ABSTRACT

Colloquial Bengali provides a step-by-step course in Bengali as it is written and spoken today. Combining a user-friendly approach with a thorough treatment of the language, it equips learners with the essential skills needed to communicate confidently and effectively in Bengali in a broad range of situations. No prior knowledge of the language is required.

Key features include:

• progressive coverage of speaking, listening, reading and writing skills

• structured, jargon-free explanations of grammar

• an extensive range of focused and stimulating exercises

• realistic and entertaining dialogues covering a broad variety of scenarios

• useful vocabulary lists throughout the text

• additional resources available at the back of the book, including a full answer key, a grammar summary and bilingual glossaries

Balanced, comprehensive and rewarding, Colloquial Bengali will be an indispensable resource both for independent learners and students taking courses in Bengali.

Audio material to accompany the course is available to download freely in MP3 format from www.routledge.com/cw/colloquials. Recorded by native speakers, the audio material features the dialogues and texts from the book and will help develop your listening and pronunciation skills.

chapter 1|12 pages

Apnar nam ki?

What's your name?

chapter 2|11 pages

Era ki apnar mamato bhai?

Are these your cousins?

chapter 3|11 pages

onar kOeTa baRi ache?

How many houses does he have?

chapter 4|12 pages

KalimondirTa kon dike?

In what direction is the temple of Kali?

chapter 5|14 pages

Apni ki ki dekhechen?

What have you seen?

chapter 6|10 pages

Apni ki khaben?

What would you like to eat?

chapter 7|11 pages

Apni ki ranna korchen?

What are you cooking?

chapter 8|12 pages

Dækhabo?

Shall I show it to you?

chapter 9|11 pages

ei cekTa ki ekhane kãsh kore nite pari?

Can I cash this cheque here?

chapter 10|13 pages

Ekhane keu thake na?

Doesn't anyone live here?

chapter 11|12 pages

tarpOre ki holo?

What happened next?

chapter 12|12 pages

apnara skule ki ki poRten?

What did you study at school?

chapter 13|12 pages

jomi hal dewar jonno ki bæbohar kOren?

What do you use for ploughing the land?

chapter 14|11 pages

flaiT dOshTae chaRle kOTae riporT korte hObe?

If the flight leaves at ten, at what time should I check in?

chapter 15|12 pages

nObobOrshe ar ki ki kOra hOe?

What else is done on New Year's Day?