Product Description
This simple and effective introduction to Hindi will teach you everything you need to speak, understand, read, and write in Hindi.This program assumes no background in the language, and it explains each new concept clearly with plenty of examples, making it ideal for beginners or anyone who wants a thorough review.Living Language Hindi includes:

·A course book and six audio CDs
·Two unique sets of recordings, one for use with the book, and a second for use anywhere to review and reinforce
·Natural dialogues, clear grammar notes, vocabulary building, and key expressions
·Plenty of practice, both written and recorded
·Notes on culture, cuisine, history, geography, and more
·Real life “discovery” activities and internet resources
·An extensive two-way glossary ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

Useless Audio CDs without the Book
I don't have much free time from work and commuting so the main reason I bought this course was because it came with audio cds and I was hoping to learn some Hindi during my hour long commute to work everyday. I agree with some of the other reviews. I bought the book and cd in hopes of learning Hindi for my trip to India next year.

The book is helpful, but the CD is useless without the book so it's a 3 star rating for me.

I would suggest people get this book if they can invest some time with the book and cd together.

YES!
When I received this course to learn Hindi I was really excited upon opening the book. Its full of useful information and examples on how to read, write, and pronounce, speak, and understand Hindi. To be honest I'm bearly on lesson two but I am super surprised that already at this stage I can read Hindi, which I thought would be the hardest thing of all to do. I can also write some of it and there is always something new and interesting as well as useful to learn. I started off at zero and I can now read, understand, write, and speak some Hindi. I love it.... I'm going to continue with this program and as soon as I'm done I'm going to pursue an intermediate and advanced course in Hindi from Living Language.

I would also like to add that the outline and format is really well thought of. I don't know what else to say but just the fact that its great and I really like it.

Difficult to get started
I was very excited about this, despite being told by a Hindi-speaking friend to get audio only and not worry about learning the script, Devangari. I still think that learning the script is important, but after having this set for about 6 months, I am finally coming back to get a few books that will focus on the script. I can't really learn them concurrently as I'd planned, since as another reviewer stated, the lessons switch over to Devanagari-only (i.e. WITHOUT transliteration) way too soon. It has made it impossible for me to move forward past the first chapter and CD. I highly recommend you either stick to an audio-only program or learn Devanagari first.

Pretty Good for people who are good with languages
I've studied many languages and have been told I have a knack for them, and due to the fact that I've fallen in love with Bollywood movies, I decided to learn Hindi. The course is pretty good I've used a similar program when studying Turkish, they break things down and really encourage you to go at your own pace and do things how you want to do them. The only problem I've found so far is that they do not show how each letter connects, so sometimes you can feel a little lost when trying to read the script or when trying to write things down you have no idea of the stroke order. So over all, good program, but just lacks a little bit when it comes to the writing system, it would be perfect if it came with a workbook to practice the letters in so you would know if it looked right.

Excellent Service
I recommand this seller for future buyers,for their quick service.I got my book before the expected date. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (17)

Not worth if you are studying Hindi
I am learning Hindi, and I threw this book to the recycle bin in less than a week. If you are just going for a trip to India and want to say few sentences you could do with it, but it is definitely not a book for Hindi students.

Sloppy phrase book
The type is really tiny.The devanagari type is very hard to read. This poses a problem since it is quite difficult to derive accurate pronunciation from Hindi transliterated into Roman script.The Hindi words are sloppy looking, too, besides being small.
The numbering system is helpful when using the index/glossary but page numbers would have been sufficient.

Great book for small phrases
Good addition to your Hindi book collection for small phrases to get by with when in India.

Helped me in a conversation with native speakers for 5 hours
I went on a trip to India and spent time with family.Luckily, I had this book.

Each section is organized into various scenarios with phrases.Numbers, travel, food items, and general daily living conversations are outlined in the text.

I had gone to my father in law's house to meet with his cousin.I spent 5 hours there conversing in English and Hindi...facilitated by this book.Without the book, I would have been staring at a blue wall and would have left 4.9 hours early!

When my wife and father in law came to the cousin's house, I was still talking.It was quite hillarious in the scheme of things.The compact size of the book, allowed me to carry this in my pocket and helped with converse to a decent degree - considering that I am not a native speaker.

However, the next time I return, I will be more versed in the Hindi language given my learning facilitated with the Rosetta Stone Hindi Program and Tej Bhatia's Colloquial Hindi:

Hindi Level 1 Win/Mac Personal Edition [Old Version]

Colloquial Hindi, 2e: The Complete Course for Beginners (Colloquial Series)

This book is excellent.2 thumbs up!

Useful
Very useful for travelers. I must have for one going to India.

Sandra ... Read more

Product Description
This book provides both a concise presentation of the essential grammar of modern Hindi which brings beginners as quickly as possible to the point where they can read modern prose with profit, and serves as a reference for those consolidating their grasp of the language. The material is presented in roman transliteration as well as in the Indian script, so that the beginner can work through the book unimpeded by script problems, while still enjoying the advantage of contact with the script from the outset. Available for the first time are two accompanying cassettes containing the complete Hindi text of the original and the new exercises. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Great Grammar/Reference Book
This book is great for a reference grammar of Hindi.It covers most major grammar points covered in most 1st and 2nd year Hindi Courses.One thing I noticed about this book, is you should have another book thoroughly explaining all grammatical concetps and use this one merely for more examples and as a refernce.This book is somewhat dense and tries to briefly cover SEVERAL topics of Hindi grammar.Another great thing about this book is it is the ONLY book I know of that transliterates from Pg 1 and never stops.The entire book shows script and then the transliteration right beside it.This is especially good for someone who wants to pick up some grammar and/or vocabulary etc, but is having trouble with the script.Lastly if you are already well versed in Hindi grammar, as I am, then this book is a great addition to your Hindi Language materials collection :)

Excellent summary of Hindi grammar
McGregor presents a really coherent summary of Hindi grammar, though it is a more formal grammar than most people actually speak. The approach is very academic, which means it wouldn't necessarily be the book for many people to start with. On the whole, however, I like it better than any of the other books I have used, including Landour.

book for someone already familiar with hindi
This book is very good for someone who is familiar with hindi, like whocould read and understand a few simple words. I enjoyed reading this booksince I consider my self belong to that category. I'm not sure howmuchsomeone, who is not exposed to hindi atall, will benefit from this book.

Exercises and vocabulary sections are very good, as the title of thebook says, the book focuses on the grammar part of the spoken and writtenhindi not for beginners who just want to learn to speak.

