"Teach Yourself Swahili" is the course for anyone who wants to progress quickly from the basics to understanding, speaking and writing Swahili with confidence. Although aimed at those with no previous knowledge, it is equally suitable for anyone wishing to brush up existing knowledge for a holiday or business trip. Key structures and vocabulary are introduced in 18 thematic units, progressing from basic greetings and introductions and dealing with everyday situations to writing a formal letter and business communications. The emphasis is on communication throughout, with important language structures introduced through dialogues on the accompanying recording. There are plenty of exercises to practice the language as it is introduced and tips throughout to help with pronunciation and grammar. Cultural information boxes give useful advice and information for anyone planning a trip. There are 2 accompanying cassettes and CDs which give pronunciation guidance and listening material. They are available separately (cassettes - 0 340 85837 0; CDs - 0 340 86872 4) or in a pack with the book (book/cassette pack - 0 340 85836 2; book/CD pack - 0 340 86871 6).
Hujambo? - how are you?; kwenda posta - going to the post office;
hotelini - the the hotel; sokoni - at the market; kwenya duka la sanaa - at
the craft shop; matembezi jioni - an evening walk; kupika kwa mama mzee -
cooking at grandmother's; kusafiri ni kuzuri! - travelling is good!; safari
ya basi - a bus journey; chumba kizuri! - a good room!; mialiko -
invitations; hairuhusiwi kuegesha! - no parking!; kujufunza lugha - learning
a language; siku ya taabu - a day of troubles; katika mbuga ya wanyama - in
the game park; mlimani - kuna nini? - on the mountain - what's the matter?;
mchezaji soka na wachezaji ngoma - a soccer player and some dancers; barua
zimewasili! - some letters have arrived!; Swahili-English vocabulary;
English-Swahili vocabulary.
Joan Russell was born in London and taught there for a few years before leaving for Tanzania, where she taught in various institutions over the next seven years, at the same time acquiring the basics of Swahili. Her interest in the language continued during a two-year attachment to the Curriculum Development and Research Centre in Nairobi. On her return from Kenya she completed a degree in Language and Linguistics at the University of York and stayed on there to carry out sociolinguistic research on Swahili and its functions. This entailed regular extended visits to eastern Africa. She became Senior Lecturer in linguistics and African studies at the University of York.
