Dari

This textbook offers a thematically-organized approach to the Dari language for beginning students. The book emphasizes task-oriented, communicative activities that develop the four language skills (speaking, listening, reading, and writing). It introduces learners to both colloquial and standard forms. The topics discussed are of importance to language learners as well as to business people and government officials. The textbook prepares learners to perform at level 1+ or 2 on the ILR scale and at the novice high/intermediate low level on the ACTFL scale. Dari belongs to the Iranian group of Indo-European languages. Along with Farsi and Tajiki, it is one of the three main Persian dialects. Dari is the most-used language in Afghanistan; all official documents are written in the language. It is, with Pashto, one of the two official languages of the country. Dari has more than 40 million speakers worldwide. Large communities of native speakers reside in Iran and Tajikistan and throughout Central and South Asia.