Frequently Asked Questions

Hindi-Urdu FAQs

I am a complete beginner and have no knowledge of Hindi-Urdu. Is there a course in your program designed for someone like me?

Absolutely! Elementary Hindi-Urdu I (HNU 111) is intended for beginners with no background in these languages or scripts.

I can speak some Hindi-Urdu, but do not read or write Hindi-Urdu well. Which course is right for me?

We can give you a placement test to determine which course is the best fit for you. If your speaking skills are more advanced than your writing skills, you might consider taking one of the script courses (HNU 140 or HNU 141).

I speak Hindi or Urdu fluently, but have never learned to read or write. Do you offer a course in which I can learn the script?

Yes! We offer courses in both the Hindi (Devanagari) and Urdu (Nastaliq) scripts (HNU 140 and HNU 141). These are on-demand courses that can be organized any semester. Please contact us for more information.

I am fluent in Hindi or Urdu. Can I use Hindi-Urdu to fulfill the university’s core foreign language requirement?

We can give you the placement test for Hindi and Urdu. This will determine whether your proficiency level is sufficient to “test out” of the core requirement. Be aware that this test is an assessment of both oral and written skills. Please contact the Hindi-Urdu language instructor to arrange for this test.

Do you offer courses in Hindi or Urdu for advanced students or native speakers?

Although most of our courses are designed for beginning and intermediate students, we periodically offer advanced courses on various topics in language and literature. Some of these courses are in English translation, while others are in Hindi-Urdu. Please contact the Hindi-Urdu language instructor to learn about upcoming courses.

Why do you teach Hindi and Urdu together? Aren’t they separate languages?

Hindi and Urdu have a close affinity: they share a common grammar and core vocabulary, and in colloquial speech they are often identical. Differences do appear in their respective writing systems: Hindi uses the Devanagari script, while Urdu uses the Perso-Arabic script. Also, Hindi tends to borrow formal vocabulary from Sanskrit, while Urdu draws from Persian and Arabic. Courses at Wake focus on what is common to Hindi and Urdu, and students are required to learn only one of the scripts.

What programs and funding are available for Hindi-Urdu students beyond Wake Forest’s language courses?

Wake offers a minor in Middle East and South Asia Studies for which Hindi-Urdu courses are a significant component. Wake also organizes its own summer study abroad program in India.

Outside Wake Forest, there are several scholarships and intensive programs for Hindi-Urdu. Both languages are part of the Critical Language Scholarship program organized by US Department of State and the Boren scholarship program leads the SAFLI Flagship for Hindi-Urdu. Graduate students can apply for FLAS funding to support language coursework.