Learning to write Hindi (Devanagari script)

[saintofgamblers]

I have a question for those people who live in india. How important is it to learn the script if you live in india? A lot of things seem to be written in english or otherwise in hindi using roman script. I would rather not learn the script if it is not so necessary.

[xxVijayxx]

I know romanized Hindi and all, and I know the grammar and stuff, since I've been watching dramas and films from the age of six. Or earlier. But I don't know how to read or write devanagari script, although I'm perfectly alright with romanized Hindi. That day, my friend wrote down some film recommendations for me on a paper, but to my dismay, it was in devanagari! I couldn't read anything, anything. So I was resigned to sitting there and staring at the titles. Staring and staring. Finally, I called up my friend and asked her the meanings, but by then I was already determined to learn Hindi! I tried a website, Mocha-something, and everything was great at first. I breezed through the romanized Hindi exercises, but suddenly I was hit with a passage of devanagari Hind! Google translate didn't help one bit (It mauled the devanagari Hindi title of Johny Mera Naam. Don't ask how I tried it.), so I had no choice but to abandon ship. Any suggestions?

[latishya]

Snell's Teach Yourself Hindi Script is pretty good. Here's a link to the current edition
http://www.amazon.com/Read-Write-Hindi-Script-Yourself/dp/0071759921/ref=dp_ob_title_bk

[James]

I know romanized Hindi and all, and I know the grammar and stuff, since I've been watching dramas and films from the age of six. Or earlier. But I don't know how to read or write devanagari script, although I'm perfectly alright with romanized Hindi. That day, my friend wrote down some film recommendations for me on a paper, but to my dismay, it was in devanagari! I couldn't read anything, anything. So I was resigned to sitting there and staring at the titles. Staring and staring. Finally, I called up my friend and asked her the meanings, but by then I was already determined to learn Hindi! I tried a website, Mocha-something, and everything was great at first. I breezed through the romanized Hindi exercises, but suddenly I was hit with a passage of devanagari Hind! Google translate didn't help one bit (It mauled the devanagari Hindi title of Johny Mera Naam. Don't ask how I tried it.), so I had no choice but to abandon ship. Any suggestions?

There's an excellent and free online resource that was mentioned on the first page of this thread. See here:

You can learn Devanagari online at: http://www.avashy.com/hindiscripttutor.htm

[xxVijayxx]

Thank you both - I'll try them out.

[purplecowmoo]

I don't know if this one's been mentioned yet, but I find it EXTREMELY helpful. Shows you which strokes to use when you write and does the pronunciation of each character - in a male and female voice! - and THEN it puts it in a word for you. Mind blown.

http://www.avashy.com/hindiscripttutor.htm

[Shannon]

If you have an iPhone, iTouch or iPad there is an app in the iTunes store called iWriteHindi. You can trace the letters right on your screen for practice. I don't think the app was more than about 0.99 cents. It is really useful in situations where you can squeeze in a bit of study time. It does require an iOS 4.0 or later

[AfgJasmine16]

I have a question for those people who live in india. How important is it to learn the script if you live in india? A lot of things seem to be written in english or otherwise in hindi using roman script. I would rather not learn the script if it is not so necessary.

Sorry that this message is late but I will try to answear it. Firstly it depends on what part of India you plan on going too. If you go to South India or Kolkatta, you won't need to learn Devnagari because they don't speak Hindi. If you go to the Hindi speaking states, you could probably get around without the script but I think it would make things eaiser if you did learn it. You cold get into some situations where knowing the Hindi script would be really useful, I have only been to India once and I don't live there, but I was glad I could read some things in Devanagari. Also its not to difficult to learn.