Hindi I and Mediation

The course will first introduce students to the Devanagari alphabet - the same as that used for Sanskrit, with certain variations which will be explained - along with its structure and the distinctive phonemic logic that characterises it. The rules of reading and variations in pronunciation will also be explained. The grammatical topics covered will include: subject and object personal pronouns, noun and adjective inflection, the comparative and superlative forms of adjectives, possessive pronouns, demonstrative pronouns, indefinite pronouns, interrogative pronouns, simple and compound prepositions, the basic structures of the verb, the present indicative, the simple and compound present indicative of the verb 'to be', the imperfect, the simple and compound imperfect of the verb 'to be', the present continuous, the past continuous, the future, the present continuous of the dubitative, the present of the dubitative, the future subjunctive, the present and future imperative, the anterior gerund, auxiliary verbs, nominal verbs, expressions of possession, expressions of pleasure, expressions of duty, expressions of knowledge, the main adverbs of place, time, quantity and manner, interrogative adverbs, certain correlative clauses (jab tab; jab jab tab tab; jab tak tab tak; jab bhī tab; jab se tab se; jahāṁ vahāṁ; jitnā utnā; jaisā vaisā; jaise vaise); the use of vālā. In addition to the topics listed, particular attention will be paid to the use of the many greeting formulas found in the Hindi language; their connection with India's diverse social fabric will be analysed, explaining the logic behind the choices made by Hindi speakers in such situations. Furthermore, some of the concepts and principles underpinning the various religious doctrines practised in the country will be traced within the phrases used to greet, introduce oneself and take one's leave. Similarly, the use of personal pronouns will be linked to the social rules that implicitly guide the attribution and recognition of authority. Finally, students will be introduced to the great lexical richness of the Hindi language—evident above all in its extensive range of synonyms—and to the ideological implications of the lexical choices made by Hindi speakers.
MODULE I: This module focuses on the Devanagari alphabet, specifically analysing its structure and the phonemic logic that governs it. It also explains the rules of reading, including the rule governing the inherent short 'a', as well as variations in pronunciation. The module introduces consonant combinations, how to write the semivowel र (ra), modified consonants and punctuation and interpunctuation marks. It will also introduce personal subject pronouns, the present indicative and present compound tense of the verb 'to be', and the present indicative of all verbs. Finally, it will introduce Hindi sentence structure, including affirmative, negative, interrogative and negative interrogative sentences.
MODULE II: The second module will cover the following topics: the basic structures of the verb; the imperfect; the simple and compound imperfect of the verb 'to be'; the present continuous; the past continuous; the future; the present continuous of the dubitative; the present of the dubitative; the future subjunctive; the present and future imperative; the anterior gerund; interrogative adverbs; the inflection of nouns and adjectives; personal object pronouns; possessive pronouns; demonstrative pronouns; indefinite pronouns; interrogative pronouns; simple and compound prepositions; expressions of possession.
Module III: The following topics will be covered during the third module: comparative and superlative adjectives; auxiliary and modal verbs; nominal verbs; expressing pleasure, duty and knowledge; main adverbs of place, time, quantity and manner; certain correlative clauses (jab tab; jab tab; jab tak; jab tak; jab bhī; jab se; jab se; jahāṁ; vahāṁ; jitnā; utnā; jaisā; vaisā; jaise; vaise); and the use of vālā. The final lessons of the third teaching unit will be devoted to reviewing the material covered throughout the year and fine-tuning students' exam preparation.
Module IV: In the fourth module, we will analyse the socio-cultural implications of some of the topics covered in previous modules. Specifically, we will trace the use of personal pronouns back to the social rules that implicitly govern the attribution and recognition of authority within Indian society, particularly within the family sphere. The various forms of greeting in Hindi will also be introduced and related to the different components of Indian society. Some of the concepts and principles underpinning the various religious doctrines practised in the country will be identified within the expressions used for greeting, introducing oneself and taking one's leave. Finally, the course will analyse the rich lexical diversity of the Hindi language and relate it to the country's history, as well as the succession of cultures and influences from diverse backgrounds throughout its history. Students will also be introduced to the extensive range of synonyms and the ideological implications associated with their use.