very much geared toward learning to speak the language (whereas TYB is more literary). This is definitely the best bet for a quick start into the world of everyday Bengali conversation. Coverage of grammar is quite easy to follow and the differences between Eastern and Western Bengali usage are noted as they occur (would that most other language books would do this).

My only complaint is that I would have liked a longer (and thicker book), with a lot more vocabulary. Maybe if this sells well the authors will think about a Volume 2. It would be very welcome.

Unfortunately, the courses in the Colloquial series have a reputation for being very bad when it comes to Asian languages. Colloquial Bengali is no exception. Compared to most Colloquial courses on European languages, there's almost nothing in this book and you'll end up knowing about 25% of the vocabulary you would learn in Colloquial Italian,Colloquial Czech, Colloquial Icelandic.

There are only two Bengali books on the market, this one and Teach Yourself Bengali. Neither is very good, but for different reasons. Teach Yourself Bengali is many times more extensive than this course, but it's format is boring and the layout is a mess. The conversations and the well-structured layout in this book give it its two stars, but the content in terms of what you learn is far too limited. When will Routledge start to treat non-European languages as seriously as they treat the European languages?

I went on the website and wanted to buy something that was written: CD, (Sheets) and thought that it would be a CD with sheets that could be put in a folder. But I only got the CD, which is not of much use without the book. So I feel that I completely lost my money, the CD has not much value without the book. And if I order the book now its really not worth the money.
Anyway the CD is a bit like Pinsleur's Chinese, that is an English guide that introduces the contents of each lesson and leads you through the alphabet sounds, and more and more complicated dialogues. It's good but when you are learning a language you also need to see something on print. The Bengali is with local speakers so that's really good to learn proper pronunciation.

Although I am only a beginner at Bengali, I have learned several other languages and am in the process of learning other South Asian ones. I feel this book meets a real need. There are few books out there that both teach Bengali conversation and the grammar necessary to make sentences of your own. The book introduces the alphabet gradually and amusingly. It seems to provide really practical vocabulary and plenty of exercises for practice, and the answers to the exercises come at the back of the book.
It does not stint on detailed explanations of pronunciation points so important when one starts out. The book comes with CDs (I am waiting for mine to arrive) and detailed indications of the pronunciation, vocabulary and grammar differences between West Bengal and Bangladesh.
Another good book on Bengali is Teach Yourself Bengali, but I think this one is more practical, as it introduces the alphabet gradually and the grammar points more gradually than the other book. I will work through both (I have been working with Teach Yourself Bengali and have finished most of the chapters of the alphabet), but am happy that I will begin this book and be able, from the first chapter, to engage people in conversation. Bravo to the authors for a first-rate text!

From the description i thought i would receive the book and the audio cd's. I only got the audio cd's which aren't great anyway and really aren't useful without the book. They move way too quickly and have little explanation (dialogues with only overviews of what they are about, not what they are actually saying). With a book they would be a little helpful. Not a lot.