An academic approach
I've been using this 294 page book in a class. Technically it seems to be good, but it is hard to learn from. (Maybe I'm just getting too old to have the language facility I once had?) The title is accurate it calling it an"outline;"the information is densely packed. It requirescareful and repeated reading to understand. It illustrates each point byonly a few short examples. It introduces and uses the devanagari scriptfrom the beginning, with transliterations. I think that one could learneverything else without learning the script. I am already familiar with thescript, and want to improve my reading ability, so I am happy with theconstant use of devanagari. Those who need to learn the script togetherwith the vocabulary and grammar may find it more challenging. The textdescribes pronunciations in terms of the Queen's English, and it isconfusing to those who don't speak that dialect. My teacher doesn't seem topronounce everything the way it is described in the book. A tape isavailable, but I have not made much use of it yet, as it relates tospecific exercises in the book. Studying with this book seems to be a slowstart. It would be excellent for someone who wants to review and improve alanguage already partially acquired. I'm looking for something that makesthe language feel more accessible. ... Read more

Product Description

This new and extensively revised edition of Colloquial Hindi is easy to use and completely up to date. Specially written by experienced teachers for self-study or class use, the course offers you a step-by-step approach to written and spoken Hindi. No prior knowledge of the language is required.

Colloquial Hindi is:

• interactive: with lots of new exercises for regular practice
• clear: including concise grammar notes
• practical: with useful vocabulary and simplified pronunciation guide
• complete: including answer key and reference section.

By the end of this rewarding course you will be able to communicate confidently and effectively in Hindi in a broad range of everyday situations.

This pack contains the book and two sixty minute CDs. Recorded by native speakers, they will help develop your pronunciation, listening and speaking skills.

Customer Reviews (2)

Off to a great start, and it IS Mac compatible!
I just received my book and CD set and am enjoying working through the lessons with ease. So far what I've noticed is that the author has created realistic verbal exchanges that represent the etiquette present in the culture. Also, he has given examples of greetings that can vary between regions and/or religion. Addtionally, the accent being taught is that of "educated" Hindi; the accent college professors and newscasters use. Maybe now my Indian friends will understand me.

I am no expert in the field of languages, but I've got to say that this course already has Pimsleur and Byki beat hands down and the CDs play just fine in my Macintosh! Love the light use of humor as well.

Not Mac compatible
Unmentioned on the product page -- The two CD-Roms are not Mac compatible
[Since product wasn't operational on my computers (Intel-based, running OS 10.5.5), I have no opinion on its quality -- unfortunately, Amazon wouldn't publish this comment on platform compatibility without assigning it a star rating -- bad policy] ... Read more

Product Description
Comprehensive Hindi includes 30 lessons of essential grammar and vocabulary -- 16 hours of real-life spoken practice sessions -- plus an introduction to reading.

Upon completion of this Level I program, you will have functional spoken proficiency with the most-frequently-used vocabulary and grammatical structures. You will be able to:

* initiate and maintain face-to-face conversations,

* deal with every day situations -- ask for information, directions, and give basic information about yourself and family,

* communicate basic information on informal topics and participate in casual conversations,

* avoid basic cultural errors and handle minimum courtesy and travel requirements,

* satisfy personal needs and limited social demands,

* establish rapport with strangers in foreign countries,

* begin reading and sounding out items with native-like pronunciation. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Excellent Product
Considering the lack of material on Hindi, this is an excellent product. I would obviously not use this product as a stand alone, but for the serious student this is an excellent way to start the journey.

Thumbs Down from a Native Speaker
I've tried Pimsleur Spanish and like it a lot (much better than Learning Spanish Like Crazy) so I'm not hating on Pimsleur when I say that the disc overall and the pronunciation are extremely weak.

A. First off, somebody needs to tell you how to make the sounds.Western speakers cannot imitate Arabic or Indian language sounds simply by hearing them.They must be taught.
B. Second, on certain words emphasis has been placed on incorrect portions of the word (done intentionally to make it easier to recognize all of the syllables). It's not a bad idea when first introducing the word, but the word should be pronounced correctly at some point!!
C. The "native" speakers sound ridiculous.Their pronunciation, accents, and dialogue are laughable.Is this what you want to be imitating? Of course not.

Plus the Hindi discs seem much more boring than the Spanish ones.

Check out the Pimsleur website for free previews of all their CDs (that's what I've based this review off of).

Pimsleur is the only brand that works!!!
I am terrible at learning languages--I had to repeat every language class I took in school--but have been able to learn a sizable amount of Spanish and chunks of Hindi, Russian, French, Japanese and Italian by using Pimsleur language CD's.I have tried to use other programs and have gotten nowhere.With Pimsleur I learn quickly effectivley and in a way that makes it easy to have actual conversations with actual people.Pimsleur works because they structure your learning for you, you don't have to figure out the best way to practice/studybecause the lessons are already structured the way your brain learns best.Not having a text ensures you learn proper pronunciation by not confusing your brain with pronouncing words like they are written till after you learn how to say them right.
These tapes are terribly sexist, especially the Hindi, they always assume that you are a man, which is messed up because of the 16 or so people I know going to India (most in my school group, a few separate) only two are male.Thats messed up!!!!!Normally that would cause me not to buy a product, but with this it would be shooting myself in the foot, because there are no other programs even 50% as good as this.The comprehensive Pimsleur for Hindi is comming out in September (a month after I get back) or I would have bought that instead.Usually you can find the comprehensive versions of Pimsleur online for as cheap as $150 and worth every penny.I hope they get there act together and stop being so sexist in their newer editions.
Also, just a note, this particular Pimsleur set is more concentrated than their usual stuff I think because they weren't selling a comprehensive set origionally, so they go faster than usual which means you should expect to practice each lesson a few times.On the other hand I was happy because that meant I got more words for a lower price.

Could be better
I have Pimsleur CDs for many different languages (Cantonese, Mandarin, Japanese, French, German, Italian, Spanish, and several others) and have found it very helpful for learning different Asian languages - however, this one for Hindi was not that good.There are certain sounds in Hindi that are much easier to pronounce correctly if you know where to place your tongue.In Pimsleur programs for other languages, this kind of helpful information is usually offered, but on recordings for Hindi it was not.I still consider these CDs a valuable addition, but out of several different programs that I purchased for learning Hindi, so far I have found Colloquial Hindi to be the most useful and Rosetta Stone Hindi has also been helpful.

A good place to start...
I really enjoyed these CDs.I feel as if I've learned some useful Hindi and gotten a good start toward becoming proficient with the language.I really like the Pimsleur approach and I'm considering trying some of their other language courses.

I have only a few criticisms:

First, as other reviewers have mentioned, some of the Hindi phrases that these CDs teach are quite formal.I've had Hindi speakers tell me that the way I learned to say certain things is technically correct, but that NO ONE would actually say it like that.

The other problem is that when you're done, you're done!While this course is referred to as "Hindi 1" throughout the CDs, there is currently no path to continue learning Hindi with Pimsleur.If they released a "Hindi 2," I'd buy it. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (7)

Good book, but came dented.
The book is definitely a good text. My only issue with it is that it came with a big dent on the edge of the cover, so you could see the inner cardboard of the cover- the box it was shipped in was in fine condition so I can only assume that it was mailed in that condition. :/

Purely a cosmetic/service but a good book nonetheless!

