Overview

A thorough and systematic introduction to the Burmese writing system. Appropriate for use by students at varying levels of competence, Burmese: A Cultural Approach provides a thorough and systematic introduction to the Burmese writing system, along with a series of true-to-life conversations. The first part of the book offers an introduction to the Burmese sound system, while the second section focuses on conversation, including extensive annotations that illustrate grammatical patterns, characteristic turns of phrase, and typical habits of social interaction. Employing an anthropological approach to language learning, the book is intended to provide students with useful insights into how cultural understandings, not just grammar, shape what gets said in Burmese. The book is enhanced by audio files that can be accessed on a companion website that were recorded by native speakers for all the written symbols, dialogues, and exercises in the book.  

Full Product Details

9789888528400

Table of Contents

Reviews

""The natural dialogues and audio files in Keeler and Lyan's Burmese: A Cultural Approach cover a wide range of scenarios that introduce learners to the different registers and styles they need to master. For serious students looking for a rigorous self-study course, Keeler and Lyan's content is a great compilation."" -Kenneth Wong, University of California, Berkeley ""Ward Keeler and Allen Lyan's book is a significant addition to the limited range of materials available for intermediate-level learners of the beautiful Burmese language. The authors have assembled a rich set of dialogues in a natural, spoken style of Burmese in a range of social contexts. This is an excellent way to illustrate a number of the features of Burmese that are not found in European languages."" -Justin Watkins, SOAS University of London

Author Information

Ward Keeler is a cultural anthropologist specializing in Burma and Indonesia. He teaches at the University of Texas at Austin. Allen Lyan is a Burmese language instructor, as well as a music and English language teacher. He lives in Mandalay, Burma.  

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