Swahili Phrase Book
Last updated: 17.12.19
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Printed: 2000 Author: Berlitz
Publisher: Berlitz Publishing Company ISBN: 2831562058
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Paperback - 192 pages revised edition edition (20 July, 2000)
Amazon Review
A language guide to Swahili, designed for travellers with little or no knowledge of the language. It features over 1200 useful phrases and expressions and over 2300 words that cover different travel situations. It also includes cultural tips and a pronunciation guide.
Disappointing
I brought this book to Kenya and found it to be disappointing and incomplete. Many of the words and phrases (including such simple things as greetings!) are inaccurate, obscure or out-of-date. It doesn't even include "Jambo!" the most ubiquitous Swahili greeting and the only word most tourists learn.
Along with providing many poor choices (which were incomprehensible to the Kenyans I met), the book didn't provide enough context to help you correctly choose your words or phrasing. Also -- and more importantly -- the grammar section is incomplete and impossible to follow. Swahili grammar is very different from English, and it's impossible to gain ANY proficiency in the language without at least a basic briefing in grammar.
At the end of my trip, I bought the Lonely Planet Phrasebook, which was infinitely better, and everything started making sense. And no, I don't work for Lonely Planet.
Personal remarks:
In general, I agree with the forgoing reviewer. Its merits however are its genuine pocket size and that it caters to the needs business traveller (as indeed most Berlitz phrase books) who may only be few hours or days in the Swahili speaking country.