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Center for Afghanistan Studies

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Center for Afghanistan Studies

Publications

Through a variety of publications, CAS team members have helped academics, public servants, and the general publica gain a deeper understanding of Afghanistan's language, culture, and history.

The Dari-English Dictionary

The Dari-English Dictionary

Mohammad Nasim Neghat, Esmael Burhan, and Thomas E. Gouttierre (1993)

The Dari-English Dictionary is the most up-to-date and complete dictionary of its kind. It includes 20,138 entries and accommodates the widest possible variety of users, including diplomats, government officials, world travelers, students, teachers, interpreters, translators, and linguists. Printed by UNO's Kabul Press.

$50 US, shipping included
Order by phone: 1 (402) 554-2376

Dari for Foreigners (book and CDs)

Dari for Foreigners (book and CDs)

Esmael Burhan and Thomas E. Gouttierre (2005)

The Dari for Foreigners textbook and CD series is a basic course that emphasizes the spoken language and introduces students to the reading and writing system of Dari. Designed primarily for English-speaking students, the book uses the English alphabet to represent the sound system of Dari using a methodology known as the "most common denominator." Students are able to master the grammatical features of the language through a sound system that is familiar and comfortable. Printed by UNO's Kabul Press.

$85 US book only
$95 US book and CDs, shipping included
Order by phone: 1 (402) 554-2376

Beginners Dari with Audio CD

Beginners Dari with Audio CD

Shaista Wahab (2006)

This popular introduction to Dari, which includes an audio CD, follows a step-by-step format. The first part teaches how to read, write, and pronounce the 32 letters of the Dari alphabet, and detailed explanations of grammar and syntax follow. Each of the 33 lessons includes exercises and vocabulary words to reinforce the lessons. Expressions and phrases are also included, enabling users to communicate on a basic level with other Dari speakers.

Available at amazon.com

A Brief History of Afghanistan

A Brief History of Afghanistan

Shaista Wahab (2010)

This is a basic history book and a good choice for teens interested in an overview of Afghanistan from prehistory to 2006. The majority of the book focuses on the period from 1747, when modern Afghanistan was founded under Ahmad Shah, to the present. Wahab covers the Great Game between the Russian and British empires, the unrest of the 20th Century, the Soviet occupation of the 1980s, the rise of the mujahideen, and the Taliban era and the civil war that followed. The book contains dozens of black-and-white photographs as well as numerous sidebars on a variety of subjects from key figures to national flags.

Available at amazon.com

The Kingdom of Afghanistan and the United States: 1828-1973

The Kingdom of Afghanistan and the United States: 1828-1973

Leila and Leon Poullada (1995)

A combination of memoir, personal recollection, and academic scholarship, this book is a historical study of the relations between these two countries. This case study of a U.S. relationship with a developing country vividly illustrates the cultural mistakes and misperceptions that affect American foreign relations. Ambassador Leon Poullada, a career U.S. diplomat who served in Afghanistan as an economic officer, and his wife, Leila, have provided the reader with the most comprehensive analysis and commentary on the subject to date. The Poulladas' personal study provides a foundation and extraordinary value for scholars, diplomats, and friends of the Afghan people.

Available at amazon.com