Hindi YUrou BOL CHAAL 3) A Beginners Course in Spoken Hindi and Urdu on BBC Television Teer Course Writers Mangat Bhardwaj, Handsworth College Gordon Wells, Kilmarnock College Language and Background Consultant Navzir-ul-Haq, Handsworth College Producer Jeremy Orlebar Uz-Translationsay Hinoi Urou BOL CHAAL A Beginners Course in Spoken Hindi and Urdu on BBCTelevision Teer KS . Uz-TranslationsUz-Translations Hindi Urdu Bol Chaal is a course for beginners in spoken Hindi and Urdu on BBC Television, first broadcast in October 1989 (produced by Jeremy Orlebar). The course consists of; 10 television programmes This course book covering all the programmes Two audio cassettes This book is published to accompany a series of programmes prepared in consultation with the BBC Educational Broadcasting Council. Cover illustration: print Cedric reproduced by permission of Liberty of London prints. Published by BBC Books A division of BBC Enterprises Lid ‘Woodlands, 80 Wood Lane, London W12 OTT First published 1989 © BBC Enterprises Limited 1989 ISBN 0 563 21456 2 This book is set in 10 on 12 point Bembo by Ace Filmsetting Ltd, Frome, Somerset Printed and bound in Great Britain by Richard Clay Ltd, Norwich, Norfolk Cover printed by Fletchers, Norwich 23 35 47 61 74 80 4 110 124 141 157 164 174 178 191 201 206 Contents Introduction 1 _kyaa haal hai? 2 aap kyaa kaam karte hai? 3 milkar baRii Khushii huii 4. isko kyaa kahte hai? 5 _aapko kyaa chaahiye? Review 1: checklist and extra listening exercises 6 kyaa baat hai? 7 kyaa aapko angrezii aati hai? 8 aapke kyaa kyaa shauK hai? 9 aapko kahaa jaanaa hai? 10 auruske baad? Review 2: extended listening practice Grammatical summary A guide to Hindi and Urdu pronunciation Key to exercises Word groups Vocabulary Listening exercises - transcriptsUz-Translations Introduction ‘THE COURSE Welcome to Hindi Urdu Bol Chaal, the course that introduces you to two languages at once. Bol Chaal means ‘talk’ or ‘conversa tion’, and Hindi Urdu Bol Chaal is a course which teaches you everyday spoken Hindi and Urdu - the kind of language you can use in ordinary conversation with friends, relations, neighbours or work- ing colleagues, It’s a course for beginners ~ no previous knowledge of either Hindi or Urdu (or any other South Asian language) is assumed — and it starts with a gentle introduction to the language for a range of common day-to-day purposes and topics to do with family, friends and food. Later, in the second half, the course picks up pace and covers in some detail a variety of other more specialised subjects such as travel, leisure, health and education. But how can you learn two languages at once? One thing you'll learn as you go through this course is something about the hackground and history of Hindi and Urda — both in Britain and in South Asia - and you'll see that the two languages have a lot in common, Although they have different scripts, and quite different vocabularies in many areas, they share the same basic grammar and pronunciation. So, for a Jearner who wants a basic introduction to the spoken language it’s quite feasible to tackle both together, Hopefully, once you've started earning to speak, you'll go on to Jean one or both of the scripts as well, though you don’t need either to complete this course. And you won't need to go to India or Pakistan to use the Hindi and Urdu you learn. They are both living languages here in Britain, and it shouldn't be difficult to find opportunities to practise as soon as you start learning. Good luck!8 THE TELEVISION PROGRAMMES Each programme introduces you to some new language to do with a particular topic. You'll see and hear how Hindi and Urdu are used up and down Britain, from London to Birmingham, to Bradford and Glasgow. The programmes will include stones illustrating the lives of Hindi and Urdu speakers and the part the languages play in social. business and family life. They will also regularly feature students studying the languages and practising what they have learnt. THE BOOK The book has ten units, dealing in more detail with the material introduced in the corresponding television programme. Each unit has the following sections: INTRODUCTION 9 DIALOGUES AND NOTES A selection of dialogues illustrating key teaching points for that unit. Each dialogue is accompanied by notes which explain the structure and meaning of any new material. These sections feature a special dual translation system. Directly underneath the Hindi and Urdu a word for word translation is given. The translation that appears to the right (sometimes below right) of the Hindi and Urdu gives the closest equivalent of what the sentence means in the context in which it is used in ordinary, natural English. The word for word translation helps you to identify the individual words and how they combine with each other. You'll see that sometimes the word for word translations are quite dif- ferent from the natural ones — sometimes there is no real English equivalent at all for a Hindi or Urdu