From a self-learner
This book's approach of breaking up the alphabet and teaching it bit by bit is a very good one.I feel like I have a solid foundation, though using just this book would not be enough - I'm also working with Rosetta Stone and taking a conversation based course.I would recommend this text, but the reasons why I did not give it five stars are:
- the MP3 disc is of poor quality and difficult to navigate.
- the workbook that is paired with it (and you really should get the whole package) is not completely matched up with the textbook.I often find myself not understanding Workbook Chapter 3 until I get to Textbook Chapter 5.
- In general, the book expects a little too much of the self learner.It proclaims to work with you at a lesson a week pace to finish up the text in 24 weeks.Now, I don't know how much time they expect you to devote to learning Hindi, but I'm working with about 1.5 to 2 hours a day (10.5 to 16 hours a week) of working on Hindi and my pace is a lot closer to one and a half or two weeks per lesson. And the disparity between the chapters in the workbook and the chapters in the textbook can be *really* frustrating to the point of temporarily giving up.
All that being said - solid foundation.Go for it and good luck.

Best Modern Hindi resource outside of living there!
In preparation for a long term relocation to Northern India, I've been buying books on Hindi left, right and center. In some cases, the material is dated (with some languages, you can get away with that), offering vocabulary that has changed and grown. Few of them have audio support, and fewer still present things in a way that isn't immediately daunting to the reader. "Elementary Hindi" does all of these things - the Devanagari is broken up through several chapters, and introduces useful vocabulary ("What is this/that" and colors in the very first chapter; pronouns, greetings and giving you enough information to ask more nuanced questions in the second, etc) along with the critical audio components in order to make sure you're pronouncing things correctly.

Whether in a classroom environment or as a self-learner, Elementary Hindi (and its workbook) are incredible assets for language learning and I recommend them as the top of the line material for modern Hindi.

Self Learner
This book would be better for classroom use with guidance of an instructor, but it has some great strengths. I am a complete beginner, so I find "voiceless alveolar sibilant fricative" a particularly poor way to get across how to pronounce something, although if you search online for "hindi script tutor" this will correct some of the book's weaker points.

Otherwise, I just finished the first 3 chapters in this book and the complementary workbook, and I must say that the words it asks you to learn seem useful, but presented in an out-of-order and out-of-context style.

However, this is probably because of the way the book eases the reader into the Syllabary / Alphabet, and I do appreciate that! Learning it all at once would be a huge setback. I have higher hopes for this book after Chapter 6 once it can use all of the syllabary to teach me instead of half. If it doesn't get better after Ch6 I might thank the authors for helping me ease into the alphabet, and then head for "Let's Learn Hindi" which from the looks of it seems to have a unique system for learning grammar and sentence formation fast.

good, one of a kind
To me, it seems like this has been a long time in the making. It is a beginners Hindi book that is fit to be used in a classroom setting, just like the books I used when I took Japanese in university. The quality is awesome. The material is thorough. And it has an audio CD which is ESSENTIAL for anyone trying to learn Hindi.

I can't say too much in-depth about the content because this was a gift to my someone who was intimidated by learning Hindi. This book has eased her fears a bit, and is the perfect simple intro to a somewhat remotely foreign (non-latin or germanic) language.

I applaud Mr. Delacy and Sushri Joshi. I hope to get the intermediate for myself if one ever becomes available.
... Read more

Product Description

Unravel the mystery of Hindi script

In Your First 100 Words in Hindi, you learn to decipher and read a new script by learning 100 primary words in Hindi. Covering the language of India, this new addition to the Your First 100 Words In seriescan be used as a supplement to language courses or for independent learning.

Customer Reviews (5)

Not worth it
I would not recommend this book as a study aid.It has so many English loanwords (words that are the same in English and Hindi) that it should be called 'Your First 25 Words in Hindi".

Just for fun, and comprehension
This book is kind of like "fluff" -- it has a "hooked on phonics" methodology with pictures and lots of little 3rd grade level exercises -- It is not a definitive anything, BUT it is fun, it is an excellent comprehension builder, and it actually progresses in difficulty as you go further into the book. (the first chapter is "new" words that are mostly transliterated from the english -- tshirt, hotel, taxi -- It really helped me to be able to "scan" hindi words for meaning and speed, instead of sounding it out, and waiting for the rote romanization to link up to the meaning of the word.

So Far So Good
I received this book a week ago and have done a few of the exercises and torn out the flash cards. So far I think it's a really good secondary resource to a main course or program. A great study guide.

Good for kids
I'm teaching my daughter to read Hindi, and this book has helped. The flashcards are great. It helped me to introduce basic Hindi vocabulary to my kindergarten.

Terrible Beginner Book
I bought this book in order to familiarize myself with Devanagari script prior to tackling my Hindi grammar book. This is a terrible book for learning the script. It may serve as a good exercise book if you are already somewhat familiar with the characters. However, it gives a very brief 4 page explanation on the script and the rules and when explaining rules says, "This is mostly true in modern Hindi but to keep this book simple...." and so you are left with a brief explanation that may not even be completely accurate. The rest of the book is just flashcards and exercises where you connect words to pictures except that you were NEVER taught how to write the characters or how to join them into a word. I am buying Rupert Snell's book in order to learn the script. Once I have a decent understanding I will move on to the exercises in this book to test my knowledge. ... Read more

Product Description
This Basic program contains 5 hours of audio-only, effective language learning with real-life spoken practice sessions.

The Pimsleur Method provides the most effective language-learning program ever developed. The Pimsleur Method gives you quick command of Hindi structure without tedious drills. Learning to speak Hindi can actually be enjoyable and rewarding.

The key reason most people struggle with new languages is that they aren't given proper instruction, only bits and pieces of a language. Other language programs sell only pieces -- dictionaries; grammar books and instructions; lists of hundreds or thousands of words and definitions; audios containing useless drills. They leave it to you to assemble these pieces as you try to speak. Pimsleur enables you to spend your time learning to speak the language rather than just studying its parts.

When you were learning English, could you speak before you knew how to conjugate verbs? Of course you could. That same learning process is what Pimsleur replicates. Pimsleur presents the whole language as one integrated piece so you can succeed.

With Pimsleur you get:

• Grammar and vocabulary taught together in everyday conversation,
• Interactive audio-only instruction that teaches spoken language organically,
• The flexibility to learn anytime, anywhere,
• 30-minute lessons designed to optimize the amount of language you can learn in one sitting.

Millions of people have used Pimsleur to gain real conversational skills in new languages quickly and easily, wherever and whenever -- without textbooks, written exercises, or drills.

The 10 lessons in the Basic Hindi are the same as the first 10 lessons in the Pimsleur Comprehensive Hindi Level 1.

The 10 lessons in Basic Hindi are also the first 10 lessons in the 16-lesson Conversational Hindi edition.

Pimsleur learners progress from either the Basic or the Conversational to the Comprehensive Level 1, and not from Basic to Conversational edition. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Thumbs Down from a Native Speaker
I've tried Pimsleur Spanish and like it a lot (much better than Learning Spanish Like Crazy) so I'm not hating on Pimsleur when I say that the disc overall and the pronunciation are extremely weak.

1. Pronunciation
A. First off, somebody needs to tell you how to make the sounds.Western speakers cannot imitate Arabic or Indian language sounds simply by hearing them.They must be taught.
B. Second, on certain words emphasis has been placed on incorrect portions of the word (done intentionally to make it easier to recognize all of the syllables). It's not a bad idea when first introducing the word, but the word should be pronounced correctly at some point!!
C. The "native" speakers sound ridiculous.Their pronunciation, accents, and dialogue are laughable.Is this what you want to be imitating? Of course not.

