A mother who can talk Hindi without an accent, but stumbles when faced with high-falutin language, forwarded the following question to a father. The father who claims proficiency in the language (on the basis of a “distinction” in Class Xth CBSE boards now nearly three decades – has it really been that long? – ago, plus because he grew up north of the Vindhyas!) tried and failed to express full confidence in his picks.
He forwarded the list to his sister who, because she converses with her kids in Hindi and has a bunch of Hindi-speaking friends, is more of the bona-fide Hindi guru of the extended family now. She promptly wrote back crossing out a couple of her brother’s picks. However, she had to use the process of elimination to complete the matches. So, the jury is still – tentatively speaking – out on the veracity of the final picks!
Anyway, let’s see कौन कितने पानी में है, shall we? Without consulting brother, or बिरादर google (FYI, mother tried her usual tried-and-tested tactic but failed this time) or the nearest copy of your आदर्श हिन्दी शब्द्कोश, would you try your hand at matching up the following?
To ensure a level playing field, only the e-mail is paraphrased. The rest is just as I (the not-so-smart-after-all father, in case someone is unsure as to who is who) got it, i.e., it is one whole “sic” question!
As part of his homework, Baab needs to match these sounds with the animals that make it.
Chinghaadtha Hai
Rumbhaathi Hai
Dundaktha Hai
Mimiyaathi Hai
Hinhinaatha hai
Bhonktha hai
renktha hai
dahaadtha haiThe above are to be matched with these animals: Baagh, Haathi, Kooker, Gadha, Bakri, Bhains, Ghoda, Gaay
Bonus points: Pick the odd animal out of these three … (when last seen, brother and sister were still arguing over this one online!)
- बाघ
- शेर
- सिंह
* = in Hindi 