word and vice versa. The dual translation system helps you to compare Hindi and Urdu with Eng- lish and note for yourself points of similarity and difference. The fact that in places they are quite different doesn’t have to make Hindi and Urdu difficule for you. If you can see how Hindi and Urdu grammar works in its own way, rather than trying to force it into an English grammatical framework, then you'll really get a true feeling for the languages and make quick progress. CHECK-UP A quick check at the end of each dialogue and notes section to make sure you've understood. KEYWORDS This section gives all the Hindi and Urdu words taught in the unit in the order in which they’re introduced. SOUND SYSTEMS A simple explanation of a particular pronunciation point which may cause an English speaker some difficulty. HOW THE LANGUAGE WORKS Explanations of Hindi and Urdu grammar relating to new material in the dialogues. This section gives a broader picture of the structure of languages than the notes. EXERCISES A series of exercises which gives you the chance to practise what you've learnt, Each unit contains an extra listening exercise, and one other exercise you can use to practise listening and speaking.10 HINDI URDU BOL CHAAL a oe BACKGROUND Information about Hindi and Urdu and how they are used, with some tips for learners on how to use resources around you to help you learn more. REVIEW SECTIONS : As well as the ten units there are also two review sections, one half- way through, and one at the end of the book, which offer you the option of extra listening practice. Review 1 comes after Unit 5 and contains a questionnaire so you can check what you should have learnt by that stage. Italso contains a series of short listening exercises which you can use selectively to brush up your weaker points. Review 2 is a long listening passage which brings together points from all ten units. GUIDE TO PRONUNCIATION : An explanation of the system used to represent Hindi and Urdu sounds in Roman letters, and tips on how to make unfamiliar sounds. GRAMMATICAL SUMMARY A summary of the grammar of Hindi and Urdu covered in Units 1-10. EXERCISE KEY Answers to all check-ups and exercises in Units 1-10 and Review 1. LISTENING EXERCISE TRANSCRIPTS All the passages used for the listening exercises in Units 1-10 and in Review 1. WORD GROUPS Additional vocabulary lists organised under topic headings in English with Hindi and Urdu equivalents, VOCABULARY A list of all the Hindi and Urdu words that appear in the units and reviews with English translations. THE AUDIO CASSETTES On the cassettes that go with this book there is a separate section cor- responding to each unit and the reviews. They contain the dialogues as well as exercises for listening and speaking, and ‘sound systems pronunciation practice. INTRODUCTION 11 HOw TO USE THIS COURSE Different people like to learn languages in different ways, and there is no one right way. The right way to learn is really the one that works for you. So don’t feel you have to go through this book page by page from front to back, though you can certainly do that if you want. Think of it as one of a number of resources alongside the cassettes and the television programmes which you can use in the way you choose and that best supports your own learning style. Some people, for example, like to understand all the grammatical rules of the language they're learning as it helps them to cope with new and different structures. If you're like that you'll find “How the language works’ and the dual translation system helpful. Other peo- ple feel they learn better if they get lots of practice in hearing the lan- guage in use. They might preter to spend more time listening to the cassettes and watching the television programmes several times. You may want to experiment for a while before deciding on your own balance of learning activities and settling into a thythm, It probably helps, though. to establish a regular weekly routine, so that you set aside certain times of the day to concentrate on Hindi Urdu Bol Chaal. Be sure to give yourselfenough time too, and bear in mind that the second half of the course picks up the learning pace, so you'll probably need to commit more time after Unit 5. You can prepare for the television programmes by reading through the book units first. Go through the dialogues and notes and learn the keywords. That way you'll be ready for the new language when you hear it on the programme. "How the language works’ will also help you understand the structure of new sentences you learn. And if you want to take it further have a look at the grammatical summary. You don’t need to do all the exercises in one go, and you can check your answers on one before going on to the next. You don’t have to leave the background information to last either. Have a look atit any time you need a short break from language learning! You'll need the cassette tapes in order to do the listening exercises in cach unit and in the reviews. They