Customer Reviews

A Grammar of Pashto A Descriptive Study of the Dialect of Kandahar, Afghanistan

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

 

 

This is not really a `grammar of Pashto.' It is however a descriptive study of the dialect of Kandahar, and does review the grammar from an advanced point of view (pointing out trends rather than giving examples). It is useful for someone who already has some knowledge of pashto (either Kandahar or other dialect), for the linguist or dedicated learner, or for someone with no other resource available. The Kandahar dialect is the most `elegant' and some say the purest (closest to original) dialect and maintains a good connection to the extra pashto letters. Dr. Penzl relies on his own observation and also supplies some rarely helpful explicit input from three natives of Kandahar. Unfortunately the explanations are a little jargon-wordy and overcomplicated whereas in principle the ideas are very simple. Nevertheless, this is a useful and well-put together book.

This book is totally useless for beginners, the author doesn't even attempt to teach the alphabet,favoring his own shaky transliteration,the book is just a disorganized mess in general, the author attempts to hide his lack of target knowledge by using lots of technical terms, ive read chapters in lonely planet pocket guides that were more useful for teaching grammar than this whole book is

"Would you like to be able to speak to the fellows on the cover of this book?"
The above statement is offensive. it is a deliberate and shameful attempt to depict native speakers of Pashto as violent.