Ahh, Hindi is tricky! First you have to learn a whole the Devanagari script which is confusing. Especially when they start forming conjuncts with letters! Some letters end up just being represented by a dot! Then there's several different sounds for "d" One made using the teeth, one with the teeth and aspirated with an h, one made in the back of the mouth, and then that is aspirated! And you're supposed to hear the difference when someone's speaking it! Well, so far I can't tell the difference!
It's interesting to see how the formal class system affects the language as well. English really only has one 'you' form; German has the polite 'Sie' form of 'you'. Hindi has 3 or 4 forms for 'you.' In addition, to show respect you might add 'ji' to the end of someone's name or title.
Well, I'll keep plugging along at it. But I know I'm gonna end up speaking German to some poor, confused Indian person!
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