What books do I get for Central Asian languages?

[keaganjoelbrewer]

I'm planning a trip next year and I need help with languages. I'll be going to Uighuristan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.

Does anyone know any books in English that teach these languages to beginners? I can't seem to find any :S, and I don't want to take just a phrasebook.. that's kinda lame in my opinion.

Also, how strong is Russian in the area? Would I be able to get by learning just Russian for the Central Asian countries?

What would you guys suggest I do?

(at the moment I speak only English and other European languages)

[ALTAR]

Russian is still strong in Central Asia. If you start practising some Russian, It will be useful for you.

[nanman]

In the areas of Uighuristan of ET (Tarim Basin, Kashgaria) refered to as Nan-Jiang by Chinese. Uighur language will be best. I am sure you have been to this site, it has many useful phrases and good English to Uighur translations

www.uighurlanguage.com/

There is an area in Uighuristan adjacent to Afghanistan and Tajikistan that is Tajik speaking.

In Jungaria (Northern ET) or Bei Jiang. Apart from Uighur, a lot of areas use Kazakh and you will also see a lot of Mongolian language.

Needless to mention, you can get by with Chinese language throughout ET, more so in Jungaria than Kashgaria. Although, the native locals won't warm to you as you much if you try to speak a bit of the native lingo rather than the occupiers.

[keaganjoelbrewer]

Will speaking Russian get me the same negative feeling in the 5 republics?

[H. İhsan Erkoç]

Definitially not, cause they consider that normal, and an important amount of them (especially those in the urban areas) still speak with each other in Russian.

[keaganjoelbrewer]

Fantastic!

Thanks very much for your advice everyone!

P.S. That uighur language website is pretty awesome =)

[6ato]

Russian language is in use everywhere in Central Asia.
But! if you go to rural areas you won't be able to use Russian.