Teach Yourself Hindi

Hindi is a phonetic language. It is written as it is spoken. This book teaches you Hindi in the most simple and effective way using an 'audio' effect for quicker grasp and assimilation. There is a direct conversational style followed throughout with simple grammar rules.

This book prepares you for almost any situation in India and other Hindi speaking areas.

- Pronunciation and key to phonetic symbols
- Basic expressions, idioms and phrases
- Direct conversational methods
- Rules of grammer simplified
- Subject-wise concise dictionary
- Special 'audio' effect for quicker learning.

About the Book

The easiest way to learn Hindi (or any other language) is to hear it spoken. This book, designed by a successful teacher of Hindi to foreigners, creates an 'audio' effect for quicker grasp and assimilation. Rules of grammar have been explained only where absolutely necessary. A directly conversational style, with the help of a minimal vocabulary, makes learning Hindi effortless and pleasureable

Correct pronunciation is difficult, especially for tongues not accustomed to the Devanagari script. Diacritical marks have been provided to indicate different sounds and accents. By regular practice, with the help of this book, one can acquire a working knowledge of spoken and written Hindi.

Mohini Rao, former editor, National Book Trust, has taught Hindi to foreigners for many years-at the American Embassy, and at the Hindi Institute run by herself.

Foreword

There are several books on the subject of learning Hindi without a guide or a teacher. One can only learn the basic rules of grammar and a minimal vocabulary from a book for everyday use.

The basic vocabulary needed by a person may vary according to his interest or occupation. I have tried to give in this book phrases and sentences used commonly. A minimal dictionary has also been added at the end. Rules of grammar have been explained only where absolutely necessary, for I believe that hearing a language constantly and attentively is the best way of leaning it.

A book, even the best one, can help only in a limited way if the language is not heard regularly and spoken without inhibition.

Hindi is a phonetic language. It is written as it is spoken. The reader is advised to learn the script from the beginning as it shortens the process of learning and also helps pronounce correctly.

There are some sounds in Hindi which cannot be reproduced accurately in the Roman script.

This book teaches you the spoken Hindi, popularly known as Hindustani, which is a pleasant mixture of Hindi and Urdu words, which are understood commonly. The key to the pronunciation and the phonetic symbols should be followed as accurately as possible.

In the end I would like to add that the method adopted in this book is based on my own vast personal experience of teaching Hindi to foreigners, and it is an attempt only to teach the rudiments of the language.

I should be happy if this little book benefits both foreigner and Indians who wish to learn Hindi the easy way.