Learn to Speak Tibetan and Hindi

This book aims to help Hindi and Tibetan speakers acquire conversational proficiency in each other’s language. To this end, the written and phonetic forms of words are provided for both languages. The addition of an English translation provided the opportunity for other to gain access to these languages.

The topics covered in this book are relevant to everyday life, grouped into Lessons containing useful phrases and sentences. There is also an extensive vocabulary of commonly used words at the end of the book. Thus, this practical guide will be of benefit to all readers who wish to learn to speak basic conversational Hindi and Tibetan quickly and easily.

It is now more than three and a half decades since our Tibetan friends arrived in India. Where as a vast majority of Tibetans have picked up a smattering of conversational skills in Hindi, very few Indians can express themselves even in broken Tibetan. It was felt, therefore, that a handy guidebook on everyday topics and oral communication would be a great help to both Hindi-speaking and Tibetan- speaking aspirants wishing to develop conversational skills in day-to-day dialogue without getting embroiled in the intricacies of grammar, etc. My esteemed friend Mr. Gyatsho Tshering, Director of LTWA, liked and approved the idea. The result is the present volume which has been devised, planned and completed with the collaboration of Mr. Lobsang Thonden and Mr. Sangye Naga. The skills of Miss Tenzin Sonam in computer-setting the multiscript manuscript also deserve appreciation.

If this book helps bring about closer interaction between Indians and Tibetans through the medium of conversational efficiency, that alone would be compensation enough for this endeavour.