Fundamentals of the Persian Alphabet: Letters and Sounds

Fundamentals of the Persian Alphabet introduces complete beginners to the letters and sounds of Persian through pronunciation, basic vocabulary and phrases, conversation, and Persian culture. Students are also introduced to the distinction between the formal and informal forms of the language. As knowledge of letter-sound correspondence and phonological awareness is key to language learning, this textbook ensures learners start their learning journey with a strong foundation.

This book is divided into six lessons presenting the modern Persian alphabet in groups of mostly similarly shaped letters that will allow learners to begin blending letters and segmenting words as soon as possible to make learning easier. With the guidance of additional audio and video resources, a comprehensive Persian-English glossary, and listening, speaking, reading, and writing exercises throughout the book, students will acquire the fundamental skills and knowledge for furthering their learning of the language.

The ideal starting point for beginners, Fundamentals of the Persian Alphabet is designed for learners with very little or no previous knowledge of the language and is suitable for both independent and class-based study.

Shahla Adel is the Teaching Associate Professor of Persian Language and Culture at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA, as well as the Visiting Associate Professor of Practice, and the Persian Language Coordinator at Duke University, Durham, USA.