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Yeah, it would be silly to waste your time on Devanagari when you need to learn the Arabic alphabet. Legolas Send a noteboard - 11/08/2010 05:48:22 PM
So I've been dating a Pakistani girl for almost two years (this is not the subject of this post. Though I could write a long post about our struggles, believe me). She would really like it if I learned her language. She speaks perfect English by the way. In fact, the first time I heard her speak I was taken aback. She has sort of a Valley girl accent. I was not expecting that accent to come from a Middle-Eastern girl (oh sorry, Asian as she always corrects me).

I'd have to agree that if you intend to remain with her in the longer term and you haven't got particular factors that make it hard or impossible to learn a foreign language, you ought to do it. Besides, speaking Urdu might even be useful professionally (I've no idea what kind of career you have, obviously).
I digress, sorry. Her native language is Urdu. To my surprise, the fabulous Rosetta Stone people haven't made the learning software for this language, despite the fact that it's spoken by millions of people. But they have made a Hindi software. My girlfriend tells me that Hindi is very similar to Urdu and that if I learn Hindi then I will understand Urdu. But writing in Hindi is very different than writing in Urdu. Rosetta Stone teaches you how to speak and read the language.

Should I spend all that money to learn Hindi when it might just confuse me? My girlfriend doesn't have the time to teach me, in case you're wondering. And the software out there for Urdu seems like a joke. Any advice?

