Department of Asian Studies

Hindi-Urdu

What are Hindi and Urdu? Hindi and Urdu are two languages with an identical grammar and vocabulary, but different scripts. We may, therefore, speak of them together as one language. Hindi-Urdu is spoken by about 785 million people in the Indian subcontinent, which makes it the third most widely spoken language in the world. Hindi is the national language of India, and Urdu of Pakistan; furthermore, there are millions of Urdu speakers throughout India. Hindi-Urdu is also a global language, being spoken by large communities in England, South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Fiji, Trinidad, and British Guyana. Now Hindi-Urdu is also spoken by a growing and economically powerful Indian and Pakistani immigrant community in the United States and Canada.

The Indian subcontinent is home to about one-fifth of the world’s population. India is the largest democracy, has the largest film industry (Bollywood) as well as the largest middle class in the world, and now India also boasts one of the largest and fastest-growing computer software industries on the world stage. Studying Hindi-Urdu will offer you an insider’s perspective into this vast, diverse, and dynamic world. Hindi-Urdu also has a very sophisticated tradition of literature and the performing arts: from erotic love poetry to grand epics like the Mahabharata, and, of course, a thriving modern literature consisting of film songs, short stories, and novels which address colonial and postcolonial issues.

At UNC we teach Hindi and Urdu together as one language. This means that we teach the vocabulary shared by Hindi and Urdu, as well as both scripts—Nagari for Hindi, and Nastaliq for Urdu. The beginning course, HNUR 101, is taught in the Nagari script, which is also taught in a separate 1-credit course, HNUR 220.. The Nastaliq script is taught in a separate 1-credit course, HNUR 221. From the second year onward, all course materials are available in both scripts and students can use whichever one they know or prefer.

In addition to Hindi-Urdu language courses, the Department of Asian Studies also offers advanced literature and culture courses in Hindi-Urdu and South Asian cultural studies courses taught in English. Students can major in South Asian Studies, minor in Hindi-Urdu, or simply choose Hindi-Urdu to satisfy their foreign language requirements.

Major concentration in South Asian Studies
Within the major in Asian Studies, students may take a concentration in South Asian Studies, which requires eight courses, in addition to HNUR 101, 102, 203, and 204. Students must also take the two one-credit script courses, HNUR 220 and 221, or demonstrate comparable proficiency. The eight major courses must consist of:

Two Hindi-Urdu language courses beyond HNUR 204 (Students whose initial placement is above HNUR 305 should consult the department.)
One of the following introductory-level classes:
ASIA 61: First-Year Seminar: India through the Lens of Master Filmmakers
ASIA 152: Survey of South Asian Cultural History
ASIA 161: Survey of Indian Literature in Translation
ASIA 162: Nation, Film, and Novel in Modern India
Five of the following courses:
ANTH/ASIA 155: Anthropology of South Asia
ART/ASIA 153: Introduction to South Asian Art
ART/ASIA 266: Art of Early and Medieval India
ART/ASIA 273: Arts under the Mughal Dynasty in India
ART/ASIA 456: Art and Ritual in South Asia
ASIA 163: Hindi-Urdu Poetry in Performance
ASIA 164: Music of South Asia
ASIA 165: Bollywood Cinema
ASIA 232: Cities and Villages of South Asia: A Historical and Cultural Tour
ASIA 261: India Through Western Eyes
ASIA 333: The Mahabharata: Remembered, Reimagined, Performed
ASIA 692H: Senior Honors Thesis II
HIST/ASIA 135 : South Asian History to 1750
HIST/ASIA 136: South Asian History since 1750
HNUR 407: Readings in Hindi-Urdu Poetry
HNUR 408: Readings in Hindi-Urdu Prose
HNUR 410: Seminar on the Urdu-Hindi Ghazal
HNUR 490: Topics in Hindi-Urdu Literature and Language
HNUR/RELI 592: Religious Conflict and Narrative in India
RELI 283/ASIA 300: The Buddhist Tradition: India, Nepal, and Tibet
RELI 481/PWAD 481: Religion, Fundamentalism, and Nationalism
RELI/ASIA 582: Islam and Islamic Art in South Asia

Minor in Hindi-Urdu
The minor in Hindi-Urdu consists of four courses. Three are language courses beyond HNUR 203 (the first semester of Intermediate Hindi-Urdu): chosen from HNUR 204, 305, 306, 407, 408, 410, or 490. The remaining course must be chosen from among the following:

