Location:

Delhi, India

Program Type:

Study Abroad

Degree Level:

Undergraduate

Term:

Year Round

Program Overview

Program Description:

Hindustani, also known as "Hindi-Urdu", is a term covering several closely related dialects in Pakistan and India, especially the vernacular form of the two national languages, Standard Hindi and Urdu. Hindi and Urdu can be seen as a single linguistic entity, the key difference being that Urdu is supplemented with a Perso-Arabic vocabulary and Hindi with a Sanskritic vocabulary, especially in their more literary forms. Besides, the difference is also sociolinguistic. When people speak Hindustani, Muslims will usually say that they are speaking Urdu and Hindus will typically refer to themselves speaking Hindi, even though they are speaking essentially the same language. Hindi, the official language of India, is based on the Khariboli dialect of the Delhi region and differs from Urdu in that it is usually written in the indigenous Devanagari script of India and exhibits less Persian influence than Urdu, employing a more sanskritised vocabulary. Devanagari is an alphabet that is written from left to right, lacks distinct letter cases, and is recognisable by a characteristic horizontal line running along the tops of the letters that links them together. It is also the main script used to write several other languages, including Marathi, Nepali, and Sanskrit. Urdu, having about 80 million native speakers, is the national language of Pakistan and an officially recognised regional language of India, being an official language in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, National Capital Territory of Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh. But Urdu's reach goes far beyond its number of native speakers. In Pakistan, Urdu is initially spoken and understood by most people, including a majority of urban dwellers. Urdu is written using a variation of the Arabic script. The Arabic script and its variants are used in a wide range of languages, including Persian, Urdu, Pashto, Dari, and Kurdish. The Perso-Arabic script employed by Urdu is based on the Arabic alphabet, but was modified to match the demands of Urdu by adding several new letters.

At Language Must we focus on instilling Hindustani in our students. However, based on a sound understanding of the language, we offer further specialisations in its standard registers: "shuddh Hindi" and "saaf Urdu". Hindustani is the true lingua franca of India. In order to grasp India, Hindustani is a must.

Options include: - Homestay accommodation (your own room with a host family where meals can be provided) - Shared accommodation (your own room in a shared flat or house with local and international students or young professionals) - Independent accommodation (your own flat or house) Or if you would prefer something more unique in terms of accommodation, we are happy to arrange your stay in ashrams, monasteries, palaces, villages, or wherever you might like to live. When you tell us your budget and the type of accommodation you are looking for (homestay, shared, independent, or special accommodation), we will accordingly search for an adequate home for your stay.

Setting Description:

Housing/Accommodation # Dormitory # Homestay / Host Family # Apartment / Flat # Hostel You can choose to handle your own accommodation or Career Must may assist you in securing appropriate accommodation, generally in the vicinity of your place of work or study. We can act as a coordinator between you and property owners, making firm reservations and payments on your behalf.