will also be helpful to practise your pronunciation along with ‘sound systems’ in the book, In fact, the tapes are worth listening to any time you have a spare minute at home or in the car. The more Hindi and Urdu you hear the more you get accustomed to the sounds and the less strange they seem. Try making them yourself, Get a blank tape and record yourself doing some dialogue either on your own, ot with a friend who's learning,12 HINDI URDU BOL CHAAL i iii ii Best of all, find someone who already speaks Hindi or Urdu and who's prepared to help you learn. Ask them to demonstrate sounds or practise dialogues with you, Pretty soon you'll be having real conver- sations! Sneh Manmohan Ram: Omar: Javad Iqbal: Sneh: Darshan Singh: kyaa baal hai? MEETING AND GREETING PEOPLE SAYING WHO YOU ARE 1 Hindi and Urdu greetings are chosen not according to the time of day (like English ‘Good morning’ and “Good afternoon’). but according to the religion of the speakers. Here are some people greeting each other: namaste. namaste. assalaam alaikum. vaalaikum assalaam. sat srii akaal. sat srii akaal. NOTES namaste is the Hindu greeting. It’s taken from Sanskrit and literally means ‘I greet you respectfully’. The reply is also namaste. jii can be added, as it can be to many words, to show additional respect: namaste jii. To say ‘Goodbye’ the same word namaste is used. The Muslim greeting is assalaam alaikam, which is taken from Arabic and means ‘Peace be on you’. The reply is vaalaikum assalaam, which means ‘Peace be on you also’. There is a different phrase for ‘Goodbye’ ~ Khudaa haafiz. The Sikh greeting is sat srii akaal, which comes originally from Sanskrit and means "The truth (or God) is eternal’, Like namaste itis used both on meeting and parting, When people from different religious communities greet each otherAmbar: Naveed: Armbar: Naveed: Sneh: Omar: Sneh: bar: 14 HINDI URDU BOL CHAAL ——— there are no hard and fast rules as to which is the most appropriate greeting to use, Depending on how well you know the other person, and how friendly you are towards them you may or may not wish to use their religious greeting. 1£ unsure, or if you don’t know what their religion is, then just say ‘hello’ or “hello jit’ CHECK-UP 1 Why did Sneh (a Hindu) say sat srii akaal to Darshan Singh, instead of namaste or assalaam alaikum? 2 When you meet someone, you don’t just say hello, You ask how they're getting on: Hello jii. Hello jii. kyaa haal hai? Thiik hai, kyaa hal h Thiik hai. Omar jii, aap kaise hai? mai Thiik hd. aap kaisii hai? mai bhii Thiik hia. NOTES To make a general enquiry you say: ‘ aapkaa kyaa hal — hai? Howare you getting on?, your what condition is How are things? Very often aapkaa is left out because itis understood, so you simply say kyaa haal hai? To say you're doing fine in reply you can say: Thiik hai Fine (condition) fine is haal is left our because it is understood. Sneh Darshan Singh: Sneh: Harbans: Sneh; Manmohan Ram; Sneh: Manmohan Ram: kyaa haal hai? 15 To ask how someone is feeling: aap kaise/kaisii hai? How are you?, How are you you how are feeling? kaise is the masculine form and is used when tallking to a man, When talking to a woman use the feminine form, kaisii To say you are feeling fine: mai ik hit I'm fine Il fine am Again mai can be left out because it’s understood, so you can just say ‘Thiik hifi. If you want to say ‘I’m fine too’ you need an extra word bhii after mai: mat bhii Thiik hau I also fine am I'm fine too CHECK-UP 2 Does Ambar want to know how Naveed is feeling, or is she making a more general enquiry? 3 If you're meeting someone for the first time you'll want to find out their name. And you'll want to tell them yours: aapkaa naam kyaa hai? meraa naam Darshan Singh (darshan singh) hai. meraa naam Snch hai. aapkaa naam kyaa hai? meraa naam Harbans (harbans) hai. namaste. namaste. aapkaa naam kyaa hai? meraa naam Manmohan Ram (manmohan raam) hai.A A A A A A PPP PRPOBDPBPDR 16 HINDI URDU BOL CHAAL NOTES If you want to ask someone's name you say: aapkaa naam kyaa hai? What's your name? your name what is And they might reply: meraa naam Sneh hai. My name is Sneb. my name Sneh is CHECK-UP 3 Sneh tells her name to only one of the people she speaks to. Which one? KEYWORDS namaste Hindu greeting assalaamalaikum — Muslim greeting vaalaikum assalaam Reply to Muslim greeting Khudaa haafiz Muslim farewell sat sriiakaal Sikh greeting jit Mark of respect like Sir or Madam (though less formal) kyaa what? haal (m) condition hai is Thiik fine aap .. hai youare... mai... hai Tam... kaise/kaisii how bhii also, too aapkaa your naam (m) name meraa my SOUND SYSTEMS ~/- ‘THE SIGN OF NASALISATION There are ten basic vowels in Hindi and Urdu (see Guide to Pronuncia- tion). However, there are two distinct ways of pronouncing each one of them ~ either just through the mouth or through the mouth and nose together. If they're pronounced in the second way ~ ‘nasalised’ ~ they're written with this sign ~/~ over the top. It’s not difficult