2. Phrases are overly formal (more how you would write formally than speak)
3. It's pretty boring, much less interesting than the Spanish ones.

Check out the Pimsleur website for free previews of all their CDs (that's what I've based this review off of).

Great for starting out!
For those of us who want to learn the basics. I have been to several music concerts (Sonu Nigam,etc), and can get the gist of what's being said. Realize that this is a memory exercise. You learn the word, and as you get the hang of it, at the end of the lesson you use your new words in a phrase. This puts it in context. It's really cool. I also watch a lot of Bollywood films. This has helped my enjoyment. The subtitles aren't always what's being said.

okay BUT
Save your money. This item is not what you want to buy. Keep looking.
I could not rate it lower because there is no option to do so. This audio book was very confusing, it assumes too much from a beginner like me. Poor instruction, did I mention that it was confusing?

I will keep on looking for something else.

AND then to add insult to injury, there was no booklet included for us visual learners to follow or study along. It sure would have made my life easier. I even went looking on the internet in an effort to download from their website, no luck there either. If you ask me that is too much work for the consumer. Save your money. Save your money. Save your money.

And now I can speak Hindi
This is an excelent product to those of you car bound. Every day I learned a little more and did not lose what I had learned before. Perfect if you know no hindi at all. Everything that was heard was explained, I did not ahve to wait till I got home to look something up. there was no useless and annoying audio, which made both learning hindi and my comute to work easier. ... Read more

Product Description
Hindi is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world and one of the two official languages of India.This guide provides the traveler or student with essential resources for communication.

• 3,400 total dictionary entries
• Basic Hindi grammar and pronunciation
• Includes Hindi script and romanization throughout
• Essential phrases for the traveler, student, or businessperson
• Cultural notes and advice
... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Great Book!!!
I was very happy with my purchase, it helps alot.I would recommend for anyone who wants to pick up a little Hindi!!!

Not for a Serious Hindi Learner
This review is a warning for a person, who wants to learn Hindi for more than a short tourist trip. All its sections are too basic, and could be printed in a much smaller book -- on average, it contains 7 expressions per page. And its only advantage is very good print quality.

"Say it in Hindi" is a much better option in terms of expressions and vocabulary. The only its disadvantage is small and unclear font. And H-E/E-H dictionary by Rupert Snell is a much better alternative for a dictionary, grammar, and the word use (included in many entries of the E-H part).

If someone needs this book, I gladly give it away.

Learning Tool
I bought this item for my new student from India to use on class assignments.He actually spends his time reading it as well and is learning English in leaps and bounds.

Very good book but...
This is a great book.It has many useful entries with helpful phrases for a tourist as well as a brief covering of basic grammar points.Also it contains a dictionary with over 3,000 entries.These are in English-Hindi and Hindi-English and do include the transliteration in alphabetical order based on the English alphabet.This is VERY helpful for a learner.One thing I might mention though, and what is keeping me from giving this 5 stars is the fact that when I looked up a simple word just to see how the dictionary was, I was shocked to discover that there was no word for friend.Not "mitr" or "dost" nor was the word "friend" listed in the English-Hindi section.This I found to be rather peculiar.That is a very common word which one would think would be included.Overall though, I would suggest getting this book.There are plenty of other useful entries and helpful little tidbits that a tourist or someone learning the language could make use of, even if you won't know how to call someone friend :p

Concise guide to Hindi grammar, dictionary, phrasebook
I went to the same University of Wisconsin India program that Todd Scudiere graduated from, so I can attest to the quality of his prior training.

I think this is a great pocket Hindi reference, but no substitute for proper language training. The vocabulary and phrase collections are very good and accompanied by devanagari script and Roman transliteration. I am currently using the book to develop a set of Hindi flashcards.

To go further than this you will need the Oxford Hindi-English-Hindi dictionaries and a good course such as "Colloquial Hindi: The Complete Course for Beginners (Colloquial Series)." It is really tough learning how to make some of the consonant sounds just from a book or CD. ... Read more

Product Description
A unique and authentic language learning kit from the country's leading publishing house. This kit teaches Hindi in the most simple and effective way using an auto effect for quicker grasp and assimilation. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Awesome (even though the letters are smudged)
It's is awesome the only thing is that the letters are smudged but you can read it. I can read the whole thing I am working with the book and it is teaching me sufficiently (I am learning a ton in about 10 minutes). Even though that I didn't start reading it until 3 days ago I know it is awesome from my friends and because of my last sentence.

Simply Awful
Miserably typeset with all the look of having been printed with an antique moveable-type press.Parts of sentences are missing or illegible, and many characters are broken or smudged.Additionally, the Devanangari letters are tiny which makes it very difficult for someone unfamiliar with the alphabet to learn them.The chapters are poorly laid out both internally and as a sequence.Additionally, while I was hoping for something more 'correct' than the usual phrasebook rubbish, the language in the book is academic enough as to make my hindi-speaking friends lapse into reciting lessons from their school days.

Muddy print and missing letters
In Varanasi, cheap, shoddy hotels take the names of good hotels in hopes of luring unwary customers. In much the same way this book lured me in: I bought it thinking it was part of the "Teach Yourself" bookseries, but it's definitely not.

This book is a disaster. The type ismuddy and hard to read, which would be bad enough in an English text. Whena few of the letters in a pronunciation key are obscured, or when pieces ofHindi letters are missing, it's nearly impossible to work with. And notonly is the printing egregiously bad, there are actually missing letters,so that you have the sentence, "would be pronounced as ee" --with nothing at the beginning!

Do yourself a favor and steer clear ofthis miserable excuse for a Hindi textbook. ... Read more

Product Description
Bestselling language courses now with audio CDs!

From Danish to Spanish, Swahili to Brazilian Portuguese, the languages of the world are brought within the reach of any beginning student. Learners can use the Teach Yourself Language Courses at their own pace or as a supplement to formal courses. These complete courses are based on the very latest learning methods and designed to be enjoyable and user-friendly.

Prepared by experts in the language, each course begins with the basics and gradually promotes the student to a level of smooth and confident communication, including:

Up-to-date, graded interactive dialogues
Graded units of culture notes, grammar, and exercises
Step-by-step guide to pronunciation
Practical vocabulary
Regular and irregular verb tables
Plenty of practice exercises and answers
Bilingual glossary
The new editions also feature:

Clear, uncluttered, and user-friendly layout
Self-assessment quizzes to test progress
Website suggestions to take language study further ... Read more

Customer Reviews (47)

decent
took so long for the item to arrive, but it's awesome. fyi, the cd's are kinda off...

TMI - much needs to be slowed down and re-structured
I'm a former EFL teacher and student of four (other) languages.Hindi would be my fifth language and after reading reviews here, I decided to buy the Rupert Snell book.I find I really could love Hindi.I started from scratch but am living in Delhi temporarily for work.

