Hindustani-speaking world

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Hindustani Language Map - World Geographical Distribution
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Majority/Official language
Significant Minority/Recognized language
Minority language (<1%) Hindustani-speaking world nations.png
Hindustani Language Map - World Geographical Distribution
  Majority/Official language
  Significant Minority/Recognized language
  Minority language (<1%)

The Hindustani-speaking world, encompasses the regions where the Hindustani language is spoken. This includes countries and territories where Hindustani, in its various forms (including Standard Hindi and Standard Urdu), serves as an official, administrative, cultural, or widely spoken language.

Contents

Background

Amir Khusrau, one of the earliest writers in the Hindustani Language. Amir Khusro.jpg
Amir Khusrau, one of the earliest writers in the Hindustani Language.

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. [3] [4]

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, [5] 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. [6] [7] The translation from Urdu into Hindi (or the reverse) is mostly done by simply transliterating from both scripts. Translation is only typically necessary for religious and literary texts. [8]

Before 1947, the British Raj officially recognized Hindustani. [9] [10] [11] 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 means of its standardized registers of Hindi and Urdu. [12] [13] [14]

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. [15]

Statistics

Native speakers of the Hindustani language by country
Country or territory Number%StatusNotes & References
Flag of the Taliban.svg Afghanistan 829,0002%Minority Language [16]
Flag of Fiji.svg Fiji 460,00037.6%Official Language (Hindi) [17]
Flag of Mauritius.svg Mauritius 79,5396.1%Minority Language Bhojpuri is considered a dialect of Hindustani. [18] [19]
Flag of India.svg India 579,119,82448%Official Language (Hindi)
Scheduled Language (Urdu)
Total native speakers of Hindi & Urdu. [20]
Flag of Pakistan.svg Pakistan 22,332,1939.3%National Language (Urdu) [21]
Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg UAE 441,0004.2%Court Language (Hindi) [16] [19]
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada 321,4650.9%Minority Language [22]
Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg Trinidad and Tobago 61,0004.4%Minority Language Trinidadian Hindustani [23] [19]
Flag of Jamaica.svg Jamaica 54,0001.9%Minority Language [19]
Flag of Suriname.svg Suriname 150,00024%Minority Language Sarnámi Hindustáni [24]
Flag of France.svg French Guiana 6,0001.9%Minority Language [19]
Flag of Nepal.svg   Nepal 870,3993%Minority Language Awadhi and Bhojpuri are considered separate in Nepal's Census. [25] [16]
Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Saudi Arabia 845,0002.1%Minority Language [26]
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Australia 221,6840.8%Minority Language [27]
Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand 84,0001.6%Minority Language [19]
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom 344,6540.5%Minority Language [28] [29]
Flag of the United States.svg United States 1,372,8020.4%Minority Language [30]
Total484,630,0005.9%--

Geographical distribution

Asia

India

Hindustani 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. 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. [31]

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. [32]

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. [33]

Afghanistan

In Afghanistan, a significant number of speakers use Hindustani, particularly around the city of Kabul. The language reflects historical ties with India and the influence of Bollywood culture. [34]

Bangladesh

Hakim Habibur Rahman, one of the leading Urdu writers from Dhaka. Hakim Habibur Rahman.jpg
Hakim Habibur Rahman, one of the leading Urdu writers from Dhaka.

In Bangladesh, Hindi is popular thanks to Bollywood movies. Further, the Dhakaiya Urdu dialect of Hindustani is still spoken around Old Dhaka. [35]

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. [36]

Europe

United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, immigration from the Indian subcontinent from British Raj times has resulted in a growing popularity for the Hindustani language. It is widely spoken between the British Indians. [37]

Netherlands

Wall poem in Leiden by Jit Narain in Sarnami Jit Narain - zonder titel.jpg
Wall poem in Leiden by Jit Narain in Sarnami

In the Netherlands, The Caribbean Hindustani dialect, mainly Sarnami is spoken by Dutch Indo-Caribbeans, due to immigration from Suriname and the Netherlands Antilles. [38]

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. [39]

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. [40]

Trinidad and Tobago

Trinidadian Hindustani text in the Devanagari and Perso-Arabic script on a bucket of curry powder from Trinidad and Tobago. Kala Brand Madras Curry Powder.jpg
Trinidadian Hindustani text in the Devanagari and Perso-Arabic script on a bucket of curry powder from 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. [41]

South America

Suriname

In Suriname, a dialect of Caribbean Hindustani called Sarnámi Hindustáni 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. [38]

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. [42]

Oceania

Fiji

"Tsunami Hazard Zone" sign in Suva, Fiji. Tsunami Suva MatthiasSuessen-8565.jpg
"Tsunami Hazard Zone" sign in Suva, 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. [43]

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. [44]

Cultural significance

Across regions where it is spoken, Hindustani plays a role not only in daily communication but also in cultural life, including popular media and religious traditions. In countries with large Hindustani-speaking populations, such as India, Pakistan, Fiji, Suriname, and the United Kingdom, the language continues to serve as a medium of cultural identity and social interaction.[ citation needed ]

See also

References

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  4. "Urdu alphabet, pronunciation and language". www.omniglot.com. Retrieved 2025-04-07.
  5. "After experiments with Hindi as national language, how Gandhi changed his mind". Prabhu Mallikarjunan. The Feral. 3 October 2019.
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  7. Lelyveld, David (1993-01-01). "Colonial knowledge and the fate of Hindustani". Comparative Studies in Society and History. 35 (4): 665–682. doi:10.1017/S0010417500018661. S2CID   144180838.
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