Hindi Self-Learning - A Bibliography

Johnny · Jan 26th, 2007, 09:51

This thread is intended to list and/or review books or other useful tools for those interested in learning Hindi language.

All contributions welcome.

Johnny

PeakXV · Jan 26th, 2007, 09:58

The Oxford Hindi-English Dictionary. Edited by R. S. McGregor.
A Primer of Modern Standard Hindi. Michael C. Shapiro
Hindi Guru Multimedia CDROM. by Magic Software

decamped · Jan 26th, 2007, 10:48

If you're just getting started and/or learning to read Devangari, this site is super-helpful...

Hindi Script Tutor

Johnny · Jan 26th, 2007, 10:53

Since I am from Spain, I would like to list the very few available (although, as it will be seen, this word is quite sarcastic) books for learning Hindi written in Spanish:

- Estructuras gramaticales de hindi y español, by Vasant Ganesh Gadre; Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Madrid, 1996

Study of comparative grammar intended as a basis for developing new courses and written material. Very scholastich but interesting, although definitely not for begginers. Doesn't use devnagri script.

- Diccionario hindi-español, español-hindi, by Enrique Gallud Jardiel; Think Publishers, New Delhi, 1990

Actually a glossary instead of a dictionary, since just provides translation of the word in the target language (no explanations or examples of use). It has never been available to the public since it was distributed only to institutions.

- Gramática de hindi, by Ana Thapar; Alhambra, Madrid, 1987

Out of print.

- Gramática de hindi, by Ana María Martinez Barrio; Madrid, 1986

Self-edition.

- Una introducción al hindi, by Roberto Pernia Conde; Zaragoza, 1978

Self-edition.

Except for the first one, it's very difficult or even impossible to obtain a copy of those books. If living in Madrid (or visiting), there's a chance to browse them in the "Biblioteca Nacional"(National Library), but that's all.

As can be seen, Spanish-speaking people interested in learning Hindi by themselves face a hard work. Prior knowledge of English is definitely needed in order to use the English-written self-learning literature.

Johnny

whatiyam · Jan 26th, 2007, 11:08

teach yourself hindi, with cds is very good, very terse

capt_mahajan · Jan 26th, 2007, 12:06

once you have learnt enough to read the hindi script,

http://www.shabdkosh.com

is a decent online english-hindi dictionary. wish they had added phonetics.

robotvoice · Jan 26th, 2007, 12:07

thanks for the online tutor link. i like that the site has the audio reference for pronunciation, it's very helpful.

dreamer · Jan 26th, 2007, 18:26

I would recommend the website www.wordanywhere.com - there is a good translation tool and also a great message board.

I have also found the books by Rupert Snell very good. Called Teach Yourself Hindi. I will give you the ISBN if you are interested. You can order them from www.amazon.co.uk

SANJAY_DEL · Jan 26th, 2007, 18:30

India Today magazine, the most widely circulated news and current affairs magazine in India is published both in English and Hindi every week. Costs just Rs 20 and Rs 15.
Reading the same article in both languages can certainly help advanced learners, and give current information at the same time!

icetea · Jan 26th, 2007, 19:05

"Hindi in three months", by Mark Allerton (simplified language course), Hugo's Language books, 1997 (also comes with 2 attached cassettes)

Lost in India · Feb 13th, 2007, 10:08

I had the opportunity to try Rosetta Stone program.

they have a pretty good way of teaching you the language without any translation by image association. they say they teach you like you learned your first language, which seems to be working from the trial i have done.

its nice, but for the 195$US, its way beyond my budget.

i'm also using the Teach Yourself Hindi Script book which seems pretty good so far, and the Teach yourself Hindi Dictionary, which is, from what i've seen, better than the Oxford one cause you have the pronunciation next to the hindi word and then the translation, whereas (if i recall correctly) the oxford went straight from script to translation.

GQwerty123 · Mar 8th, 2007, 13:41

I've had the Rupert Snell book for a few months, but I can't seem to get interested. I need to, but I have so many other things going on right now!!

Yes, there is an Oxford dictionary that goes directly from Davenagari to English translation...not very useful for an illiterate taxi driver and an American incapable of deciphering the script.

I have manged to pick up most of the vernacular/vocabulary involving food; at least I have my priorities straight!

contrabassista · Mar 8th, 2007, 21:24

Definitely Rupert Snell! And because he has written several (Beginner's Hindi and Hindi and another I have not touched) you can do the grammar again on different material and vocab. Cd"s are great for listening in the car.

