Customer Reviews

The Modern Pushtu Instructor (Pushto Words Romanized)

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

 

 

I have no real comments to make that the other reviewer did not already make. I thought the book's coverage of Pushtu grammar and vocabulary was superb. As previously mentioned, the book's vacabulary covers many practical and military terminology which is extremely useful if one plans to visit Afghanistan. But as the other reviewer noted, one cannot learn pronunciation from this book. So, why do I give it 5 stars then? First, this book has been reprinted under the new title 'Introduction to Pushtu' (ISBN: 0-7818-0939-8) which is only $14.95. In addition, an online company called 'Multilingual Books and Tapes' (http://www.multilingualbooks.com/) sells a set of 2 cassette tapes specifically for this textbook that help you learn the pronunciations for $30. I highly recommend the reprint of this book (since it is cheaper) and the cassette tapes as a beginning to intermediate level Pushtu course.

This book has a very bad transcription - no stress marked at all, schwa and a constantly confused. It begins with alphabet, grammar, and a second part with translation exercises. It has much interesting vocabulary, mostly military; it is a book beyond a beginner's level, though including it, it would be one of the best I have seen, except that you just can't learn pronunciation form it.