How hybrid is the Hindi language?

Hindi is a highly hybrid language with a rich and diverse history, influenced by various linguistic and cultural sources over centuries. Here are some key aspects of its hybridity:

1. Sanskrit Influence: The foundational structure and a significant portion of the vocabulary of Hindi are derived from Sanskrit, an ancient Indo-Aryan language. Many formal and literary words in Hindi are of Sanskrit origin.

2. Persian and Arabic Influence: During the medieval period, especially under the Mughal Empire, Hindi absorbed a considerable number of words from Persian and Arabic. This influence is particularly evident in everyday vocabulary, administrative terms, and cultural expressions.

3. Prakrit and Apabhramsha: Hindi evolved from the Prakrit languages, which were vernacular languages derived from Sanskrit. Apabhramsha, a later stage of Prakrit, also significantly influenced the development of Hindi.

4. Turkic and Mongolic Influence: The invasions and settlements by Turkic and Mongolic tribes introduced new words and linguistic structures into the Hindi language.

5. English Influence: In modern times, especially since the British colonial period, Hindi has incorporated numerous English words and phrases. This influence is particularly strong in the domains of science, technology, administration, and popular culture.

6. Regional Variations: Hindi is spoken across a vast region in India, leading to significant regional variations. These regional dialects often incorporate words and structures from local languages and dialects, adding to the hybridity of Hindi.

7. Urdu Influence: Hindi and Urdu share a common linguistic base and have influenced each other significantly. While Hindi tends to use more Sanskrit-derived vocabulary, Urdu incorporates a higher number of Persian and Arabic words.

This blending of various linguistic influences makes Hindi a dynamic and evolving language, reflecting the diverse cultural and historical tapestry of India.

Hindi language is hybrid to the core in every sense of the word since its inception to the present day. Urdu (and later Hindi) was created as a new language for the use of Mughal army and for the convenience of the Mughal emperors by mixing various north Indian dialects such as Hindvi, Lahori, Lashkari, Hindustani, Dehlvi, Khariboli, Bhojpuri, Mithili, Haryani etc and barrowing certain words from Arabic, Persian and Turkic languages, and finally borrowing the script from the Perso-Arabic script. Hindi was later artificially created/developed from Urdu by Sanskritising the Urdu language and using the Devanagari Script.