Leshono Suryoyo: First Studies in Syriac
The outstanding value of Professor Healey's book, manifesting his long teaching experience, is in its clarity and simplicity, evident in numerous small matters. To give just a few examples, technical grammatical terms are avoided when the point can be explained without using them. The explanations of the use of enclitic forms of pronouns, and of the repetition of pronouns which is so characteristic of Syriac texts, are particularly useful, coming as they do near the beginning of the book at a stage when these matters often bother students, making them feel they are failing to grasp some subtle point. ... Many students of Syriac have never heard the language spoken: the CD fills this gap excellently. Hearing the correct placing of the accents makes it easier to understand why some final vowels, though still written, are no longer pronounced... The chanted text are a delight, particularly the Ephrem, which will surprise most listeners hearing such work for the first time with its immediate appeal, spirit and melodiousness... --Gillian Greenberg of University College London,the Journal of Semitic Languages, 2008 53(1):185-186