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India recognizes 18 official languages
and there are more than 1,500 minor languages
and dialects; most state boundaries are drawn
based on linguistic groupings. Hindi is the
national language and it is understood almost
all across the length and breadth of India.
However, it is more predominantly spoken in
the north and less used in the south. South
Indians prefer communicating in English rather
than Hindi or even their own mother tongues.
One of the biggest advantages
of traveling in India is that not only are the
Indians friendly and approachable, most of them
are willing to please the foreign tourists.
Most Indians speak and understand English. The
use of English is more than just a carryover
from the British colonial past since it has
become the common language especially among
the middle class Indian and the elite Even the
small time shopkeepers, guides, waiters and
cabbies who have not had any formal training
in the language have picked-up enough phrases
from tourists to be able to serve the foreign
customers easily.
Many foreigners have commented
that they find the way Indians nod their head
very puzzling. Whereas in most countries nodding
of the head would mean an emphatic "yes,"
nodding of the head in India can mean "no"
or "I have not understood what you have
said." Similarly, shaking the head sideways
can mean "yes" in India, while in
other cultures this usually means "no."
Following are some common
English-Hindi phrases to help you get around
in Mumbai...simple English words like Yes, No,
Please, Thank You etc. will be understood by
anybody (street urchins and taxi drivers too.)
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