Pronunciation, intonation, and stress

Pronunciation Essentials

Pronunciation is vital in Hindi, as mispronouncing a word can either change its meaning or make it incomprehensible.
Hindi is a phonetic language, meaning it is pronounced as it is written.
Prudent attention to vowel lengths (short vs. long) is necessary, as it can change word meaning.
Awareness of aspirated and unaspirated consonants is key, given Hindi has distinct sounds for both.
Careful use of retroflex consonants, consonants pronounced with tip of the tongue curled back in the mouth, is crucial to accurate Hindi pronunciation.
Also important is the understanding of nasal consonants, which are quite common in Hindi.
Diphthongs, combinations of two vowels, are also essential in many Hindi words.

Modulating Intonation

Intonation refers to the rising and falling pitch of the voice when speaking.
Hindi generally follows a predictable pattern of tone and pitch, with a change in intonation able to alter the meaning of a sentence.
Intonation is used to emphasise important words, express questions, commands or requests, or convey different emotions.
Conversational Hindi often has its own intonation rules that may contradict academic teachings. For example, a rising intonation can signal a question in casual conversation.

Understanding Stress

Stress in Hindi refers to the syllable in a word which receives the most emphasis when pronounced.
Unlike English, Hindi does not have very strong stress rules. Most often, each syllable in a Hindi word is given equal stress.
In some cases, stress can differ based on the region, or dialect, leading to minor variations in pronunciation.
Retaining the natural rhythm of the language is important in delivering fluent Hindi, something that accurate stress can contribute to.