These language textbooks don't dick you around.
These language textbooks don't dick you around.
Anthologica Universe Atlas / Forums / Terra Firma / These language textbooks don't dick you around. / These language textbooks don't dick you around.
Hey everyone knows it can sometimes be frustrating when you first want to study a language, but don't know which introductory textbooks are decent and which are gonna dick you around. Of the languages that I've studied, these are the books that have my seal of approval.
Akkadian
"A Grammar of Akkadian" by Huehnergard. A classic text. Don't dick you around.
Classical Mongolian
"An Introduction to Classical (Literary) Mongolian" by Grønbech & Krueger. I didn't study Clas.Mong. for very long, but when I did I was using this book and I was thoroughly satisfied. Languages like this tend usually not to have introductory textbooks like this. It don't dick you around.
Classical Tibetan
"Introduction to Classical Tibetan" by Stephen Hodge. I couldn't tell you what else there is in Clas.Tibetan, but when I used this I found it pretty good. Maybe it's not the best thing in the world, but it don't dick you around.
Coptic
"Introduction to Sahidic Coptic" by Thomas O Lambdin. Much better than Layton's textbook— this book don't dick you around.
Croatian
"Beginner's Croatian" by Vidan & Niebuhr (Hippocrene). I have no idea how good Hippocrene books are in general, and this book may be a bit too TY-style for some people, but I found it pretty helpful and for the most part it don't dick you around.
Hebrew
"Introduction to Biblical Hebrew" by Thomas O Lambdin. Absolutely solid, and don't dick you around.
Latin
"Wheelock's Latin" by Wheelock et al. A cliche recommendation, but it's still good. It don't dick you around.
"Latin: An Intensive Course" by Moreland & Fleischer. Kinda dense, but not as dense as some books. It don't dick you around.
Pali
"An Elementary Pali Course" by Thera Narada, edited by Eisel Mazard. "Edited by" is a bit of an understatement, since it looks like Mazard reworks this grammar (and others) quite a bit before putting them on his site. It's pretty good, though. Don't dick you around.
Persian
"Persian Grammar" by A.K.S. Lambton. Maybe a little dense in some chapters, but I like it. Don't dick you around.
"An Introduction to Persian" by Wheeler Thackston. A little less information-heavy than Lambton, but good. Don't dick you around.
Russian
"Russian Course" by Nicholas Brown (Penguin). I haven't studied Russian much, nor have I used any other Penguin books, but I was impressed by this one. It is laid out in the format of the TY-style books, but unlike those, it doesn't dick you around.
Sanskrit
"Introduction to Sanskrit" by Thomas Egenes. This book definitely has problems— it introduces too many of certain forms too quickly, while leaving you without other forms, esp. verbal ones. But it has its merits, and it don't dick you around.
Sumerian
"A Manual of Sumerian Grammar and Texts" by John L Hayes. Truth be told, you won't know all that much Sumerian once you're done with this book... but I don't think there are any other intro textbooks for Sumerian out there, and this one is totally useful. It don't dick you around.
Syriac
"Introduction to Syriac" by Wheeler Thackston. I like this book, alot. I use it every time I want to refresh myself on Syriac. It don't dick you around.
Turkish
"Teach Yourself Turkish" by Lewis (1968). Not all old-run TY books are great, but this one is solid. It don't dick you around.
Xhosa
"A Practical Course in Xhosa" by A.C. Jordan. I really can't say any one book is good for learning Xhosa, but this is probably the best. It could probably be a bit better, but at least it don't dick you around.
I can't promise any of these are the "best" out there, and they are all introductory textbooks— not reference grammars. Reference grammars you usually don't have to worry about dicking you around; it's the introductory textbooks that have that habit, which is why I think it might be useful to list the ones that (IMO) don't.
Akkadian
"A Grammar of Akkadian" by Huehnergard. A classic text. Don't dick you around.
Classical Mongolian
"An Introduction to Classical (Literary) Mongolian" by Grønbech & Krueger. I didn't study Clas.Mong. for very long, but when I did I was using this book and I was thoroughly satisfied. Languages like this tend usually not to have introductory textbooks like this. It don't dick you around.
Classical Tibetan
"Introduction to Classical Tibetan" by Stephen Hodge. I couldn't tell you what else there is in Clas.Tibetan, but when I used this I found it pretty good. Maybe it's not the best thing in the world, but it don't dick you around.
Coptic
"Introduction to Sahidic Coptic" by Thomas O Lambdin. Much better than Layton's textbook— this book don't dick you around.
Croatian
"Beginner's Croatian" by Vidan & Niebuhr (Hippocrene). I have no idea how good Hippocrene books are in general, and this book may be a bit too TY-style for some people, but I found it pretty helpful and for the most part it don't dick you around.
Hebrew
"Introduction to Biblical Hebrew" by Thomas O Lambdin. Absolutely solid, and don't dick you around.
Latin
"Wheelock's Latin" by Wheelock et al. A cliche recommendation, but it's still good. It don't dick you around.
"Latin: An Intensive Course" by Moreland & Fleischer. Kinda dense, but not as dense as some books. It don't dick you around.
Pali
"An Elementary Pali Course" by Thera Narada, edited by Eisel Mazard. "Edited by" is a bit of an understatement, since it looks like Mazard reworks this grammar (and others) quite a bit before putting them on his site. It's pretty good, though. Don't dick you around.
Persian
"Persian Grammar" by A.K.S. Lambton. Maybe a little dense in some chapters, but I like it. Don't dick you around.
"An Introduction to Persian" by Wheeler Thackston. A little less information-heavy than Lambton, but good. Don't dick you around.
Russian
"Russian Course" by Nicholas Brown (Penguin). I haven't studied Russian much, nor have I used any other Penguin books, but I was impressed by this one. It is laid out in the format of the TY-style books, but unlike those, it doesn't dick you around.
Sanskrit
"Introduction to Sanskrit" by Thomas Egenes. This book definitely has problems— it introduces too many of certain forms too quickly, while leaving you without other forms, esp. verbal ones. But it has its merits, and it don't dick you around.
Sumerian
"A Manual of Sumerian Grammar and Texts" by John L Hayes. Truth be told, you won't know all that much Sumerian once you're done with this book... but I don't think there are any other intro textbooks for Sumerian out there, and this one is totally useful. It don't dick you around.
Syriac
"Introduction to Syriac" by Wheeler Thackston. I like this book, alot. I use it every time I want to refresh myself on Syriac. It don't dick you around.
Turkish
"Teach Yourself Turkish" by Lewis (1968). Not all old-run TY books are great, but this one is solid. It don't dick you around.
Xhosa
"A Practical Course in Xhosa" by A.C. Jordan. I really can't say any one book is good for learning Xhosa, but this is probably the best. It could probably be a bit better, but at least it don't dick you around.
I can't promise any of these are the "best" out there, and they are all introductory textbooks— not reference grammars. Reference grammars you usually don't have to worry about dicking you around; it's the introductory textbooks that have that habit, which is why I think it might be useful to list the ones that (IMO) don't.