ANTH/ASIA 155: Anthropology of South Asia
ART/ASIA 153: Introduction to South Asian Art
ART/ASIA 266: Art of Early and Medieval India
ART/ASIA 273: Arts under the Mughal Dynasty in India
ART/ASIA 456: Art and Ritual in South Asia
ASIA 61: First-Year Seminar: India through the Lens of Master Filmmakers
ASIA 152: Survey of South Asian Cultural History
ASIA 161: Survey of Indian Literature in Translation
ASIA 162: Nation, Film, and Novel in Modern India
ASIA 163: Hindi-Urdu Poetry in Performance
ASIA 164: Music of South Asia
ASIA 165: Bollywood Cinema
ASIA 232: Cities and Villages of South Asia: A Historical and Cultural Tour
ASIA 261: India Through Western Eyes
ASIA 333: The Mahabharata: Remembered, Reimagined, Performed
HIST/ASIA 135 : South Asian History to 1750
HIST/ASIA 136: South Asian History since 1750
HNUR/RELI 592: Religious Conflict and Narrative in India
RELI 283/ASIA 300: The Buddhist Tradition: India, Nepal, and Tibet
RELI/ASIA 582: Islam and Islamic Art in South Asia

Courses in Hindi-Urdu

HNUR 101: Elementary Hindi-Urdu (4). Introduction to modern spoken and written Hindi-Urdu. Speaking and listening practice, basic sentence pattern exercises, grammar fundamentals, the writing system, and creative applications exploring South Asian culture are included. Four hours per week, three devoted to instruction in grammar and one to oral practice. Fall. FL.
HNUR 102: Continuation of Elementary Hindi-Urdu (4). Prerequisite: HNUR 101 or permission of instructor. Continued instruction in modern spoken and written Hindi-Urdu. The Urdu writing system is introduced. Sessions include speaking and listening drills, skits, role-play, and discussion of video and audio materials. Four hours per week, three devoted to instruction in grammar and one to oral practice. Spring. FL.
HNUR 203: Intermediate Hindi-Urdu (4). Prerequisite: HNUR 102 or permission of instructor. Second year of instruction in modern spoken and written Hindi-Urdu, including situational speaking and listening practice, complex sentence pattern exercises and idioms, vocabulary building, intermediate grammar topics, and reading exercises. Fall. FL.
HNUR 204: Continuation of Intermediate Hindi-Urdu (4). Prerequisite: HNUR 203 or permission of instructor. Continued second year of instruction in modern spoken and written Hindi-Urdu. Students practice writing short essays and letters and continue to develop mature oral competency in Hindi-Urdu. Spring. FL, FI.
HNUR 220: Introduction to the Hindi Script (Devanagari) (1). In this course, students will master the Hindi alphabet (the Sanskrit-based Devanagari writing system). This course complements the regular Hindi-Urdu language sequence.
HNUR 221: The Urdu Script (1). This course introduces the Urdu alphabet (Nastaliq). Prior knowledge of spoken Urdu or Hindi is helpful but not required.
HNUR 305: Advanced Hindi-Urdu (3). Prerequisite: HNUR 204 or permission of instructor. Third year of instruction in spoken and written Hindi-Urdu with an emphasis on the reading and discussion of literary works by major South Asian authors. Fall. BN.
HNUR 306: Continuation of Advanced Hindi-Urdu (3). Prerequisite: HNUR 305 or permission of instructor. Spring. BN, LA.
HNUR 407: Readings in Hindi-Urdu Poetry (3). Prerequisite: HNUR 306 or permission of instructor. Introduces the development of Hindi and Urdu poetry from the fifteenth century to the present, including the epic, devotional, dramatic, and romantic genres.
HNUR 408: Readings in Hindi-Urdu Prose (3). Prerequisite: HNUR 306 or permission of instructor. Introduces the range of Hindi-Urdu prose genres: the short story, the romance, the novel, and the autobiography.
HNUR 410: Seminar on the Urdu-Hindi Ghazal (3). Ghazal is the most important genre of Urdu-Hindi poetry from the 18th century to the present. This course, taught in Hindi-Urdu, concerns the analysis and interpretation of ghazals.
HNUR 490: Topics in Hindi-Urdu Literature and Language (3). Directed readings in Hindi-Urdu literature and language on topics not covered by scheduled classes. Possible areas of study include Indian film and literature, Hindi-English translations, the Indian Diaspora, Hindi journalism, and readings in comparative religions.
HNUR 496: Independent Readings in Hindi-Urdu (1-3). By departmental permission. For the student who wishes to create and pursue an independent project in Hindi-Urdu under the supervision of a selected instructor. Maximum three credit hours per semester.

For related courses taught in English, please see the complete list of courses.