FIU Department Of Modern Language

Area Served

About FIU Department Of Modern Language

The Department of Modern Languages offers multiple opportunities for undergraduate and graduate study in language, culture, and literature. From language classes in Arabic, German, Hebrew, or Russian; to culture classes in Chinese, Haitian Creole, Italian, and Japanese; to degree programs including Bachelor of Arts in French, Portuguese, or Spanish, Master of Arts in Spanish and Doctor of Philosophy in Spanish; the Department of Modern Languages prepares students for a variety of educational and future career opportunities. Hindi/Urdu is a language spoken by over 600 million people across the world and is increasingly becoming more important in a globalised context. Young professionals are increasingly seeking to travel to South Asia either for professional reasons or cultural curiosity. This language is a confluence, an amalgam of various languages – Sanskrit, Prakrit, Hindvi and Persian. A major part of its vocabulary is drawn from Sanskrit and Persian, and in syntax it is a living cultural heritage that has evolved from Sanskrit. Colonial influence has also shaped the language in many ways. The language is a repository of over three thousand years of cultural, socio-political and academic knowledge, and a point of departure for a lifetime of a quest. South Asia is home to all the major world religions, and the region has a multicultural history of several millennia. From the ancient myths of Ramayana and Mahabharata, to the huge treasure trove of ancient philosophical texts like Vedas and Puranas, to the history of Buddhism and Jainism, to the splendid Mughal architecture, to the long literary and musical grassroots movement of Bhakti/Sufi saints, to colonialism, to the pulse of modern South Asia – learning Hindustani (Hindi/Urdu) can take a learner in any direction.