Beginner's Persian (Beginner's Guides (New York, N.Y.).) (Paperback)

by A.M. Miandij (Author)
Key Phrases: Beginner's Persian, General Data, Informal Talking (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
This is a very accessible learner's guide to one of the oldest and most important literary languages of the Middle East. Persian is spoken by over 35 million people in Iran and Afghanistan, where it is known respectively as Farsi and Dari. First learn about the country's history and culture, acquaint yourself with social customs, restaurant practices and transportation systems. Then learn basic language skills, including vocabulary, grammar and useful phrases that will have you communicating with natives and moving about freely.

About the Author
A M Miandji

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Hippocrene Books (December 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0781805678
• ISBN-13: 978-0781805674
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 1.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #326,866 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars This is a tourist phrase book, not a textbook., July 26, 2000

By	Lee V. Douglas (Washington, DC USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is a tourist phrase book pure and simple, but when it is offered online, and cannot be previewed, the title is apallingly misleading. It presents words and phrases in various categories, with Persian script, transliteration and English equivalent, as any good phrase book should. It will be of use to travelers and it can be used for additional vocabulary and examples of colloquial language by students who have mastered the elementary level of Persian.

Sudents who want to learn Persian should look at the books by Wheeler Thackston, Serge Obelinsky, and Ann Lambton.

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Good, November 7, 1999

By A Customer

Well this is not a book to learn persian, but it is a book for turists who may wish to go to Iran.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A complete beginner's view, May 8, 2000

By A Customer

This 288 page book consists of three parts: Part I: An intensive guide to Persian phonology. Part II: Seven (7) categories of survival expressions & vocabulary in English with their Persian equivalents in phonetic transcription followed by the Persian script versions. These categories are: informal talking, general data, arrival-departure, in town, general needs, health, and amusements. Part III: Information about Iran divided into 3 sections: geography, travel and sights. The most important part of the book for me was discovering the sounds of the language through the phonetic symbols. To make the best use of the book, the student has to work hard on this section to be able to read and pronounce the transcriptions in the categorized parts of the book Without mastering the phonetic transcriptions, pronunciation of the words would be a daunting exercise. In my opinion, BEGINNER'S PERSIAN, with its rich vocabulary categories, was meant for people who already have some knowledge of the language. Complete beginners, like me, would need a tape to assist them in pronouncing the Persian properly.