Learning Bengali

[Graham M]

I'm interested in learning Bengali to some sufficient degree - I have a lot of Bengali friends and it would be nice if I could speak their language - I've learnt a few words and phrases but putting anything to use is different, I was wondering if anyone had any experience in learning a language a bit later in life - can you give any tips/advice? Someone who has learnt an Indian language such as Bengali's advice would be v. useful

Thanks
Graham

[Taf]

Move to Bengal?

[Graham M]

No, but possibly visiting

[Pauls9]

Perhaps more visits to Brick Lane.



Oh sorry, this isn't the curry thread.

[Taf]

After getting the basics in school French from a Canadian, I was posted to the Belgian Ardennes where I had to learn French just to live. Then I found out it was Walloonish NOT real French. Then I might my future French wife, and then found out she spoke mostly French Argot.. had to resort to book learning of real French after that.

Immersing yourself in the culture is by far the best way to learn... but beware of nuances of the language and regional variations!!!

[TheDaddy]

Can't you ask your friends to help you? A few words a day here and there and you'll soon get there, a mate of mine learnt Thai that way, he is fluent now.

Link for learning the language online

Link for basic words and phrases


Good luck

[Graham M]

Originally Posted by Taf

Immersing yourself in the culture is by far the best way to learn... but beware of nuances of the language and regional variations!!!

Yes! That's the sort of thing I'm looking for, there are quite a few regional variances, Sylheti is the main dialect I'm interested in, you can make yourself understood quite widely in it, but not so much from the other big areas apparently.

[haydnwalker]

Originally Posted by Graham M

Yes! That's the sort of thing I'm looking for, there are quite a few regional variances, Sylheti is the main dialect I'm interested in, you can make yourself understood quite widely in it, but not so much from the other big areas apparently.

Graham... you're younger than I am - I'd hardly call 24 "Later in Life" I've been rather interested in learning Chinese/Japanese, but never gotten around to sorting a course out.

[Graham M]

I know I'm by no means "old" but they say younger you are the easiest it is to pick up a language

[NoKnowledge]

OK this language is difficult

there are eleven vowels in Bengali with seven sounds - long and short

with the exception of the first vowel ("a") which has no signature and is always implicit in the consonant

Bangla includes 39 characters. However, these 39 characters number no more than 29 sounds

http://www.betelco.com/bd/bangla/bangla.html#learn

---------- Post added at 14:19 ---------- Previous post was at 14:14 ----------

Theres a news website with a English Version button in the top right

http://www.bdnews24.com/bangla/

[khargush]

Hi Everybody,

I'm the new member. I urgently need a female Bengali teacher or penpal since I need to learn bengali for personal and family reasons. Please contact me via mail:
Mod Edit: not a good idea to post your email address in this context if you are female and interested to teach me bengali, thank a lot

These issues are best dealt with by personal messages.

[khargush]

thanks my friend for reminding me not to use my email in public forums. good luck

[Osem]

Why female?

[Hom3r]

Pehaps the khargush is female?

[Osem]

........... and males can't teach females or vice versa? It's a penpal he/she's supposedly looking for.........