A Door Into Hindi is also wonderful (taj.chass.ncsu.edu/). And the music is really cute!

I also go to the local English teachers to find native speakers in the language I'm studying. Once a conversation partner is located we meet up over coffee or something for an hour of their language, and hour of mine. I have made lasting friendships this way. For language practice it works best to have a clock right on the table and be strict about switching languages. Otherwise the person with the better skills wins.

Avoid "Colloquial Hindi" by Tej Bhatia. The CD's are mostly English explanation that is already in the book, and the Hindi is rather scant. I find literal translations of English actually harmful even if they are followed immediately by the proper Hindi. He also often has an ax to grind on some issue or other which is just personal excess on his part and too much info for me. $30 I wish I had not spent.

A private tutor for snags and jags is invaluable.

kullukid · Mar 8th, 2007, 22:06

I'm using the Rupert Snell book & cd at the mo' i play the cd over & over in my car & i think slowly but surely i'm managing to brainwash myself!

KK

lotus blossom · Nov 22nd, 2007, 09:51

this is great - thanks! i've been studying from a course that i picked up in india - Beginners Hindi. it's alright, but i find it lacking. i have one on hold at the library that may be better - Let's speak Hindi.

Jan 26th, 2007, 09:51	#1
Johnny Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Barcelona (Spain) Posts: 8	Hindi Self-Learning - A Bibliography This thread is intended to list and/or review books or other useful tools for those interested in learning Hindi language. All contributions welcome. Johnny Last edited by Dilliwala : Oct 3rd, 2008 at 05:28. Reason: merged threads

Jan 26th, 2007, 09:58	#2
PeakXV Naan.tering Nabob Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Abode of Glooscap Posts: 5,879	The Oxford Hindi-English Dictionary. Edited by R. S. McGregor. A Primer of Modern Standard Hindi. Michael C. Shapiro Hindi Guru Multimedia CDROM. by Magic Software __________________ What lies behind us and what lies ahead of us are tiny matters compared to what lives within us. ~ Oliver Wendell Holmes Don't go to India ~ Pre-trip Warnings & Misconceptions?

Jan 26th, 2007, 12:06	#6
capt_mahajan Infidel Sufi Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: styx Posts: 13,605	once you have learnt enough to read the hindi script, http://www.shabdkosh.com is a decent online english-hindi dictionary. wish they had added phonetics. __________________ . Outside the machine

Jan 26th, 2007, 18:26	#8
dreamer Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Southampton, U.K. Posts: 188	I would recommend the website www.wordanywhere.com - there is a good translation tool and also a great message board. I have also found the books by Rupert Snell very good. Called Teach Yourself Hindi. I will give you the ISBN if you are interested. You can order them from www.amazon.co.uk __________________ Life is not about the moments that we take breath, rather the moments that take our breath away.

Feb 13th, 2007, 10:08	#11
Lost in India Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 13	I had the opportunity to try Rosetta Stone program. they have a pretty good way of teaching you the language without any translation by image association. they say they teach you like you learned your first language, which seems to be working from the trial i have done. its nice, but for the 195$US, its way beyond my budget. i'm also using the Teach Yourself Hindi Script book which seems pretty good so far, and the Teach yourself Hindi Dictionary, which is, from what i've seen, better than the Oxford one cause you have the pronunciation next to the hindi word and then the translation, whereas (if i recall correctly) the oxford went straight from script to translation. Last edited by Lost in India : Feb 13th, 2007 at 13:50.

Jan 26th, 2007, 10:48	#3
decamped Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: New Jersey, USA Posts: 31	If you're just getting started and/or learning to read Devangari, this site is super-helpful... Hindi Script Tutor

