Teach Yourself Sinhalese

Teach Yourself Sinhalese is a self-study course in Sinhala, the language spoken by most people in Sri Lanka, written in English for readers starting from nothing. The cover sets out its promise plainly: a complete course for beginners, with a minidictionary bound in. It is the kind of book you keep open on the desk beside a notebook, working through it at your own pace rather than dipping in once.

The author is A.W.L. Silva, whose name appears at the foot of the cover. Beneath the English title the book carries its Sinhala title, සිංහල භාෂාව, which simply means the Sinhala language, an early first look at the rounded script that learners come to recognise as they progress.

Sinhala has its own alphabet and a spoken form that differs noticeably from the written one, so a structured course is a sensible way in for anyone planning a long stay, working alongside Sri Lankan colleagues, marrying into a Sinhala-speaking family or simply wanting to read the signs and menus around them. Taking the lessons in order lets the vocabulary and grammar build on each other.

The minidictionary at the back gives you a quick reference for the words you meet while studying, without having to reach for a separate dictionary. The cover itself, with its map of Sri Lanka and a strip of printed Sinhala text, makes clear the island and the language the book is about.

This is an English-language book that teaches from first principles. It suits a self-taught learner, and works equally well as a companion to classes or to time spent in the country.