Hindi Self-Learning - A Bibliography

Johnny

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

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

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Don't go to India ~ Pre-trip Warnings & Misconceptions?

decamped

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

Hindi Script Tutor

Johnny

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

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

capt_mahajan

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

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

dreamer

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

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SANJAY_DEL

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

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

Lost in India

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

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!

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contrabassista

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

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

Britishraj

Whilest other books claim to teach you Hindi in 30 days, my book teaches you instantly!. Here are some extracts (in no particular order) which I hope you will find useful and make your travels easier and hopefully more enjoyable.
'...you can learn to speak a language well (as children do )without the conscious knowledge of the rules of grammar.'

Lets start with easy to pronounce words that ask simple questions. The first word I suggest you start with is 'hay' meaning is / are / have.
This is very popular and crops up in daily conversations. It allows you to ask questions and make statements. All you need to do is to add the lingua franca to an English word and voila! you have 'Hinglish' a good way to get a 'feel' of the language and at the same time getting an idea of sentence construction.

ASKING QUESTIONS USING HINGLISH.

Do you have......? .....hay
coffee coffee
beer beer
shampoo shampoo

Where is...? .... 'kidhar hay' kid + her /hay

Where is the bus stand / station / etc ?
bus stand / station / etc 'kidhar hay'

Can we get ? 'milega' me + lay + gah.

Can we get a bus / train / ticket /etc.?
bus / train / 'milega'

Will you go? 'chalegaa'? chal + lay + gar

Will you go to the station / bus stand / etc ?
station / bus stand 'chalegaa'

Lets go! 'chelo'

lets go to the station / temple.
station / temple 'chelo'


ASKING THE PRICE BARGAINIG
How much? 'kitna' kit + nah

How much is it? 'kitna hay'

How much discount? discount 'kitna'

Say your last price. last price 'bolo'

What price? 'kyaa daam' kyaa darm

Too Much 'bahut jyaadaa!
rhymes with 'cahoot' + jar + daar.

Too expensive! 'bahut mayhengaa'
may + hen + gar

I will give three rupees 'teen rupiyaa duungaa'
teen rue + pee + yah / doon + gar.

Make it cheaper / less 'sasta / kam karo'

Say the correct price. 'thiik daam bolo'
theak + darm + bolo


ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Yes [nasalised] 'haa#' sounds like 'far'

No [nasalised ] 'nahii#' nah + he

OK / All right / Correct / Fine.
'thiik hay' like theak hay.

OK, I understand / Good / It is good
'achhaa' uch + haa


TIME EXPRESSIONS.

Today 'aaj' rhymes with 'Taj'
Day 'din' rhymes with 'bin'
Tomorrow 'kal' as in 'cull'
Week 'haftaa' 'huf+ tar'
Morning 'subah' like sue + bah
Evening 'sham'
Night 'raat' rhymes with 'mart'
How Long? [future, long period ] 'kab tak'


ON ARRIVAL

The Most Important First Words.

NO! 'nahii'[nasalised ] nah + e

Yes! 'haa' [naslised ] rhymes with 'far'

I / We don't want any! 'nahii chaahiye'
'nah + he char + he + EA

We don't wan't / need anything! [literally nothing wanted]
'kuuch nahii chaahiye'

Go! as in 'Get Lost'! 'jaao' rhymes with 'how'

Go away! 'chelo jaao'

Run! as in take a hike. 'bhaago' [ like barg + o ]

Away with you! Get lost! 'bhaag jaao'

Don't bother me! 'tang mat karo'
like tounge + mut + karro

Do not disturb! 'disturb mat karo'


NUMBERS

1 ek like 'ache'

2.'doe' like 'though'

3.'tiin' like 'teen'

4.'chaar' like 'char[m]

5.'paa#ch' like Mexcican 'panch[o]

6.'che' like Che[Guevara]

7.'saat' like sart.

8.'aath like 'art'

9.'nao' like 'now'

10.'das' like 'thus'


MEETING AND GREETING PEOPLE

Hello / Good Morning / Good Night.

'namaste' 'num + us + stay '

Another popular phrase you can use;

All right? 'thiik hay'

Yes all right 'thiik hay'

How are you? 'aap kaise ho'?

I am fine 'may thiik huu#'



ENQURIES

Is there a room available? 'kamraa hay'

How much? 'kitna'

How much for one day? 'ek din ka kitna'

How much for one week? 'ek hafte kaa kitna'


ORDERING TEA / COFFEE

Without milk / sugar.
'binaa dudh / chini'
'B + nah + dude' / chin + E'

One coffee / tea without milk
'ek coffee binaa dudh kaa'

One coffee / tea without milk and sugar.
cofee / tea binaa dudh, binaa chini kaa'

ALTERNATIVELY YOU CAN USE 'NO'

Tea without sugar / milk.
'chai [pause] chini / doodh nahi#'
[literally; sugar / milk no ]

One tea, no sugar.
ek chai[pause] chini nahii#'

No milk 'duudh naahi#' dude / nah + he#

No sugar 'chini naahii#'

No ice 'baraf nahii#'

Learn a few words everydayBuild your vocabulary with the most common words used in everyday conversation. Spit them out in rapid fire. Put into practice, ask simple questions, give short answers, order things using single words only to begin.

Listen Carefully To learn a language also requires the necessity to utilise all opportunities to listen to Hindi being spoken. Slowly it will become easier to distisnguish the words you have learnt and learn a few new ones.

You can practice by speaking aloud to yourself [just dont let anyone see you do it] Always keep a gift nearby just in case you need a quick bribe for any passing Guru's who might help out with a few lessons. [ I always talk to myself because I like dealing with a better class of person!]

The book is intended for travellers who want to be able to talk to people they meet in India even if such conversations are conducted only on a very basic level.

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