Tibetan Phrasebook (Lonely Planet) [Paperback]

Sandup Tsering (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 2002

A useful guide for travellers in this region; get a handle on Tibetan grammar and pronunciation, find your way around by train, pedicab, taxi or bus, understand local gestures and body language, and read up on festival rites and rituals.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...Lonely Planet phrase books have long taken a hip, streetwise approach." -- Atlanta Journal-Constitution, May 27, 2004

"Lonely Planet Phrasebooks. Portable, pocket-size, cheap, and available for almost any country you might want to visit..." -- National Geographic Traveler, September 2006

Language Notes

Text: English, Tibetan --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Lonely Planet Publications; 3 edition (May 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1740592336
• ISBN-13: 978-1740592338
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 3.7 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,506,661 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, May 27, 2003

By 

Geri Rinna (Plainwell, MI United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tibetan Phrasebook (Lonely Planet) (Paperback)

My main objective was learning to speak some Tibetan on a conversational level, and not just a traveler's level. The book teaches the writitng system and enough grammar to be able to correctly speak Tibetan as we speak everyday English. Nothing too deep and technical, but nothing too brief. The small book is absolutely jam-packed with words and phrases. It suits the need of both the traveler and one who wants a basic conversational ability in Tibetan. It's value exceeds the price greatly!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Invaluable When Traveling Individually in Tibet, February 21, 2006

By 

DigitalMan (New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tibetan Phrasebook (Lonely Planet) (Paperback)

I've been to Tibet five times now, and each time I have carried my now well worn copy of this phrasebook with me. Without it, I'd be at a real loss. It is has proven wonderful for communicating with locals - not only in Lhasa, but also in far more remote parts of the country. It is safe to say that using this phrasebook has enhanced my experiences in Tibet many times over.

If I did have one criticism of it, it would be that while it does have a brief English to Tibetan Dictionary in back, it would greatly benefit from a Tibetan to English Dictionary as well. So many times Tibetans have picked up the phrasebook from me and searched in vain for a word that they are trying to find.

But that criticism is minor. If you're traveling in Tibet on your own, this phrasebooks is a must. Depending on how long you're going to be in the country, you may want to consider the LP Mandarin Phrasebook as well.....

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Probably the best you'll find for what you need, December 22, 2005

By 

Jason Stuart "Gershom" (Seattle WA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tibetan Phrasebook (Lonely Planet) (Paperback)

As a small language book that is only meant to give you the basics this is a great book.


A warning though... This book attempts to educated the reader in a "standard Tibetan language". They mention the three main dialects of U-tsang, Amdo, and Kham and claim that great interaction between them is leading to this standardization. It has not be my experience nor have I seen other scholars even mention the existence of such a standardization. From what I have learned the three dialects are quite different to the point of mutual misunderstanding. I do not feel that this book prepared me to speak Amdo, nor would it prepare anyone else to speak either Amdo or Kham. If that is your goal, good luck finding any book that can do that. But, for most people this is irrelevant. Most interaction with Tibetans by Westerners is with central U-tsang Tibetans. I never thoought about it before, but most of the Tibetan exiles are central/U-tsang.

Upon further consultation with some Tibetans I have come to the conclusion that some mishmash of the dialects does exist in the Tibetan diaspora in India. So this book would be more useful there. Keep in mind though that the original exodus into India consisted mostly of Central Tibetans and so this new amalgamation likely favors that dialects sensibilities.