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  • Sir ya Jii
  • Tuu, Tum ya Aap
  • Phone Etiquette
  • Introductions
  • Hospitality
  • Special Occasions

Welcome to Hamaarii Bolii, a compilation of short video clips taken from interviews produced by the Hindi Urdu Flagship Program at the University of Texas at Austin. The clips can be accessed via the tabs above.

Click here to download the entire collection (450 MB). Warning: this a large download, broadband connection (or greater) recommended. You can also download individual clips via the tabs above.

Quicktime (free download) is required to view the videos on this site. All clips are mp4s pre-formatted for playback on video iPods. Download links are available as outlined above.

Overview

This section explores methods of saying hello and goodbye in a variety of contexts. The first set of answers presents an informal, predominantly urban register while the second provides a more comprehensive analysis that encompasses more formal contexts. Further questions deal with the difference between Namaste and Namaskar, alternatives for saying goodbye, and salutations in written letters.

Click here to download all the videos in this section (75 MB). Download links for individual clips are available below.

How do people say hello and goodbye to each other in different contexts? (In Brief)
Raisur Rahman

Raisur Rahman
1m12s Download

Rucchi

Rucchi
1m11s Download

Sukant

Sukant Khurana
26s Download

Amita

Amita
30s Download

Vidya

Vidya
40s Download

Vidya and Anuja

Vidya and Anuja
2m12s Download

How do people say hello and goodbye to each other in different contexts? (In Depth)
Jishnu Shankar

Jishnu Shankar
3m44s Download

KK Goswamy

KK Goswamy
4m07s Download

Vijay Malholtra

Vijay Malholtra
3m04s Download

Arun Prakash

Arun Prakash
1m54s Download

Rajesh Kumar

Rajesh Kumar
2m35s Download

What is the difference between Namaste and Namaskar?
KK Goswamy

KK Goswamy
15s Download

Raisur Rahman

Raisur Rahman
32s Download

Vijay Malholtra

Vijay Malholtra
56s Download

Arun Prakash

Arun Prakash
2m56s Download

Are there different ways to say goodbye?
Rajesh Kumar

Rajesh Kumar
1m07s Download

Jishnu Shankar

Jishnu Shankar
36s Download

Raisur Rahman

Raisur Rahman
27s Download

Amita

Amita
18s Download

What conventions would you use to open and close a letter?
Mrs. Tanveer

Mrs. Tanveer
54s Download

Shivlal

Shivlal
36s Download

Overview

This section explores the various uses of jii in spoken conversation. The question of when to use first or last names, and how to attach jii to them, is also addressed. Further questions deal with changes in the use of jii in contexts such as the university classroom or while addressing women.

Click here to download all the videos in this section (46 MB). Download links for individual clips are available below.

Should surnames or first names be used when talking to people you’ve just met?
Multiple

Multiple Responses
1m38s Download

Rajesh Kumar

Rajesh Kumar
1m05s Download

Jishnu Shankar

Jishnu Shankar
1m16s Download

How is jii used with names?
Multiple

Multiple Responses
50s Download

Arun Prakash

Arun Prakash
2m50s Download

Jishnu Shankar

Jishnu Shankar
3m21s Download

Raisur Rahman

Raisur Rahman
2m03s Download

Rajesh Kumar

Rajesh Kumar
4m25s Download

Should one use jii when addressing a woman?
Sukant

Sukant Khurana
15s Download

Raisur Rahman

Raisur Rahman
34s Download

How should students address professors?
Multiple

Multiple Responses
1m10s Download

Overview

This section tackles the complex issue of how and when to use tuu, tum, and aap in Hindi-Urdu. The first set of responses represent the opinions of native, mostly younger, speakers; the second presents in-depth responses by scholars and teachers of Hindi-Urdu. The appropriateness of tuu is addressed in further questions, as is 'incorrect' phrasing such as 'Aap...ho'.

Click here to download all the videos in this section (132 MB). Warning: this is a large download, a broadband connection (or faster) is recommended. Download links for individual clips are available below.

What is the difference between tum and aap? (in brief)
Rajini

Rajini
1m01s Download

Raisur Rahman

Raisur Rahman
1m32s Download

Mittal ji

Mittal ji
24s Download

Uncle ji

Uncle ji
1m05s Download

Sumit

Sumit
51s Download

Uncleji2

Uncle ji 2
48s Download

What is the difference between tum and aap? (in depth)
Jishnu Shankar

Jishnu Shankar
4m20s Download

KK Goswamy

KK Goswamy
1m52s Download

Vijay Malholtra

Vijay Malholtra
4m09s Download

Arun Prakash

Arun Prakash
1m50s Download

Rajesh Kumar

Rajesh Kumar
6m29s Download

In which contexts is tuu used?
Jishnu Shankar

Jishnu Shankar
2m08s Download

KK Goswamy

KK Goswamy
4m06s Download

Vijay Malholtra

Vijay Malholtra
3m14s Download

Arun Prakash

Arun Prakash
1m26s Download

Raisur Rahman

Raisur Rahman
1m54s Download

Rajesh Kumar

Rajesh Kumar
4m18s Download

Is the construct 'Aap ... ho' correct? What is behind such phrasing?
Jishnu Shankar

Jishnu Shankar
2m14s Download

KK Goswamy

KK Goswamy
1m53s Download

Vijay Malholtra

Vijay Malholtra
1m53s Download

Rajesh Kumar

Rajesh Kumar
3m34s Download

Raisur Rahman

Raisur Rahman
54s Download

You are at a friend’s house and you notice that the family uses tum when talking to the children and servants. Should you do the same?
Multiple

Multiple Responses
1m13s Download

Arun Prakash

Arun Prakash
57s Download

KK Goswamy

KK Goswamy
1m35s Download

Rajesh Kumar

Rajesh Kumar
2m25s Download

Overview

The clips below address some of the unique Hindi Urdu phrases used in phone conversation. The first section present some sample phone conversations, while the second provides some general discussion of the topic.