I agree that the book is comprehensive; I agree that the book needs re-sequencing and has substantial flaws.

I started with the 'Learn Hindi Script' book, which only by reading here do I find is really the first of three books in the series. I worked through much of the first book and find that it was clear, well structured. and thankfully concise.Essentially, the first book was valuable in that it showed you a letter, described its pronounciation, showed how to write the letter, then moved on.There is a lot of other information in the first book and by steady practise I progressed to where I now feel qualified to write fairly well.At the end of the exercises however I did make a set of personal flashcards (some included with the book would be a stunning idea) to practise the symbols and letters which have not yet stuck.

Moving on to this book I found a blizzard of information at the beginning, most of it extraneous.There was quite a bit of advanced information even before we got to the first chapter ("Hello.I am Pratrap.)I am working my way through the very first chapter because now, being a thorough person - some might even say perfectionist - I find myself dwelling on the use of the chandra bindu in Persian loan-words, or some such other nonsense.In point of fact, I can only now call it nonsense because I've spent a good two weeks puzzling over and trying to memorise this kind of thing and realise that I cannot form even the most basic sentence.There are still many signs here that I cannot read / pronounce.

I could perhaps do better with this book if I would only ignore all the damned words that the author has put in the way of understanding.

The written forms and conjuncts thrown at my small heaving brain in the first three pages of chapter one have simply stopped me.I enjoy structure, I enjoy languages, and I find this book has nothing but encyclopaedic detail where a single synonym would do.At times it infuriates me because I see quite clearly that this is a group-course book for a very advanced and quick course, say a course at the London School of Oriental and Asiatic Studies, not a book for the general public.

The book is thorough; it is not kind.If you are the type who can ignore most of a chapter to glean the most essential bits, then this is your book.

As background, I am not the Rosetta Stone type, i.e. I do not enjoy hearing random dialogue repeated until osmosis strikes.I like having a little bit explained, then chewing on it for a while, then moving on to the next bit.Therefore there is in my opinion no book yet that is really _good_ in this sphere of learning Hindi.The Snell book is useful enough, if you can skip to the essence of the chapter and really self-teach using this raw material.But I thought that I bought this book so I could follow along and learn in a paedogogically effective and sound way.I was wrong; may you be a better learner than I am.

Excellent Beginners Guide to Hindi
I was using Rosetta stone and became frustrated about a third of the way through the Rosetta stone course with the lack of explanation of the grammatical structure, verb forms, writing ect...I ordered this book to help out and was very pleased. It comes with two audio CD's that have all the conversations included in the book. The chapters present topics and words in a coherent fashion and build quickly. I was a bit disappointed with the small size of the book when I first opened it but it is packed with information and doesn't repeat itself. An idea is presented once and completely explained and then it moves on, something I find very refreshing. There are 18 chapters as well as a series of informational appendices and a hindi-english english-hindi dictionary in the back. If you want to buy just one thing to learn hindi with, this book is it. I think it would be hard to really improve on the simplicity of this book. An excellent resource and tremendous help, dollar for dollar far more valuable to me than Rosetta stone.

Great grammar coverage, but CD could be better
I purchased this book and CD set after taking Hindi classes; I was hoping for more listening practice from the CD and more direct grammar discussion from the book. The book's grammar tips are indeed terrific--this is the best resource I've seen anywhere for people who want to master the grammar of spoken Hindi (as long as they aren't afraid of technical grammatical terms).

The CDs, however, could be better. The speakers in the dialogs often pause in peculiar places as if they were reading the material for the first time, which is odd. And some of the speakers are inarticulate or oddly flat in affect, making them harder to understand than they should be.

Teach yourself Hindi
I bought this book and dvd for my grand-children who did not know one word of Hindi or any other Indian language.As their grand-mother's national language, they wanted to learn atleast a few phrases of Hindi language.

After receiving this book, they really learned a few conversational phrases fast and loved the book. I highly recommend this title. ... Read more

Product Description
This book is a level 3 Hindi reader. Level 3 books helps in developing fluency in Hindi for children who are relatively comfortable with Hindi script and vocabulary and need practice to maintain and improve their skills. On each facing pair of pages in the book, the left page lists the Hindi paragraphs that narrate the story on the top. The bottom of the left page has the transliteration of the paragraph in English. If the transliteration is read in conversational English, the pronunciation would be similar to the one in Hindi. The right page translates the paragraph in English.The book contains three stories in which the lovable character of Sonu, a toddler, goes through several misadventures as he tries to celebrate Diwali, Holi and Rakhi. The stories capture the realistic experience NRI kids in America are likely to go through on these festivals. ... Read more

Product Description

Now learning non-Roman-alphabet languages is as easy as A-B-C!

Readers wanting to learn the basics of reading and writing a new language that employs script will find all they need in the Teach Yourself Beginner's Script series. Each book includes a step-by-step introduction to reading and writing in a new language as well as tips and practice exercises to build learners' skills. Thanks to the experts at Teach Yourself, script will no longer be all "Greek" to language learners--unless of course, it is Greek script! Teach Yourself Beginner's Script series books feature:

• Origins of the language
• A systematic approach to mastering the script
• Lots of "hands-on" exercises and activities
• Practical examples from real-life situations

Customer Reviews (24)

OK book
This is a very good book to learn Hindi script. However, I found that if you already have Beginner's Hindi or Teach Yourself Hindi complete course you can do without it, unless you want to elaborate on the script or learn more exceptions and rare characters.

More than alphabet
Whoo! I bought this book along other books to study Hindi, but without great enthusiasm thinking that it would not be very useful. In fact this is much more than a book to learn Devanagari script. This book gives you plenty of information about the history of Hindi language, the script system as well as where and how "letters" are to be produced in your mouth. It contains a good glossary and plenty of exercises with keys in order to help you to learn not only the Devanagari script, but also the Hindi language. I am just so happy to have bought this book when I think I almost missed it.

Excellent for the beginner in hindi text
After 4 short trips to India since 1999, I know what hindi looks and sounds like but never studied it. During my 5th trip next Fall, I hope to teach English conversation to a group of high school aged students.
The book begins by giving the origin of hindi, Devanagari Script, then begins a study of the major consonants, learning to draw and how to place your tongue to pronounce them.Vowels follow. Interspersed are exercises in transliteration from hindi to english and the reverse. A dictionary and syllabary and answers to the exercises are in the back.
Do not expect to be reading Devanagari in under 8 months, but then, at 88 years, my brain has a few cobwebs in it. If accounts are true that brain exercises can slow down progression of dementia, then I should be a wizard by Fall. It has been tough for me. This book, plus Teach Yourself hindi Audio-book, also by Snell, plus having an Indian native friend all have helped.Alfred Rogers

Very good
I had been learning Hindi via Rosetta Stone, which is probably the best method overall, but I was frustrated by consistently being puzzled by what appeared to be inconsistencies in script.When I opened this book, a flood of my long-standing questions were instantly answwered, with just the right amount of geeking out for my taste. I printed out some handwriting practice pages from [...], used them for lessons from the book, and this dimension of my Hindi language study became energized by another gratifying dimension.

