New Burmese Language Text (r)

[strider@xxxxxxxxxxx]

/* Written 12:21 PM  Aug  5, 1994 by knutst@xxxxxxxxxx in igc:soc.cult.burma */
In article <9408051236501481@xxxxxxx>, gunnar.dalseth@xxxxxxx (Gunnar Dalseth) says:
>
>Dear strider,
>
>In the middle of June you posted a message about a set of new
>language text books for Burmese written by John Okell. I made
>a hardcopy of the message, but discovered today that the address
>where these books can be purchased are missing. Or rather, the
>message had been split in two, and the last part of the address
>was in part two which I've lost.
>
>Can you please post a new message with the address where the
>books can be ordered? Just put it in soc.culture.burma, instead
>of sending a private e-mail. I am on Fidonet and there
>is an Internet connection, but the messages have to go through
>the US and take up to a couple of months before they reach the
>hub in Bangkok. :((((
>
>Greetings,
>
>Gunnar Dalseth
>
>... My kids think that a pen is something you click on a toolbar...
>    Blue Wave/RA v2.12
> * MKNet v1.10 * U'NI-net: TG BBS * Chiang Mai, Thailand *
I'm sorry I cannot provide the address,but I'm sure Strider will.My reason for
posting is to make people aware of excellent (IMO) textbooks in Burmese in
other languages.Unfortunately,I don't have the addresses for ordering them
available,but if you're interested please email me,and I'll find out.
All the books are published in the 90's and are mostly covering the modern,
colloquial style.

1)
There is a very nice French book in the Asiatheque series; it has cartoons right
through and also comes with two cassettes (though the cassette quality is 
inferior to that of the book).

2)
There is also a Japanese language textbook series that I found very attractive;
the one for Burmese is called  "Biruma-go yon shukan".A neat little book,
 though I suspect even the average Japanese would require more than four
weeks to master its contents completely.

3)
In Chinese,a very impressive four volume series has recently been published
by Bei3Da1.This work covers much more territory than the others,including the
John Okell series.It also has heavy dosages of literary style.(Is this what
BeiJing uses as part of its planned takeover of Burma?)

I recommend all this works highly to anyone even slightly familiar with the 
respective languages.For example, if you already know some Burmese
(from Okell's series,say) and you have a rudimentary background in French,
book 1) will provide  more and interesting material.

Also,I have a list from the late 80's (not with me right now),made by John Okell,
of useful Burmese language tools (textbooks,dictionaries etc.) in
several languages.If somebody has an updated list,please post.Otherwise
I could post the "old" list,which does not include any of the books mentioned
above.(It does mention a pair of superb Russian dictionaries that anyone
going to Eastern Europe shoul try to get hold of (I'll buy them :-))

BTW,this all seems to me to belong in a Burmese language FAQ. Is there a 
FAQ for s.c.b. at all?

Have a happy time studying this beautiful language!!
Knut Staring
PS  Gunnar: Are you by any chance Scandinavian? Would be nice to hear 
from you. Hei då/Ha det!