Beginner's Russian Script

by Daphne M. West

Russian is from the same 'family' of languages as English (Indo-European) and has been very much influenced by languages such as Latin and French, but also by Greek, Hebrew and Old Church Slavonic. In the 9th Century a monk called St Cyril is reputed to have devised the Russian script - hence its Cyrillic. There are only 33 letters in the Russian alphabet and learning Russian really is much simpler once you know the script. If you are going to visit Russia, you need a basic recognition of the script, at least to be able to read the street signs and find your way around. 'Teach Yourself Beginner's Russian Script' starts from scratch and teaches you how to read and write the Russian alphabet correctly from the beginning. It will enable you to understand enough from signs, directions, instructions and even menus to be able to get by on your next visit to Russia or to take your study of the language further. The book is divided into different sections. Units 1-4 introduce you to the letters of the printed alphabet step by step with exercises to practise each new point.In these units each new Russian word will also be transliterated so that you can practise saying the words as well as reading and writing them. The fifth unit is a revision unit so that you can review what you have learnt and go back over any areas of difficulty. In Units 6 and 7, you will learn how to read and write the handwritten Russian script. Finally, in Units 8-10, you will be given practice on specific town and transport, hotel and restaurant, and hobbies. By the end of the book, you will understand how the Russian script works and will have mastered the basics of reading and writing Russian. The leader in self-learning with more than 300 titles, covering all subjects. Be where you want to be with Teach Yourself.

Genres: Russia, Nonfiction, Reference

176 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2000

Reviews

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

TEACH YOURSELF BEGINNER'S RUSSIAN SCRIPT, by Dr. Daphne West, is a concise introduction to the cyrillic alphabet as used in the Russian language. It begins by teaching the letters a few at a time, then introduces the cursive form of the alphabet, and finally gives practice on reading common words.

I read the book to prepare for a vacation in Kyiv and was a bit disappointed that the book was written much more for future students of the Russian language than for tourists. While there are sections that deal with vocabulary of town and transport, much of the book introduces vocabulary that is not everyday. My other complaint is that cyrillic letters found in other former-soviet languages are not taught in the book. I understand that this is beginner's *Russian* script, but a two-page appendix that shows other cyrillic letters and their sounds would have been most helpful.

Also, for those hoping to finally master the difficult cursive form of the alphabet, you may be disappointed to see that there are only four pages dedicated to it.

All in all, if you are looking to learn just the alphabet for whatever reason, TEACH YOURSELF BEGINNER'S RUSSIAN SCRIPT is probably the best value, as it is less expensive than buying a full-fledged Russian textbook. It does have its flaws, however.

[M L · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very nicely done! Easy to follow, step-by-step instructions, including pointers and test cases to help the student avoid common errors.

[removed2011 · Rating 4 out of 5]

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[Elizabeth StClair · Rating 3 out of 5]

Taught me how to read Russian. Now I've just got to work on the understanding what I'm reading.