Hindustani-speaking world

Background

The Hindustani language emerged as a result of the historical interactions between various linguistic and cultural groups in the Indian subcontinent. It developed during the medieval period, influenced by the languages of the Indo-Aryan family, Iranian, Arabic, and Turkic languages, particularly during the Mughal Empire. The language has two standardized forms: Hindi, which is written in the Devanagari script, and Urdu, which is written in the Perso-Arabic script. Both forms share a significant amount of vocabulary and grammar, making them mutually intelligible.

Before 1947, the British Raj officially recognized Hindustani (which was equated with Urdu). In the post-independence era, however, the term Hindustani has gone out of use and is accorded no official status by either the Indian or Pakistani governments. Rather, the language is officially recognized by its two main standardized registers, Hindi and Urdu.

This idea of the Hindustani language as "unifying language" or "fusion language" that would be "above" communal and religious differences throughout the subcontinent was supported by Mahatma Gandhi, since it was not perceived to be a part of the Hindu community or the Muslim community like in the case of Hindi and Urdu respectively, and was also perceived to be a simpler language for people to learn. The translation from Urdu into Hindi (or the reverse) is mostly done by simply transliterating from both scripts or translation which is typically necessary for religious and literary texts.

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Statistics

As of 2023, Hindi and Urdu combined are the 3rd-most-spoken language in the world after English and Mandarin with 843 million native and second-language speakers, as per Ethnologue. The number of Hindi-Urdu speakers was 300 million in 1995, placing Hindustani as the third-most spoken language globally.

Geographical distribution

Asia

India

Hindi is spoken widely across India, particularly in the northern and central regions. It is the primary language in states such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Delhi. According to the 2011 census of India, Hindi is the most spoken language in the country, spoken by more than 40% of the nation's total population. It is also the nation's fastest growing language. Urdu is also a significant language, particularly in states like Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, and Jammu and Kashmir, with around 5% of the population identifying it as their first language.

Pakistan

In Pakistan, Urdu serves as the National language and is spoken by approximately 9% of the population as a first language, while it is understood by a much larger segment of the population, serving as the nation's Lingua franca. Urdu is the medium of instruction in schools and is used in government and media.

Nepal

In Nepal, Hindustani is spoken primarily in the Terai region. Hindi is widely understood and used in media, education, and daily communication among the Nepali population, particularly among the Madhesi community.

Afghanistan

In Afghanistan, a significant number of speakers use Urdu, particularly around the city of Kabul. The language reflects the influence of India's Bollywood culture, and also of the Afghan refugees in Pakistan who studied Urdu and became exposed to Urdu media.

Bangladesh

In Bangladesh, the Dhakaiya Urdu dialect is still spoken around Old Dhaka. Further, Hindi is popular due to the influence of Bollywood movies.

Saudi Arabia

In Saudi Arabia, a significant number of expatriates from India and Pakistan speak Hindustani. The language serves as a means of communication among the South Asian diaspora in the country.

Europe

United Kingdom

Immigration from the Indian subcontinent from British Raj times has resulted in a growing popularity for the language in the UK. However the history of the language take roots in the early 1800s, when Urdu was taught as a foreign language as a requirement to join the Indian Civil Service. Since the 20th century, it has become standardised for education from a primary level to a PhD in Urdu. It is also considered as the lingua franca among British South Asians, particularly British Pakistanis.

Netherlands

In the Netherlands, the Caribbean Hindustani dialect, mainly Sarnami is spoken by Dutch Indo-Caribbeans, due to immigration from Suriname and the Netherlands Antilles.

North America

Canada

In Canada, about 300,000 people speak Hindustani, with a growing number due to immigration. Significant populations are found in cities like Toronto and Vancouver.

United States

In the United States, around a million people speak Hindustani, primarily among the South Asian diaspora. Communities are concentrated in states like California, New York, and New Jersey.

Trinidad and Tobago

In Trinidad and Tobago, The Caribbean Hindustani dialect is spoken among the Indo–Trinidadian community. The language is often used in cultural and religious contexts, reflecting the heritage of Indian Indentured laborers.

South America

Suriname

In Suriname, a dialect of Caribbean Hindustani called Sarnami Hindustani is spoken by the Indo-Surinamese community, which traces its roots to Indian indentured laborers. The language is used in cultural practices and is an important part of the community's identity. Compared to other dialcets of Caribbean Hindustani, Sarnami is still widely spoken in Suriname and its diaspora.

Guyana

In Guyana, a dialect of Caribbean Hindustani called Guyanese Hindustani or as it is locally called Aili Gaili, is spoken by some members of the Indo-Guyanese community, mostly by the older generation.

Oceania

Fiji

In Fiji, a dialect of Hindustani called Fiji Hindi is spoken by Indo-Fijians. This was a result of Indian indentured labourers who mainly spoke dialects from the Hindi Belt. It is considered as an Official language in Fiji.

Australia

In Australia, the Hindustani-speaking population has been growing due to immigration from the Indian subcontinent and Fiji. Hindi is spoken by a considerable number of people, particularly within the Indian community.