A guide for independent learners of Maniyaka (also known as Mandingo), one of the Mande languages of Liberia, is intended for individuals already in a Mandingo speaking situation but without access to experienced teachers of the language. An introductory chapter discusses the languages of Liberia and provides a map of Liberian languages, a chart of the interrelationships of the languages, and lists of some Indo-European and West African language word correspondences. The two subsequent chapters outline how to learn a Mande language through independent study and instructions to tutors of the language. The fourth and fifth chapters provide a reference grammar of Mandingo and a Mandingo-English dictionary. The final chapter outlines in detail the Mande language sound system (vowels, consonants, and supprasegmentals and gives a series of listening and transcription exercises for a variety of phonetic structures. (MSE)