1 comments about A Fire in My Heart: Kurdish Tales (World Folklore Series).

1. This book is an amazing glimpse into the life and culture of a people who are determined to maintain their cultural identity despite war, politics, and indifference by others. Every page of this book is a feast for the senses. It is beautifully and carefully written in such a way as to transplant the reader into the lives of these people and come away wanting more. Diane's international storytelling experiences are revealed as you learn about the culture in vivid language that transports you into their village life. You will learn some of their popular games and recipes as well as local proverbs and stories. The pages are edged with traditional Kurdish designs. Photos of the past and present are plentiful.
   
   There is something in this collection that will inspire, intrigue and delight any age. Give it as a gift, read it as a family, try a recipe, play a game, learn a new culture, use it to teach moral lessons or cultural differences or to think about your own cultural legacy. Read it for learning or for pleasure, but READ THIS BOOK!

No comments about Talk Now! Learn Kurdish.

5 comments about Kurdish-English/English-Kurdish Dictionary.

1. I love this translation. I finall understand Kurdish



2. This book used to be cheaper; now that it's more expensive, all but the most desperate should skip it--and Amindarov should be ashamed that he has not publicly apologized for further bastardizing an "endangered" language.



3. This book is nothing more than what it claims to be, a dictionary. I was hoping it would have little extras, but it doesn't. There's a pronounciation key, English/Kurdish, and Kurdish/English. If you look up a word in English, you'll find one or sometimes many translations in Kurdish, and you don't know which one is the most appropriate. Also, I would like more than the English word that is the "closest match"; I'd like the meaning of the Kurdish words. Finally, it is far from thorough. Many simple English words just aren't there. This book would be good to have if you were traveling through Kurdistan and could refer to the book for a word or two here and there. But in terms of forming sentences or conjugating verbs, this dictionary is pretty useless. I wish I had spent the extra money and ordered an expensive text book.



4. It is a criminal dishonesty to write a dictionary of a language you don't know it just for financial gain. I am Kurdish and find it disgusting to have a book like this called a Kurdish dictionary. This man should brought to justice.



5. on the cover of the dictionary it says population of kurds are 5 million that is not true correct one is about 40 million
   thank you

No comments about Kurdish Sorani Phrasebook (Romanised).

No comments about Languages of Iraq, Ancient and Modern.

4 comments about Easy Way to Kurdish (Book/Cassette Course).

1. To study Soran dialect,this is very good for beginners,I think. But I'm very sorry that I can't study Kurmanji dialect with this book. We may confuse there is no difference between the two when we take a look for the first time.



2. Greetings.

   Just as the book describes itself, this is a brief and basic introduction to "social Kurdish" in the Sorany dialect.

   The well-organized package is very useful for getting started in the language and dialect.

   My only complaint, and based on my admittedly-specialized work as a community volunteer for incoming Iraqi Kurdish refugee families, is that the book's contents would be much more useful (perhaps in a revised edition or add-on supplement) by:

   o expanding the two-age section on a visit to the clinic to include "new patient" interviews and obtaining family information on medical / health histories

   and

   o adding pages of situations and Q&A relating to the reception and hosting of new arrivals, plus receiving public social services.

   The supporting audiocassette tapes are very helpful.

   Wish there were more such materials around.

   All best regards.




3. When I decided to buy this mini-course, my intention was to learn "survival" Kurdish in order to be able to handle more or less any situation when visiting Turkish Kurdistan, where the majority of people does not speak English. I feel the material provided with this course widely satisfies my needs.



4. There are not many resources for learning Sorani Kurdish. So, while this is not a complete language-learning kit, it's a great start. It doesn't include much grammar, but lots of useful phrases and vocabulary. The CDs allow you to practice pronunciation of the words in the book.

2 comments about Talk Now! Kurdish.

1. I haven't actually looked at this--I'm writing to ask someone who actually has to please tell us which dialect of Kurdish this focuses on. I need the Urfa or Diyarbakir dialect of Kurmanji and it seems like no one, anywhere, teaches it except through the medium of Turkish.



2. This CD-ROM language study is for Sorani Kurdish (not Kurmanji or other dialects). It is a good beginner course, full of useful words and phrases for travelling into Kurdistan. However, it is not intended for extensive study. There are essentially no verbs taught, and very few phrases. There are lessons on "first words," foods, body parts, countries, colors, shopping, numbers, and time expressions. The lessons are fun and interactive (with games for each lesson), but the course is limited in its scope.

3 comments about Kurdish-English Dictionary: Ferhenga Kurmanci-Inglizi.

1. This dictionary is a remarkable achievement, with a great many words (and variants) not found in other dictionaries of the Kurmanji dialect. It is particularly rich in words taken from peasant life, and from folklore texts. At the same time, however, it is not all that useful for reading modern Kurmanji journalistic prose, as many very common words and expressions are not included. For such use, the smaller and cheaper paperback dictionary by Baran Rizgar, published in the UK, is more practical. Also, the Chyet dictionary, with its large print, many illustrative sentences, etymologies (for some words), etc., is very large and weighs several pounds, thus making it a bit awkward to use. Most users will probably find the Rizgar dictionary preferable for everyday use, and will keep the Chyet dictionary on the desk for occasional look-up of more obscure words. Clearly a tremendous amount of work went into producing this dictionary, but I have given it only four stars because it is not, despite its massive volume, truly comprehensive. I have consulted with two other students of Kurdish (one a Kurd himself, and one a European) who had been awaiting this dictionary for some time, and both declared themselves a bit disappointed with it. Nonetheless, anyone with a serious interest in the Kurmanji dialect of Kurdish will want to have a copy of this dictionary available.



