Textbook of Modern Colloquial Tibetan Conversation

This collection of informal conversations is intended for students of Tibetan language who can read, but require more experience of the colloquial language. The conversations deal with a number of everyday situations and present patterns that are easily adapter to other circumstance. An accompanying tape is available, providing an opportunity to strengthen the skills of speaking and listening.

This collection of informal conversations in modern Tibetan has been compiled to provide students of Tibetan language with an opportunity to practise speaking in everyday situations. Until recently interest in spoken Tibetan has largely been restricted to people in some way connected with the refugee community in exile. However, since Tibet itself is being increasingly opened to foreign tourists it is important that they should be able to communicate with the local Tibetan people, so we hope this book will also be of some help to them.

The author, Mr. Tashi, has taught Tibetan language to foreign students for almost a decade during which time he has become familiar with the problems they face and has evolved these materials, amongst others, to suit their needs. During a sabbatical year in the U.S.A. he was assisted in preparing this book by Kenneth Liberman, Assistant Professor of Sociology at the University of Oregon, Eugene. They have been careful to ensure that the English translations follow the Tibetan as closely as possible in order to help students clearly understand both its meaning and form.

Perhaps even more important than the book itself is the accompanying cassette on which all the conversations have been recorded in Tibetan, allowing the student further practice in the skills of speaking and listening.

We are grateful to the authors for their efforts and hope this work will contribute to strengthening friendly communications between Tibetans and people of other lands.

The Textbook of Modern Colloquial Tibetan Conversation is written for those non-Tibetans who have keen interest in learning conversational Tibetan and who have already been studying the language. The textbook is based on the contemporary colloquial language in order to assist students to communicate directly with Tibetan people. It is based upon traditional Tibetan expression and relies upon the proper form and style used among Tibetans in their everyday life.

In studying this book, students are advised to rely more heavily upon the tape than the book. The book should be consulted only when necessary, and students should continue their study until they are capable of listening to the entire tape with full comprehension without consulting the book.