Mithun N. , Van Der Wurff W. Colloquial Bengali. - Routledge, 2009.
- 288 p.
ISBN: 0415261198
This book keeps material simple in the beginning and is quite user-friendly from the point of view of developing skill at speaking. The conversations in each chapter aren't particularly deep or profound, but they certainly get more interesting as the book goes along. A particularly valuable feature is the extensive section on pronunciation which comes at the beginning and which the accompanying CD tracks very precisely. It is very much geared toward leaing to speak the language (whereas TYB is more literary). This is definitely the best bet for a quick start into the world of everyday Bengali conversation. Coverage of grammar is quite easy to follow and the differences between Easte and Weste Bengali usage are noted as they occur (would that most other language books would do this).
ISBN: 0415261198
This book keeps material simple in the beginning and is quite user-friendly from the point of view of developing skill at speaking. The conversations in each chapter aren't particularly deep or profound, but they certainly get more interesting as the book goes along. A particularly valuable feature is the extensive section on pronunciation which comes at the beginning and which the accompanying CD tracks very precisely. It is very much geared toward leaing to speak the language (whereas TYB is more literary). This is definitely the best bet for a quick start into the world of everyday Bengali conversation. Coverage of grammar is quite easy to follow and the differences between Easte and Weste Bengali usage are noted as they occur (would that most other language books would do this).