Jan 26th, 2007, 10:53	#4
Johnny Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Barcelona (Spain) Posts: 8	Since I am from Spain, I would like to list the very few available (although, as it will be seen, this word is quite sarcastic) books for learning Hindi written in Spanish: - Estructuras gramaticales de hindi y español, by Vasant Ganesh Gadre; Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Madrid, 1996 Study of comparative grammar intended as a basis for developing new courses and written material. Very scholastich but interesting, although definitely not for begginers. Doesn't use devnagri script. - Diccionario hindi-español, español-hindi, by Enrique Gallud Jardiel; Think Publishers, New Delhi, 1990 Actually a glossary instead of a dictionary, since just provides translation of the word in the target language (no explanations or examples of use). It has never been available to the public since it was distributed only to institutions. - Gramática de hindi, by Ana Thapar; Alhambra, Madrid, 1987 Out of print. - Gramática de hindi, by Ana María Martinez Barrio; Madrid, 1986 Self-edition. - Una introducción al hindi, by Roberto Pernia Conde; Zaragoza, 1978 Self-edition. Except for the first one, it's very difficult or even impossible to obtain a copy of those books. If living in Madrid (or visiting), there's a chance to browse them in the "Biblioteca Nacional"(National Library), but that's all. As can be seen, Spanish-speaking people interested in learning Hindi by themselves face a hard work. Prior knowledge of English is definitely needed in order to use the English-written self-learning literature. Johnny

Jan 26th, 2007, 11:08	#5
whatiyam Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: new york city Posts: 77	teach yourself hindi, with cds is very good, very terse

Jan 26th, 2007, 12:07	#7
robotvoice mikeaholic Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: california Posts: 1,183	thanks for the online tutor link. i like that the site has the audio reference for pronunciation, it's very helpful.

Jan 26th, 2007, 18:30	#9
SANJAY_DEL Account Closed Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: NEW DELHI, INDIA Posts: 1,351	India Today magazine, the most widely circulated news and current affairs magazine in India is published both in English and Hindi every week. Costs just Rs 20 and Rs 15. Reading the same article in both languages can certainly help advanced learners, and give current information at the same time!

Jan 26th, 2007, 19:05	#10
icetea 'sort of hate India' club member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Chennai, via Romania Posts: 917	"Hindi in three months", by Mark Allerton (simplified language course), Hugo's Language books, 1997 (also comes with 2 attached cassettes)

Mar 8th, 2007, 13:41	#12
GQwerty123 Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: America Posts: 60	I've had the Rupert Snell book for a few months, but I can't seem to get interested. I need to, but I have so many other things going on right now!! Yes, there is an Oxford dictionary that goes directly from Davenagari to English translation...not very useful for an illiterate taxi driver and an American incapable of deciphering the script. I have manged to pick up most of the vernacular/vocabulary involving food; at least I have my priorities straight! __________________ *Livin' and Lovin' in Mumbai!*

Mar 8th, 2007, 21:24	#13
contrabassista Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Chicago, USA Posts: 106	Definitely Rupert Snell! And because he has written several (Beginner's Hindi and Hindi and another I have not touched) you can do the grammar again on different material and vocab. Cd"s are great for listening in the car. A Door Into Hindi is also wonderful (taj.chass.ncsu.edu/). And the music is really cute! I also go to the local English teachers to find native speakers in the language I'm studying. Once a conversation partner is located we meet up over coffee or something for an hour of their language, and hour of mine. I have made lasting friendships this way. For language practice it works best to have a clock right on the table and be strict about switching languages. Otherwise the person with the better skills wins. Avoid "Colloquial Hindi" by Tej Bhatia. The CD's are mostly English explanation that is already in the book, and the Hindi is rather scant. I find literal translations of English actually harmful even if they are followed immediately by the proper Hindi. He also often has an ax to grind on some issue or other which is just personal excess on his part and too much info for me. $30 I wish I had not spent. A private tutor for snags and jags is invaluable.

Mar 8th, 2007, 22:06	#14
kullukid Maha Guru Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: u.k. Posts: 1,211	I'm using the Rupert Snell book & cd at the mo' i play the cd over & over in my car & i think slowly but surely i'm managing to brainwash myself! KK

Nov 22nd, 2007, 09:51	#15
lotus blossom re-member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: revolving around the sun standing still Posts: 1,924	this is great - thanks! i've been studying from a course that i picked up in india - Beginners Hindi. it's alright, but i find it lacking. i have one on hold at the library that may be better - Let's speak Hindi. __________________ Not all who wander are lost

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Learning Hindi	Jamie11	Chai and Chat	2	Feb 1st, 2006 14:32
Learning Hindi	larki55	Chai and Chat	23	Sep 14th, 2005 00:56
Learning Hindi	contrabassista	Chai and Chat	5	Apr 18th, 2005 11:26
Learning Hindi	cluckadee	Books, Music, and Movies	19	Jan 13th, 2005 19:55
Learning Hindi --	joaonit	Books, Music, and Movies	6	Nov 5th, 2003 02:16

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode