Burmese has two styles of speaking and writing: the colloquial style,
which is used for talking to friends and for writing letters, and the
literary style, which is used in more formal contexts, such as academic
articles, newspaper reports, and narrative passages in fiction. This
volume, the final book in a four-part Burmese language course,
introduces learners to the literary style. It assumes a prior knowledge
of Burmese script and a grounding in the colloquial style. Okell starts
with simple sentences, and, over a series of short lessons, gradually
increases the range of vocabulary and the level of complexity. The texts
Okell uses for study are excerpts from Burmese children's schoolbooks
highlighting themes of home- and school-life and Burmese nationalism and
independence. Each passage is accompanied by a full translation and is
followed by a set of exercises designed to familiarize the reader with
the new vocabulary and sentence structures. Accompanying audio files
allow students to hear the texts read aloud. Language professors and
their students, or those learning Burmese on their own, will appreciate
the accessible approach and the manageable size of the lessons of the
very practical textbooks in this series.