to produce a nasalised vowel once you know how. Although we don’t do it much in English, if you can pronounce the French bon or pair you can do it already. It's important to try. Remember hai and hai are two different words (‘is’ and ‘are’ respectively) kyaa haal hai? 17 HOW THE LANGUAGE WORKS WORD ORDER Unlike English, the order of words in a Hindi or Urdu sentence is not rigidly fixed. You will often hear aapkaa kyaa naam hai? as an. alternative to aapkaa naam kyaa hai? for instance. with no real difference in meaning. This does not mean that you can ‘put anything anywhere’. One major difference compared with English is the posi- tion of the verb. A word for word translation of mai Thiik h@& gives “Lfine am’, the word for ‘am’, hai, coming at the end of the sentence instead of in the middle as in English ‘I am fine’. The general pattern is for all Hindi and Urdu verbs to come at the end of the sentence. Is, AM, AND ARE Just as in English itis considered wrong to say ‘you am’, or ‘they is’, so in Hindi and Urdu you have to choose between hai and hai and hifi according to whom you are talking about, ‘they’ or “she” or ‘T’ ete: mahi lam tun hai You are (very familiar) ye*/vo** hai This/thatis ham hai Weare tum ho You are (familiar) ye/vo*** hi These/those are aap hai You are (polite) * Formal and written Hindi yah ** Formal and written Hindi vah *** Formal and written Hindi ve Don’t worry too much about all the different words for ‘you’ at this stage. It’s as well to know that they exist, but in your own usage you will be quite safe if you stick to aap. This is actually a plural form, but you use it, like French vous, when speaking to one person as well in order to be polite. We'll start using ye and vo in Units 3 and 4.18 HINDI URDU BOL CHAAL kyaa haal hai? 19 EXERCISES eee 1 meéraa naam Starting up ~ denny hai. ‘What would you say in these situations? You bump into a Hindu friend in the street. You meet a Muslim friend in a sweet centre for lunch. You're introduced to a Hindi or Urdu speaker but you don’t know what their religion is. You meet a stranger at a friend’s house. You don’t know her name. You meet a friend you haven't seen for a couple of days. You wonder how he is. A friend introduces you to a Sikh acquaintance of hers. 2 Answering back How would you reply to someone who said this to you? assalaam alaikum kyaa haal hai? namaste aapkaa naam kyaa hai? aap kaise/kaisii hai? Hello jii sat sri akaal 3 How did it start? How did the conversation begin in each of these situations? Vaalaikum assalaam. ff \ ALLAN HH \20 HINDI URDU BOL CHAAL 4 Is, am and are Choose a word from the right hand column to complete the sen- tences. aapkaa naam kyaa ? haw aapkaa kyaa haal____ hai mai Thiik hai aap kaise ? Word search This square contains at least ten of the words used in this chapter (see Keywords p. 16). You can read up or down, left or right, and you can add a~ anywhere you like. See how many you can find in two min utes. esiaka taary I slplaa aakpaa maiabr amiahe nehaim arTiij 6 Crossword F co Cr Clues: 1 I'm fine 4 is 7 name 2 also 5 what 8 greeting 3 how 6 how are you? ‘What's the phrase written vertically in the darker boxes? RoR em oD kyaa haal hai? 21 7 Listening exercise Listen to the short conversation on the tape. Listen for the greetings: are they Hindu, Sikh or Muslim? What are the names of the two people? How are they? 8 Fill in the gaps assalaam alaikum vaalaikum assalaam meraa naam Raab Nawaz : naam kyaa hai? naam Pir Mohammed hai aapkaa ___ hal hai? Thiik aap kaise 2 mai ____ Thiik haa. BACKGROUND HINDI AND URDU AND THE INDO-EUROPEAN LANGUAGE FAMILY One way of looking at languages is to divide them up into families. Most people know, for instance, that Spanish and Portuguese are closely related. They have a common ‘parent’, or perhaps ‘grand- parent’ language, Latin, so they belong to the family of Romance languages along with Italian and French and several others, The Romance languages in turn are part of @ larger ‘extended family’, We know that they are more distantly related to the Germanic languages such as Swedish, German, and English too. This extended family spreads far beyond the boundaries of Europe, and is usually called the Indo-European family of languages. Urdu and Hindi belong to this same extended family so we can actually think of them as being distant cousins of English (a few times removed). Hindi and Urdu, along with Punjabi, Gujarati, Bengali and many other North Indian languages have a common ancestor in Sanskrit, a classical Indian language as old as Ancient Greek. (See the ‘family tree’ overleaf.) This is not the whole story however. Languages borrow from other languages, and, while Hindi and Urdu come from the same source language, Urdu has borrowed heavily from Arabic and Persian. Not only is the script borrowed from Arabic (which is not an Indo-Euro~ pean language) but also a large number of words. Hindi on the other hand has taken its script and a large number of words directly from Sanskrit.