Hindi

I saw a tractor on the road this morning. I've seen tractors before, but not in a big city. But I guess if I can see cows and donkeys why not a tractor.

Anyway, I'm planning on taking a Hindi class. I am surprised by the number of people that don't speak English at all. Apparently in the 80's a lot more people spoke English. The Hindi language baffles me. Most languages I can listen to and pick out a word or two or get at least a sense of the conversation but not Hindi. I doubt I will use it much but I figure that it will make dealing with rickshaw drivers and people at markets a lot easier and make it less likely that I will get ripped off.

Of course the people that speak English speak "Indian English" where such phrases as "can you do the needful" are standard. Some of the sentences just crack me up; it is a combo of extremely polite and grammatically slightly off. The accent on words is different than what we are used to. For example there is an area of town called Saket. I pronounce it putting the emphasis on the second syllable; they put the emphasis on the first so if I want a driver to take me there I need to switch it up.

I wonder how I will talk when I return. Will I use the Indian English emphasis (i.e. talk like Apu from the Simpsons), will I say things like "the situation is as it has been" instead of saying "no change". Either way I have no doubt that a fair number of people will be keeping an ear out for my funny pronunciations...you know who you are.