A fine guide to reading and writing Hindi, and useful for Sanskrit as well
Rupert Snell's TEACH YOURSELF BEGINNER'S HINDI SCRIPT is a friendly introduction to Devanagari, the script used to write Hindi and Sanskrit. Whenever learning a language with a different writing system, I personally always find it helpful to use a separate preliminary book to get up to speed with the writing system, that way when I'm working with my main textbook, I don't feel like my unfamiliarity with the writing system is holding me back from fully absorbing the lessons. Snell's book works quite well as this initial step. He introduces the components of Devanagari step by step, with plenty of exercises so that the student can apply his knowledge and internalize the script. There are photos of signs from India, including some with errors so that the student can see how the script works in daily life. There's even a bit on handwriting, which is a nice touch.

And it's not just about Hindi! Devanagari is used to write Sanskrit as well, and Snell does cover the letters found in Sanskrit. If you want to embark on a Sanskrit course like Coulson's TEACH YOURSELF SANSKRIT, I cannot recommend enough that you use this first.

My only complaint about this book--and it may well be the unrealistic expectations of a linguaphile--is that it doesn't talk about how the Hindi script differs from other Brahmi-derived scripts. A short appendix along the lines of "If you want to eventually learn Gujarati or Bengali, here are some ways you can apply your knowledge of Hindi script..." would have been nice. Snell does of course talk about how Hindi's relationship to Urdu in being a sometimes mutually intelligible language but written completely differently. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

rigid and minimal
This was a textbook for my entry level Hindi course in College.I've lived in non-English speaking countries for several years, which means that I have acquired a working level in a few languages, and I understand how to naturally learn a language.I have found that Hindi is moderately difficult language, but not extremely hard.Although this was our class textbook, most students found it nearly useless, and my first semester teacher didn't use it at all.Instead, he made his own handouts.My second semester teacher used this book almost exclusively, and many students found this book to be lacking in quality.Even the teacher admitted this.
Pros:
1.The chapters are in a fairly sensible manner.Each chapter reveals a concept and gives exercises for the concept.The concepts in early chapters are more simple and fundamental than the concepts in later chapters.
2.The explanations in the beginning of each chapter are concise and fairly clear.
3.The book requires a student to learn the Hindi script, which is essential for anyone learning any language with its own writing system.

Cons:
1.Although the chapters are in a sensible order, the whole premise of the book, to learn a language by learning about grammatical concepts, is flawed.Most people do not learn a language effectively or quickly by this method.People learn a language by using it, not by learning facts about it.This is a common mistake of many language courses.Effective language learning comes by usage, not by mindless memorization.
2.The examples are very stilted and impractical.Most sentences are drills which only replace one word in them.Most sentences are just isolated instead of being strung together, there isn't any paragraphs to read, or any dialogues to practice with someone else.All of the work you will do is simply repeating mindlessly a bunch of disjointed sentences, which will NOT teach you how to effectively converse in a foreign language.BELIEVE YOU ME!
3.User unfriendly.Often times words that are in the sentences are nowhere in the glossary, which means you will have to go on-line, or buy a dictionary to find out what the word means.What's more, the words are not in simple Hindi alphabetical order, but are classified by part of speech, are you kidding me?!If you don't know if the word is a adjective, or noun, you will have a difficult time finding it.
4.The explanations are concise, but they are sometimes too concise, and there are often way too few examples to learn from.

Conclusion:If you are a person who already knows a fair amount of simple conversational Hindi, you might find this book helpful to describe and illustrate grammatical concepts which you used but didn't understand. If you are a armature linguist, who wants to have a description or overview of Hindi, so you can know how the language works on a functional level, you may find this book helpful.If you are a person who is surrounded by Hindi speakers, and can practice Hindi on a daily basis, this book might be helpful.
If you are a person who wants to learn Hindi on a practical level, in a natural manner, with no prior experience, this is NOT the book for you.I think if a person sat down and said, "what is the most unnatural, impractical, academic way I can write a book about a language?" the result would look somewhat like this book.Had I known that the Hindi class would be based off a book like this, I would have saved myself the trouble and spent my money on "Rosetta Stone", or "Teach Yourself Hindi".I'm sure I would have obtained better results for less frustration and less student loans.
This is a book about grammar, not a book on how to easily learn Hindi.

Great Book
Great Book. You should learn Devanagari script on your own prior to using this book. You can learn the basic grammar if you complement with another source such as Livemocha. The ideal would be to have a teacher, however you can still benefit greatly from this book. There is no fast way to learn another language if you dont learn the grammar, you can only grom so much. This is the best grammar book on Hindi I have seen. Greatly recommended. It is easy to follow, and examples are relevant. The minor detail is that there is no solutions page for the exercises.

Introduction to Hindi Grammar
A well written book with concepts explained in a simple manner.A must have for Hindi teachers and students and also for people who find languages intriguing.

Introduction to Hindi Grammar
Among the several books I bought and looked at on the topic of Hindi Grammar this is by far the best for my level of understanding of the topic. However, it may not be appropriate for someone without any exposure to the subject. For someone looking to start studying the language from scratch it would be best to have a teacher, at least in the beginning stages. The exercises are great, but there are no answer keys to the exercises. Because of this I rate it at 4.5 stars. Great book by Usha R Jain

outstanding resource for hindi students
I first encountered this book while studying Hindi at the State Department; it is part of their outstanding curriculum. This is absolutely NOT a "teach yourself Hindi" book, and hooray for that! I find there are too few real textbooks available that meet this text's high standards, and far too many travel phrasebooks out there.

This is a systematic and detailed account of Hindi grammar; I work as a translator and consider this one of my most essential resources.

I would highly recommend this book to any serious student of the language for its precision, clarity, and overall quality. Sure, it's $40, but that's a decent price for a textbook, and that's exactly what this book is. ... Read more

Product Description
Ever asked for directions to the train station and ended up with a streetside ear cleaning, palm reading or root canal? With this phrasebook you'll preserve your dirty ears, unknown future and all your teet.

Get talking as you make your way around India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, and take your best smile all the way.

Our phrasebooks give you a comprehensive mix of practical and social words and phrases in more than 120 languages. Chat with the locals and discover their culture - a guaranteed way to enrich your travel experience.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Buy the older version
I saw the previous version in a library and wanted my own copy. I bought the latest version - big mistake. So I went off and bought a second copy of the previous version. The publishers broke a very good product - a pity.
Why? The old version was Hindi and Urdu - the new version has Bengali also. Although the newer version is thicker, a lot of useful information
was either removed or condensed in such a manner that is very hard to assimilate. Also the number of entries in the dictionary was reduced. I only wanted Hindi. The only good point about the book that there is an enhanced culninary reader (i.e. menu decrypter!).
Buy the old one and please (publisher) - 'if it aint broke - don't fix it'

Basic phrases to get by
This book is good for basic phrases to get by. It's better to get a book specific to the language you will be using, or use the internet for a better view of the specific language. However, for the casual tourist who wants to know a few phrases, it can be helpful. See: Bengali Flower: 50 Poems from India and Bangladesh with Psalms, Proverbs & Scripture for some history on India, Bangladesh, culture, Rabindranath Tagore poetry, brief biography, and Bengali language.

great little help
This is a compact, easy to use, and helpful little book for basic phrases you will use in India and other South Asia countries.

