The Slovene Language

Here's something new, different and damn useful: an Audio Phrasebook - as reported in the Financial Times, 2 September.

Simply download the Zip files, extract them into your music software and upload them into your MP3 player. The files are saved as 'albums', so you can easily dial up the word or phrase you need. You will also need to download the track listings, so you can see what phrases are available: just download the Word docs associated with each album.
Just think - there you are in Slovenia, you need to hear how to say what you mean... and you can!

Alternatively, you can click on the jukebox symbol and a pop-up will appear with that album's tracks - just listen and repeat.

• Note that the speaker - Darinka Bunjevac - is an ex TV and BBC World Service broadcaster: copy her and you'll be OK (a deeper voice is recommended for men though).
• Also note that the phrases are spoken slooowly. This is so you can get used to the sounds, then practise speading up.

And some basics about the language:

• Slovene (or Slovenian if you prefer) is a Slavic language, and is therefore related to Polish, Russian, Czech and Serb, amongst others.
• It uses the Latin alphabet, with the addition of a few extra letters, while there is no w or x. Note that pronunciation is different from ours and is (usually) phonetic.
• Note that Italian is widely spoken in the south and German further to the north.
• If you only want to know about swearing, click here. How childish... but always worth a laugh.