Hindiinfluenced

Hindiinfluenced is a descriptive term used to indicate linguistic influence from Hindi on another language, dialect, or variety. It is not a formal linguistic category but a label applied when Hindi has contributed notably to the lexicon, phonology, morphology, or syntax of another language through contact, bilingual speech, or language shift. Common manifestations include borrowed vocabulary, semantic extension, calques, and phonological patterns, as well as code-switching and mixed discourse.

In regional contexts, Hindi influences appear in languages spoken in India and among diaspora communities. Examples include Fiji Hindi, Hindustani varieties in the Caribbean (Caribbean Hindustani), Suriname Hindustani, and Mauritius, where Bhojpuri and Hindi loanwords have become established. In urban Indian English, Hindi-origin terms are commonly integrated. Typical loanwords cover everyday items and concepts such as chai (tea), bazaar (market), dhaba (roadside eatery), namaste (greeting), and guru or pandit, among others. Grammatical influence may involve calques or syntactic patterns drawn from Hindi, especially in bilingual or multilingual settings with varying degrees of proficiency.

Sociolinguistic notes emphasize that Hindiinfluenced varieties reflect multilingual settings, identity, and the history of language contact, including migration, trade, and media exposure. The term highlights contact-induced change rather than a standardized Hindi variety. Critics caution against overgeneralization, as influence can be uneven and selective across communities.

See also Hinglish, Hindustani, loanword, language contact.