Good introduction to Hindi & Urdu
I've been using the computer program Rosetta Stone to learn Hindi, and it's extremely helpful in getting a person started with learning the grammar, some basic words, and the script. But Rosetta Stone doesn't teach you the really crucial basic phrases, like "Hello, how are you?", "My name is Bob," or "Where is the bathroom?"

That's the specialty of this phrasebook--teaching you the basic phrases you'll need to get by. It also shows the basics of how to read the Urdu and Hindi scripts, but it's not necessary to learn them to use it, since the phrases all have phonetic renderings. One of the other reviewers complained that this phrasebook won't teach you the language. But it's not meant to; it's just supposed to help you get started, or to help you get by when you're not planning to actually learn the language.

The organization of the book is very useful, since it's grouped into sections for different kinds of phrases, making it easy to find the stuff you're most interested in.

The dictionary in the back, when you're going from Hindi or Urdu to English, is arranged in the order of the Hindi or Urdu alphabets. Maybe this doesn't make the most sense for English speakers, who if they're just starting aren't going to memorize the order of all the letters in the Hindi and Urdu alphabets. The other reviewer complained about this, but since the dictionaries aren't very long, I don't think it's a big deal. The dictionaries also have the phonetic spellings, so you can flip through pretty quickly to find the letter you're looking for.

My main complaint is that the Urdu font in this book is kind of hard to read. It might just be because I first learned the script from another book that used a different font, and that's what I'm used to now. But I think that with the font used in this book, it's inherently harder to tell which letter is which, making it harder on a beginner.

Not useful for learning the languages
Although this combined edition is more accurate than the previous separate phrasebooks for Hindi/Urdu and Bengali, do not expect to use it to actually learn the languages or even get beyond a couple of dozen phrases.

Perhaps in conjunction with a formal language guide to Bengali, this phrasebook would be more helpful, but at the time of my recent travels, there was no English language language study guide available for Bengali/Bangla (I think the Teach Yourself series has one, but that series is currently going through a one-by-one reissue as the cover format and typeface have changed).

The main problem is the Bengali to English dictionary, which is listed from the point of view of the written form vs. how things sound or how they transluterate to Latin characters. This requires first learning Bengali script, which is quite difficult due to the bizarre rules in all South Indian derived scripts (including Thai and Khmer/Cambodian as well as Hindi) vs. Cyryllic, Latin, Greek, Hebrew, and Arabic. And besides which, literacy is not and should not be a requirement for developing the more important day-to-day fluency of speaking and listening skills in a new language while traveling.

The publisher would also be advised to make clear that there are significant regional variants within Bengali (if not also Hindi/Urdu), and thus one is not always understood even with basic everyday phrases as they are published here. They might also be advised to include the related Punjabi language/dialect in the next edition, to be more complete. ... Read more

Product Description

Filled to the brim with phrases on everything from hiking to shopping and eating out, this essential phrasebook will make your trip to India and Pakistan much more enjoyable. Order your kulfi extra sweet, navigate your way through the mazes of Delhi and Lahore and chat to sacred cows with ease.

• both Hindi and Urdu script are included
• includes comprehensive dictionary and essential grammar
• extensive sections on religion and spirituality
• enjoy the local cuisine and get to know the local culture and customs
• discuss the finer points of tea, dhal, rice and roti
• cheer with the locals at a cricket match

Customer Reviews (6)

Do not buy the newer version
Make sure you do not buy the newer version .... here is a review i wrote of the new version ...

I saw the previous version in a library and wanted my own copy. I bought the latest version - big mistake. So I went off and bought a second copy of the previous version. The publishers broke a very good product - a pity.
Why? The old version was Hindi and Urdu - the new version has Bengali also. Although the newer version is thicker, a lot of useful information
was either removed or condensed in such a manner that is very hard to assimilate. Also the number of entries in the dictionary was reduced. I only wanted Hindi. The only good point about the book that there is an enhanced culninary reader (i.e. menu decrypter!).
Buy the old one and please (publisher) - 'if it aint broke - don't fix it'

going to India?
please buy this and save yourself confusion.

oh and read it before you land over there

Useful and user-friendly
The books in the newer series of Lonely Planet phrasebooks are all excellent, because the authors make the assumption that the reader is an educated and literate individual, who wants to know something more about the target language than just a list of supposedly common phrases. There is a tremendous amount of information packed into this handy little book. Contrary to what another reviewer said, the book makes a very clear distinction between Hindi and Urdu words. The sections on script and grammar are well done. Overall, it is probably the best Hindi/Urdu phrasebook available.

Great compact reference
Very helpful pocket reference.

Do not go for this one.
This phrasebook does not make clear which words are Hindi and which wordsare Urdu.Not recommended for the beginner. ... Read more

Product Description
Having miraculously survived a serious illness and now at an impasse in her career as a magazine editor, Rich spontaneously accepted a free-lance writing assignment to go to India, where she found herself thunderstruck by the place and the language. Before she knew it she was on her way to Udaipur, a city in the northwestern state of Rajasthan, in order to learn Hindi.


In this inspirational memoir, Rich documents her experiences in India ranging from the bizarre to the frightening to the unexpectedly exhilarating using Hindi as the lens through which she is given a new perspective not only on India, but on the radical way the country and the language itself were changing her. Fascinated by the process, she went on to interview linguistics experts around the world, reporting back from the frontlines of the science wars on what happens in the brain when we learn a new language. Seamlessly combining Rich s courageous (and often hilarious) personal journey with wideranging reporting, Dreaming in Hindi offers an eye-opening account of what learning a new language can teach us about distant worlds and, ultimately, ourselves.Amazon.com Review
Product Description
Having miraculously survived a serious illness and now at an impasse in her career as a magazine editor, Rich spontaneously accepted a free-lance writing assignment to go to India, where she found herself thunderstruck by the place and the language. Before she knew it she was on her way to Udaipur, a city in the northwestern state of Rajasthan, in order to learn Hindi.

In this inspirational memoir, Rich documents her experiences in India ranging from the bizarre to the frightening to the unexpectedly exhilarating using Hindi as the lens through which she is given a new perspective not only on India, but on the radical way the country and the language itself were changing her. Fascinated by the process, she went on to interview linguistics experts around the world, reporting back from the frontlines of the science wars on what happens in the brain when we learn a new language. Seamlessly combining Rich's courageous (and often hilarious) personal journey with wideranging reporting, Dreaming in Hindi offers an eye-opening account of what learning a new language can teach us about distant worlds and, ultimately, ourselves.

Personal Photos from Katherine Russell Rich, Author of Dreaming in Hindi
(Click on each image below to see a larger view)

Katherine Russell Rich in the Ancient Fort City of Chittogarh	Rajasthani Ektara Player	Katherine Russell Rich in Sari and Bindi

Customer Reviews (60)

A Wonderful Book!
A lovely book, not only in subject but in style.She has the ability to weave together several disparate threads (learning another language, complete immersion in another culture, neurophysiology, and the threads of her own life) and bring them together at certain focal points that just make you say "Wow!"One of my favorite books.One of the few books I've read that I wish had been twice as long.Highly recommended.Watch her video (on YouTube or on the Amazon page for her hardcover book) to get a sense of her personality and writing style -- and sense of humor.

