Page:Craven-Grey - Hindustani manual.djvu/12

 speech he should practise using these idiomatic intensives, &c., as much as possible. For instance, it is much more idiomatic to render "to elicit information" by bát nikál-chhoRná or nikálkar rahná [vide Lesson, 23. (b) and (e)], than by simple bát nikálná. Note too that chháNT-lená is "to choose, select," but chhÁnt-Dálná "to eliminate." The work has also been based on the recurring mistakes of L. S. and H. S. candidates at the monthly examinations.

Owing to want of space, many of the meanings of the words given in the vocabularies, have not been illustrated in the examples. It is, therefore, the work of the student, with the help of the Munshi, to frame sentences illustrating the missing meanings. Paragraphs in smaller print are not necessary for Lower Standard candidates, and need not therefore be studied till the matter in larger type has been mastered.

The many editions through which Forbes' Manual has passed are a sufficient proof of its popularity. This popularity is largely due to the fact that it is printed in the Roman character. Though the Roman character with its short vowels and capitals, is for a beginner (especially for the student that wishes to learn the colloquial only), a great advantage, it must be regarded as a go-cart, to be gradually discarded as more and more progress is made. Before the student has mastered this little book, he should be in a position to discard the Roman alphabet. To a beginner, it is often an aid to memory, to see a new word written both in the Roman and in the foreign character.

Lastly, the beginner should practise as much as possible aloud, but this subject is fully dealt with in the Introduction that follows.