Hindi is the most widely spoken language across South Asia and one of India’s national languages. With half a billion speakers, it is also one of the most spoken languages around the world. The ability to communicate and critically understand information and culture through Hindi and its sister language of Urdu, gives you access to hundreds of years of South Asian history, culture, arts, and ways of seeing and knowing the world. Whether you want to critically understand Indian politics, learn about South Asian culture and history through Bollywood films, or access ancient and modern literature in its primary language, learning Hindi gives you a much deeper understanding of the region and its people than English alone.
The Hindi Language Major equips students with a high level of competence in Hindi in all four language learning areas: speaking, listening, writing, and reading. Crucially, along with language skills, students learn about the diverse cultures of Hindi-speakers around the world. Students from both heritage and non-heritage language backgrounds enrich our Hindi classes at ANU. Upon completion of the Hindi major, students will be among the valuable few experts in Hindi language and culture ready to tackle the most pressing international issues of the 21st century.
Learning Outcomes
- Critically understand how Hindi language and its discourse is inseparably intertwined with South Asian cultural traditions.
- Write and communicate in Hindi with an advanced knowledge of Hindi’s many registers which are embodied through its grammar, expressions, and diverse cultural sources.
- Rigorously engage and analyse Hindi language media (e.g., broadcast news, television, cinema, and radio) to better understand the language itself and current and historical issues of interest in South Asia.
- Critically read, discuss, and write about Hindi texts (both fiction and non-fiction), such as those found in newspapers, magazines, literary and non-literary fiction, and academic writing.
- Confident and analytical expression in spoken and written Hindi, with understanding of hierarchical (formal vs. informal) and cultural (Sanskritic vs. Persianate vs. Hinglish) registers.
Other Information
Students with previous “language experience or exposure” are required to take a language proficiency assessment to ensure enrolment at the most appropriate level. This major cannot be taken by students who have pre-existing language competence at or above HIND3500.
Relevant past experience includes:
- Previous study of the language (both formal and informal, for example but not limited to, at school, or, home, or through online activities, etc.).
- Being exposed to the language in childhood via a family member or friend.
- Travel or living in a country where the language is spoken.
- The language being spoken in your home (even if you do not speak it yourself).
Students who are not sure if they need to take a proficiency assessment should seek advice from the course or language convenor.
Students who intentionally misrepresent their language proficiency level may be investigated under the Academic Misconduct Rule 2021 as having failed to comply with assessment directions and having sought unfair advantage. This may result in a penalty such as reduced grades or failure of the course.
Students are not permitted to enroll in a language course below one that they have already successfully completed, except with permission of the language and/or course convenor.
International students who are studying all or part of their program on a student visa are advised that this major is available for in-person and online study. Under the Education Services for Overseas Student Act 2000 (ESOS Act), international students on a student visa cannot do more than 33% of their study online. International students interested in enrolling in the online version of these courses should contact the CAP Student Centre (cap.student@anu.edu.au) for advice prior to enrolling.
Relevant Degrees
Requirements
The Hindi Language Major consists of 48 units, which must include:
48 units from the following Hindi Language courses:
HIND1100 Hindi 1
HIND1200 Hindi 2
HIND2300 Hindi 3
HIND2400 Hindi 4
HIND3500 Hindi 5
HIND3600 Hindi 6
ASIA3108 Research Topics in Asian and Pacific Languages (L)*
Students who receive an exemption through a Language Placement Assessment (LPA) for some of the above listed courses may choose from the following list of courses to complete their major. Students cannot receive an exemption through a LPA for HINDI3500, HIND3600, ASIA3108.
ASIA2100 Linguistic Histories in Asia and the Pacific (L) (6 units)
ASIA2103 Language in Asia and the Pacific (L) (6 units)
ASIA3108 Research Topics in Asian and Pacific Languages (L) (6-12 units)
LANG3001 Translation across Languages: the translation of literary texts (6 units) **
LANG3002 Translation across Languages: specialised material (6 units) **
*The course is offered in semesters 1 and 2 each year. Students may enrol in this course code up to 4 times, under different topics. Enrolment in this course is subject to the availability and agreement of an appropriate supervisor. It is a requirement that students confirm the approval of the potential supervisor before enrolling in the course.
** These courses must have a Hindi language-related course topic to be included in this major.
6 units from completion of the following course(s):
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| HIND3600 | Hindi 6 | 6 |
42 units from completion of the following course(s):
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ASIA2103 | Language in Asia and the Pacific (L) | 6 |
| ASIA 3006: Prac Assign in Asia Pacific | ||
| HIND 1008: Hindi 1A in-country | ||
| HIND 1009: Hindi 1B in-country | ||
| HIND1100 | Hindi 1 | 6 |
| HIND1200 | Hindi 2 | 6 |
| HIND 2002: Hindi 2 A-B in-country | ||
| HIND2300 | Hindi 3 | 6 |
| HIND2400 | Hindi 4 | 6 |
| HIND 3500: Hindi 5 | ||
| HIND3600 | Hindi 6 | 6 |
| HIND 2108: Readings: SAsian Cultures | ||
| HIND 3002: Hindi 2 C-D in-country | ||
| HIND 3108: Adv Readings: SAsiaCultures | ||
| HIND 3501: Sem Hindi Lang & Lit | ||
| URDU 2300: Urdu 2A | ||
| URDU 2400: Urdu 2B |