I totally love this book
It's taken me quite awhile to review this book, because I liked it so much that the first several tries sounded ridiculous. So first let me get that out of the way: this is a great book, and if you are interested in India, the human use and acquisition of language, or personal memoir, then you should read it right away. My only complaint is that there is not a full set of notes and bibliographical information -- I had to work hard to follow up on some of the ideas in the book.

I loved how dense the book is, how much compassion for both herself and other people infuses the writing, and how many times I laughed out loud. The book, unlike lots of books about India that I read, really and truly reminded me of being in India. There is a fascinating mix of total immersion in her subject and wry detachment from herself that makes the book very attractive, and I enjoyed the shifts from personal narrative to more serious discussion of language.

On the whole, I loved this book (which I think I already mentioned). I've pressed it on other people I know who have spent time in India, and all of them have also responded favorably. If it sounds remotely interesting to you, when you read the description of the book, then by all means read it!

WHAT?
The only thing I like about the book was the pretty cover!

This book is to the beautiful Hindi language as playboy is to feminism!

It was like reading one BIG LONG Cosmo mag article.

Sorry...

Submersion or immersion?
Four days before 9/11, Rich arrives in Northwest India. She knows a little Hindi, and she figures she needs a break after eight successive jobs as a magazine editor have ended in her being laid off or the publication going under. Neither her Main Line suburban Philadelphia upbringing nor her years in Manhattan prepare her for immersion into the culture of Rajasthan.

Rich's account follows a narrative pattern that may be familiar to those who have studied and lived abroad. Her romantic expectations fade, her terror at learning the language turns to resentment, resignation, and acceptance. After five months, her fluency grows despite her weariness at the overwhelming assaults of color, emotion, noise, and attitudes that distinguish Udaipur, the city where her school is, from her familiar American mindset.

This book succeeds when Rich describes what she sees.Before leaving New York, she studies the orthography of Hindi. "The beautiful letters, like stick trees that had bumped into a ceiling or a revue of performing snakes, came out shaped like cows' heads in my hands." She tells of Second Language Acquisition with interspersed summations and interview snippets from scholars and linguists. These may interfere with the Indian portions, but they attempt to align her own struggles with those that academics analyze as common situations for any adult learner. She feels speechless, yet the exhilaration of her Indian residence forces her to get beyond the persistent predicament that makes her a child in the eyes and ears of her interlocutors. Many Indians want to practice their equally awkward English phrases with her; meanwhile those Indians adept in her mother tongue shift into English with her often. She compares her condition to "the daily schism to contend with, of having the mind of a woman who's worked to have one and a voice that's the Indian equivalent of a U.S. sitcom character named Babu."

After five months, however, right on schedule according to professors, Rich leaves behind "receptive infancy" for a "naming explosion."Her English can roam, especially in earlier chapters, wildly, into oddly cadenced constructions, strangely placed punctuation, and unidiomatic rhythms. This may leave a native English reader wondering if his or her own articulation also weakens under the pressure of another language, but this prose equivalence may have been subconscious on Rich's part. Her frequent digressions into scholarship alongside often humdrum interludes from her travels lengthen into an off-kilter, idiosyncratically accented work. Her classmates and friends earn attention, but many fail to stick to the page as memorable characters with worthwhile conversations. This may leave a reader both wanting more detail and wishing less of it; it veers between depth and superficiality for long stretches.

Hindi, in reflection, spreads into her mind long after her return to America as a "stain on my thoughts," and this permeable nature of reminding her of places and people from nearly a decade before this book does testify to her powers of recall. Her senses seem doubled. "The lights slanting down soft yellow makes the lanes look like misty stage sets." Speech, in Sanskrit convention, becomes one of ten senses.

She tries to get to know her country's hosts better. She assists at a deaf school and notes how some of the children draw self-portraits without a mouth. Her sign language nickname there is "Plane Crashing into Tower." As she lives in India longer, she feels more at home and less at ease. She is assaulted three times as tensions increase and foreigners meet insults. "When I looked up, two couples were hurrying past, the men's heads pulled down by taut strings, the women's faces turned back to examine mine--laughing, though it looked like they were grimacing." America, to India's increasingly nationalistic Hindus, appears self-absorbed by 9/11; soon after, two thousand deaths (mostly Muslim) nearer to Udaipur, during sectarian riots in neighboring Gujurat, result in no response from the U.S. president.

She visits the rich and, perhaps less successfully given her outsider status and those of her caste-conscious hosts, she tries to talk to the poor. A haughty wealthy man tells her that by taking tea with him, she shows she is still foreign; a fellow Indian would not be offered tea. They contend to manipulate and dominate each other in a Third World economy that allows little space for mutual admiration.

Rich realizes the gap between her and these natives. Her linguistic progress signals her willingness to reinvent herself, but her appearance and her age defy her wishes. At 45, her Indian counterparts may look like paper-skinned grandmothers. She hides her divorced status but this makes her single status all the more dumbfounding to her Indian inquirers. Staying at a former women's quarters of an old house where the current women of the family challenge her can be both amusing and wearying. She must defend her reputation. As she filters it through what would have been her acquired Hindi: "I have not been bringing men up to my room. I have not been throwing condoms onto people's roofs."

Trying out for a "videshi" or "foreigner" singing competition so her sponsors can benefit from the prize she is promised at a resort, she reflects how in a sari, often like a bunched diaper at best on her figure, she looks like "a large, motorized confectioner's cake gliding pinkly down the street."Still, her inner immersion via Hindi has made her strut more confidently, and capably. She leaves after most of a year spent in India beginning to dream in both languages, and she keeps doing so today, she concludes.

Learning Hindi where few speak it . . .
Dreaming in Hindi is a pleasant mix of travel writing and investigation of current theories of second language acquisition.The latter material is not particularly difficult to digest and is recommended for anyone who is curious about the subject or about to embark on that difficult pursuit, particularly first time language learners.Unfortunately the linguistics compete with Ms. Rich's much more entertaining description of her Indian adventure. Her descriptive and comedic gifts are brought to bear on her home stay family, the Hindi language facility where she studied and, especially, her fellow students there, her hard won Hindi language skills and, for the most part, Udaipur, Rajasthan .The tone is gossipy if not catty and always lightened with enough humor to blunt somewhat her sharp remarks. I found myself racing through the scientific bits to get to the good stuff. ... Read more

Product Description
This is the second in the series of Hindi activity books which makes learning Hindi fun for the child growing in an English speaking country. This activity book introduces more than 800 words with their English translation. The words are made familiar through matching exercises, finding paths in mazes, matching words to pictures, cross-word puzzles and an assortment of other activities. This book is one of the most fun ways to learn new words in Hindi. Teach yourself Hindi words using the exercises in this book. ... Read more