2. Unlike many available Kurmanji-English dictionaries, this book is written for linguists. Some, who expect a handbook may be disappointed, but who pays $70 for a handbook? Many expressions which are notably absent from this text are, in fact, Arabic, Turkish, or Farsi; though commonly used by Kurmanji in different regions, they are not standard Kurmanji, and I hardly see the absence of these terms as a weakness. This text is not a pocket dictionary; it is a substantial (including it's physical weight) volume of academic literature. I find this book to be exceptionally suited to its purpose.



3. Wow! This tome may be scholarly and comprehensive, but it's also as easy to peruse as a novel you would take to the beach.
   
   This volume should on the shelf in every home that has indoor plumbing.

No comments about Kurdish (Sorani) Romanized Dictionary & Phrasebook: Sorani-english / English-sorani.

5 comments about English Kurdish - Kurdish English - Sorani Dictionary.

1. This dictionary was recommended to me as a good all round dictionary and it was my first dictionary I bought.
   I have come to own almost all the other Kurdish dictionaries in print (some given to me as presents others picked up at second hand shops). I am still searching for the perfect Kurdish dictionary.
   This dictionary still remains the best in my collection and the one I most often use for my Kurdish language studies.
   If you are in for a Kurdish dictionary then go for this one, if you can only afford one dictionary.
   I also own the The Azadi English-Kurdish Dictionary which at $80 in Amazon is a bit expensive but its also another good dictionary I own. Both dictionaries have their drawbacks.
   This one fulfills my purpose and is not too expensive. The cheaper dictionaries are a bit too basic. Like all the dictionaries I have seen it does not include full verb entries. My only gripe about of this dictionary is that it is falling apart, but it gets thrown about a lot when I am frustrated by the Kurdish language. I would most certainly buy a new copy when this one becomes too dog eared, I have become quite fond of it but as my knowledge of Kurdish increases I find that I am using it less and less. A trusty fried that has given very good service.



2. I highly recommend this dictionary as a simple and very useful dictionary and as a student I consult it many times during the day. IF YOU ARE A KURDISH SPEAKER LEARNING ENGLISH BUY THIS DICTIONARY.
   
   
   The Dictionary is really meant for Kurdish people to learn English and not the other way around It does not distinguish between the two r's in Kurdish, and it also doesn't distinguish between the o's, the l's but this is not a handicap if you are a Kurd learning English.
   
   If you are an English Speaker learning Kurdish this dictionary will make an excellent supplement. On the other hand for Kurdish speakers learning English it performs its role admirably.
   
   But a warning to buyers in Turkey, this dictionary has been banned there due to the controversial introduction and cultural notes.
   
   A rare distinction for a dictionary!!! for this alone it deserves 5 stars but it never the less is a useful dictionary to have in your collection not only because it has become so well known, but because it is a easy and simple reference to the Kurdish sorani language.
   
   
   The dictionary also has many detractors but still remains one of the most popular dictionaries in Iraq. This edition is not available in Turkey and booksellers there will not order it for you.
   
   The present Kurdish standard called Soranî is in fact an idealized version of the Silêmanî dialect, which uses the phonemic system of the Píjhdar and Mukrî dialects.
   
   The dictionary is an intensely political dictionary as the introduction describes the Kurds as a nation living under occupation in different lands. I find that this dictionary gives special attention. political terms dictionary reflects the contemporary language of Kurdistan which contains vocabulary from earlier periods, borrowings, colloquial expressions a accepted in common usage.
   
   Sorani (a generell name for the dialects from Suleimani,W rm wa, Bingird, Pizdar, Mukr , Hawl r, Raw ndiz and X sn w) is one of the two major dialects of Kurdish. It is spoken in parts of Iraq and Iran.
   
   I am at a more advanced level of Kurdish but this easy-to-use dictionary is designed for students of all levels The dictionary contains a broad selection of words that the average person is likely to need in speaking and writing Kurdish for everyday use.
   
   This excellent dictionary was compiled with the intention of providing an up-to-date, easy to use, and inexpensive tool which would enable the student of the Kurdish language to understand Sorani Kurdish and in that respect it succeeds marvelously.



3. I tutor Kurdish immigrants and needed a source for simple word equivalents. Though both the vocabulary and the translations are quite limited, my students and I find this book to be a useful resource.



4. Our friend says he likes the book. To note: there are indeed different dialects of Kurdish, so perhaps ask someone which is most comfortable for them before giving them a bilingual dictionary. Our friend says he will understand the Sorani fine, but that his sons know a different dialect better.



5. Despite some of the favorable reviews I've seen of this book, I found it to be very disappointing, if not downright frustrating. Even my Kurdish (Sorani speaking) friend couldn't believe how inadequate it was! However, I suppose that it is better than nothing and has been touted as being better than other Kurdish dctionaries, at least those in the affordable range. All the same, I must confess that the introduction, which provides an overview of the Kurdish language and Kurdish history, was very good. The dictionary itself though does not seem to have been prepared by someone who understands what is needed in a basic dictionary and it's certainly not entries like "hedgehog hunting" or "to bury someone alive" while, at the same time, not including many essential everyday words.