As Tim says, there are no doubt books with CDs that could help, and resources on the internet. See link for starters. Programs that teach Hindi can be useful, but it's just a waste of energy to learn Devanagari (the alphabet Hindi is written in - knowing it somewhat, and knowing the Arabic alphabet, I'd have to say the latter is easier). So that Rosetta Stone probably isn't worth it - especially since there *are* differences between the two languages even spoken.
Learning Urdu at the BBC website
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I need some advice on learning a language Dark Knight - 11/08/2010 05:27:52 PM 666 Views
For the amount of money that the Rosetta Stone software costs... Larry - 11/08/2010 05:35:37 PM 558 Views
Haha not quite; Texas. Also why I was so surprised *NM* Dark Knight - 11/08/2010 05:44:28 PM 229 Views
where in Tx is your g/f from? Aisha - 12/08/2010 05:44:03 AM 487 Views
If thats true then I definitely can't tell you! *NM* Dark Knight - 12/08/2010 06:15:24 AM 231 Views
It shouldn't be too hard to find a book + CD you can learn from. Why is software so important? *NM* Tim - 11/08/2010 05:38:48 PM 270 Views
Because my free time consists of 2 hours before bed *NM* Dark Knight - 11/08/2010 05:45:16 PM 223 Views
And? Tim - 11/08/2010 06:17:22 PM 487 Views
Oh I thought you were asking why I don't go to a class *NM* Dark Knight - 11/08/2010 06:24:43 PM 213 Views
find a new girlfriend? random thoughts - 11/08/2010 05:45:19 PM 522 Views
Yeah, it would be silly to waste your time on Devanagari when you need to learn the Arabic alphabet. Legolas - 11/08/2010 05:48:22 PM 578 Views
Very helpful! Thanks! Dark Knight - 11/08/2010 06:09:09 PM 538 Views
Hindi is pretty much the same as Urdu speaking wise.... anjumfaz - 11/08/2010 06:17:50 PM 595 Views
My girlfriend has family in Canada... Dark Knight - 11/08/2010 06:23:35 PM 514 Views
Seems like after two years, it might be time to let her family know about you... *NM* Legolas - 11/08/2010 06:43:55 PM 234 Views
We're about at that point Dark Knight - 11/08/2010 06:48:42 PM 459 Views
That makes sense, yes. Legolas - 11/08/2010 06:52:53 PM 512 Views
I know the fear, yes anjumfaz - 11/08/2010 07:41:16 PM 561 Views
Is your status in society the same in Indian culture as it is in Pakistani culture? Dark Knight - 11/08/2010 07:46:48 PM 566 Views
Re: Is your status in society the same in Indian culture as it is in Pakistani culture? anjumfaz - 11/08/2010 08:01:44 PM 587 Views
Rant all you want! Dark Knight - 11/08/2010 08:18:54 PM 434 Views
Oh my goodness.... anjumfaz - 11/08/2010 08:21:16 PM 667 Views
I have family in Texas, lol anjumfaz - 11/08/2010 06:50:25 PM 508 Views
A kindred spirit! Dark Knight - 11/08/2010 07:06:25 PM 577 Views
Re: A kindred spirit! anjumfaz - 11/08/2010 07:15:50 PM 500 Views
Wow I'm not alone! Dark Knight - 11/08/2010 07:27:02 PM 528 Views
You are right, anjumfaz - 11/08/2010 07:37:15 PM 562 Views
I hear you Dark Knight - 11/08/2010 07:43:07 PM 590 Views
Re: I hear you anjumfaz - 11/08/2010 08:09:27 PM 648 Views
I learn something new everyday. I did not know that. Fascinating Dark Knight - 11/08/2010 08:17:16 PM 507 Views
There are like half a dozen movies about that topic... safe to say you're not alone. *NM* Legolas - 11/08/2010 08:06:30 PM 216 Views
The clash between new generation and old makes for some good movie material *NM* Dark Knight - 11/08/2010 08:20:40 PM 242 Views
I think you're missing the important thing here. Why does she want you to learn it? *NM* Palatine - 11/08/2010 06:32:58 PM 218 Views
Because she speaks to her family/friends in her language and doesnt want me left out Dark Knight - 11/08/2010 06:38:00 PM 506 Views
Okay, but none of them speak English? *NM* Palatine - 11/08/2010 06:42:25 PM 228 Views
Yes but its really a cultural thing Dark Knight - 11/08/2010 06:46:01 PM 490 Views
It makes sense. Palatine - 12/08/2010 07:47:12 PM 657 Views
It does Floffe - 12/08/2010 07:55:31 PM 740 Views
No, I haven't read them all. Palatine - 12/08/2010 08:08:14 PM 409 Views
Why shouldn't she? *NM* Legolas - 11/08/2010 06:44:14 PM 228 Views
Re: Why shouldn't she? Palatine - 12/08/2010 07:54:47 PM 468 Views
why not? it's a part of her and languages are fun. LadyLorraine - 12/08/2010 03:33:53 AM 493 Views
Re: languages are fun. That depends. Palatine - 12/08/2010 08:03:06 PM 515 Views
My advice Bramhodoulos - 11/08/2010 07:28:39 PM 767 Views
I want to learn Romanian anjumfaz - 11/08/2010 07:43:09 PM 452 Views
Re: I want to learn Romanian Bramhodoulos - 11/08/2010 08:36:46 PM 539 Views
I'm definitely going to check that out! *NM* Dark Knight - 11/08/2010 07:44:18 PM 245 Views
You too, huh? Legolas - 11/08/2010 08:07:44 PM 523 Views
Yeah, I love the Finnish language Bramhodoulos - 11/08/2010 08:47:09 PM 480 Views
Ohhh. That's a much better reason than mine. Legolas - 11/08/2010 08:49:34 PM 484 Views
Seconded. The Routledge Colloquial series is really good. *NM* Tim - 11/08/2010 09:45:39 PM 206 Views
Fuck Rosetta Stone unless you're a complete dumbass at languages. Tom - 12/08/2010 03:29:15 AM 502 Views
Ok as an urdu speaking paki i can tell you a few things Aisha - 12/08/2010 05:41:52 AM 629 Views
Or... ironclad - 12/08/2010 11:00:42 AM 505 Views
Re: Or... Aisha - 12/08/2010 04:57:59 PM 517 Views
Good luck and God bless. Joel - 12/08/2010 11:50:18 AM 459 Views
youre moving to Karachi? *NM* Aisha - 12/08/2010 04:59:25 PM 202 Views
Er, no. Joel - 12/08/2010 05:16:51 PM 785 Views
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