Hindi- A Language of Versatility, History, and Cultural Richness
The Hindi language is one of the oldest Indo-Aryan languages, a part of the Indo-Iranian branch of the most widespread language family: Indo-European. As India's official language and the first language of the biggest democracy in the world-- it is widely known across many communities, not just in India but abroad as well. For instance, Hindi speech communities exist in South Africa, Mauritius, Bangladesh, Yemen, and Uganda. In addition to that, many aspects of national business are conducted in English and other languages recognized by the Indian constitution too. This blog post will focus on everything you need to know about Hindi and in-between to unfurl this beautiful language's cultural richness and ancientness. Explore more below by the Al Hadeed Translation Services Dubai.
The History of Hindi- A Sneek Peek
Hindi, whose literary form is written in the Devanagari script, is unmistakably impacted by Sanskrit. Its principal version originates from the Khari Boli accent situated north and east of Delhi. Known as a dialectical variant of Hindi, Braj Bhasha was an eminent written language between the 15th to 19th centuries.
Other related linguistic varieties, such as
- Awadhi
- Bagheli
- Bhojpuri
- Bundeli
- Chhattisgarhi
- Garhwali
- Haryanavi
- Kanauji
- Kumayuni
- Magahi, and
- Marwari
...are often called lingual forms within India's so-called "Hindi zone" or belt. This region essentially encompasses northern India up until the state of Madhya Pradesh.
Varieties of Hindi- Dialects and Other Influences
As Hindi has been used as an official language since the 19th century, its varieties are expected to have evolved. Some popular Hindi dialects include:
- Khariboli
- Braj Bhasha
- Marwari
- Maithili, and Rajasthani.
The script for written forms of these languages varies for each dialect.
For example
- The Devanagari script (used in standard Hindi) is used to write both Maithili and Nepali
- The Gujarati alphabet is used to write Gujarati, Kutchi, and Saurashtra
- Whereas the Urdu alphabet is used to write Urdu, Sindhi, and Kashmiri.
Modern Use In modern India, there are several recognized registers of the Hindi language:
- Standard Hindi,
- High Hindi or Shuddh Hindi (which resembles Sanskrit grammar more closely), and
- Colloquial Hindi
Hindi Grammar- A Brief Overview
Significant differences between Sanskrit, Prakrit, and Apabhramsha—the precursors of Hindi—and the present-day language are prominent in verbal and nominal inflections.
- Concerning nouns, there is a discrepancy between the agreement of adjectives with the number and gender of nouns in Sanskrit-derived languages compared to that Hindi.
- This is because Hindi was significantly impacted by Persian, which does not require adjective declension with number changes in nouns.
- Instead, Hindi expresses number agreement through postpositions—clauses placed after nouns like English prepositions.
- Also, Persian effects have decreased genders to two (masculine and feminine) rather than the initial three (masculine, feminine, and neuter), which can still be found across various other Sanskrit-based tongues such as Gujarati or Marathi.
- Lastly, case marking in Hindi has become less complicated due to Persian influences.
The Hindi Vocabulary
The modern standard form of Hindi emerges from the contact between early Khari Boli speakers and Islamic settlers from various countries, including Afghanistan, Iran, Turkey, and Central Asia. As those who migrated intermingled with those already in India, the indigenous language was revitalized by the newly introduced languages that eventually faded, resulting in standard Hindi.
- Today, the Hindi vocabulary combines Sanskrit-influenced words and relatively recent (Persian) loanwords.
- It also contains English loanwords, often abbreviated or ending in -ing.
- Moreover, it has words from various Indic languages like Marathi and Punjabi and foreign sources like Portuguese and Dutch.
These external influences added flavor to this ancient language, making it vibrant, modern, and alive.
Everyday English Words Derived from Hindi
The influence of Hindi has even stretched to English usage today.
Many everyday words used in the English language are derived from Hindi, such as:
- Jungle (jangha)
- Verandah (veranda)
- Bandana (bandhana)
- Dungaree (dangri)
- Avatar (avatar)
- Cummerbund (kamarbandh)
- Pyjama (pajama)
- Curry (curry aka gravy)
These words are evidence of the lasting influence of this captivating language.
Hindi is an ancient and fascinating language with a diverse history. From its humble beginnings as a spoken form to its current status today, it has grown and evolved thanks to both internally and externally.
Where is Hindi Spoken in the World?
Hindi is spoken natively by an estimated 577.10 million spread across the globe. With the most speakers, 44% of these individuals reside in India, and other countries such as Fiji have relatively large populations.
In total, close to 578 million people are known to use Hindi as their primary language. Hindi is spoken mainly in India, Nepal, and Fiji. It is also the official language of Mauritius, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, and Suriname. Hindi speakers are found worldwide—from South Africa to Canada—wherever there is an Indian diaspora. To speak Hindi, it resembles a lot with Urdu.
Hindi Translation for Business Success
The importance of Hindi in the international business sphere is undeniable. With an estimated 577 million native speakers, businesses should take advantage of this language's potential for growth and success.
Hindi translation services can help companies reach millions of customers in India, Nepal, and other countries where Hindi is spoken. This will allow them to understand their target market better, improve customer relationships, and provide localized services.
Businesses that invest in professional translations can benefit significantly from this unique language, from improving communication with customers to understanding the cultural nuances of the Hindi-speaking nations.
Businesses can make the best of their business by utilizing the best-in-class AL Hadeed Translation Services. Our team of certified translators is highly experienced and provides accurate translations that help businesses go global. We offer many services in Hindi and other languages, such as document translation, interpreting, localization, and more. Get in touch with us today to learn more.
By working with AL Hadeed Translation Services, you can take advantage of the wide reach of Hindi and help your business succeed. With our help, you can access millions of new customers and ensure you communicate effectively with them in their language. Contact us today for a free quote!