Click here to download all the videos in this section (32 MB). Download links for individual clips are available below.

Sample Phone Conversations
Jishnu Shankar

Jishnu Shankar
1m16s Download

Rashmi Shankar

Rashmi
51s Download

Anuja Shankar

Anuja
30s Download

Multiple

Multiple Responses
1m47s Download

What conventions are used on the telephone?
Raisur Rahman

Raisur Rahman
2m18s Download

Uncleji

Uncle ji
1m14s Download

Rajesh Kumar

Rajesh Kumar
5m19s Download

Overview

This section presents a variety of methods of introducing oneself and others in Hindi-Urdu. The first set of responses provides some sample introduction, the following set contains discussion of various methods of introduction, the third set provides an example of how to introduce friends in a group setting.

Click here to download all the videos in this section (25 MB). Download links for individual clips are available below.

Examples of people introducing themselves
Hafeez Jamali

Hafeez Jamali
1m05s Download

Anuj Jamali

Anuj Aurora
1m19s Download

Hasan Soharvardi

Hasan Soharvardi
48s Download

Inderpreet Singh

Inderpreet Singh
38s Download

Discussion of different methods of introducing oneself
Rajesh Kumar

Rajesh Kumar
2m18s Download

Uncle ji

Uncle ji
2m04s Download

How would you introduce friends in a group setting such as a party?
Rajesh Kumar

Rajesh Kumar
2m35s Download

Overview

Playing the part of a guest is both a common and important experience in traditional South Asian culture. This section presents advice from a wide cross-section of South Asian society on the conversational strategies involved in such situations . Topics range from the fairly straight-forward (when to bring a gift) to the complex (how to turn down an invitation).

Click here to download all the videos in this section (81 MB). Download links for individual clips are available below.

If someone you have just met invites you to visit them at home, how can you tell if this is an actual invitation or just a piece of conventional politeness?
Multiple

Multiple Responses
1m36s Download

Razzaq

Mohammed Razzaq
1m11s Download

Rucchi

Rucchi
58s Download

Rajesh Kumar

Rajesh Kumar
2m25s Download

How would you make a polite refusal if invited to a function or event that you don’t want to attend or cannot attend?
Multiple

Multiple Responses
1m04s Download

Hasan Soharvardi

Hasan Soharvardi
34s Download

Rajini

Rajini
34s Download

If a friend or acquaintance invites you home for a meal, should you take some kind of gift? What would be appropriate?
Multiple

Multiple Responses
1m34s Download

Uncle ji

Uncle ji
55s Download

Raisur Rahman

Raisur Rahman
1m21s Download

Rajesh Kumar

Rajesh Kumar
2m01s Download

If an insistent host offers you some kind of food or drink that you do not want or like, how would you turn it down politely? How would you ask politely for some kind of alternative (e.g. when you are offered alcohol and would prefer a soft drink)?
Rucchi

Rucchi
1m25s Download

Raisur Rahman

Raisur Rahman
1m26s Download

Sukant Khurana

Sukant Khurana
55s Download

Multiple

Multiple Responses
2m01s Download

Rajesh Kumar

Rajesh Kumar
3m39s Download

How would you offer praise (and gratitude) to a dinner host?
Raisur Rahman

Raisur Rahman
1m07s Download

Sukant Khurana

Sukant Khurana
1m23s Download

Multiple

Multiple Responses
1m10s Download

Rajesh Kumar

Rajesh Kumar
2m48s Download

Is it OK to ask an acquaintance to lend you something – a book, some money, their car – and how would you do it?
Rishi

Rishi
50s Download

Amita

Amita
33s Download

Vinod

Vinod
21s Download

Karishma

Karishma
16s Download

Overview
This final section discusses the language surrounding special occasions (festivals, birthdays, etc.) or unusual events such as funerals or prolonged illness. Diction and phrasing follow well established norms in such cases; the responses below provide examples of appropriate ways to congratule or console.

Click here to download all the videos in this section (58 MB). Download links for individual clips are available below.

How would you give congratulations on occasions such as birthdays, festivals, new year, weddings, births, etc.?
Multiple

Multiple Responses
1m04s Download

Raisur Rahman

Raisur Rahman
1m10s Download

Rajesh Kumar

Rajesh Kumar
1m33s Download

Sukant Khurana

Sukant Khurana
2m30s Download

How would you ask someone to convey your best wishes to others and/or enquire after someone’s health?
Multiple

Multiple Responses
1m18s Download

Raisur Rahman

Raisur Rahman
53s Download

Sukant Khurana

Sukant Khurana
44s Download

Rajesh Kumar

Rajesh Kumar
2m47sDownload

What euphemisms can be used to report a death?
Multiple

Multiple Responses
1m01sDownload

Raisur Rahman

Raisur Rahman
2m14s Download

Rajesh Kumar

Rajesh Kumar
2m20s Download

Sukant Khurana

Sukant Khurana
1m12sDownload

If someone tells you that his or her relative or friend has died, how would you express condolences?
Multiple

Multiple Responses
1m30sDownload

Mrs Tanveer

Mrs. Tanveer
53sDownload

Raisur Rahman

Raisur Rahman
48s Download

Rajesh Kumar

Rajesh Kumar
3m05s Download