The Urdu Language
Urdu, also known as Lashkari, is the national language of Pakistan. It is also recognized as one of the 22 official languages approved by the constitution of India. The name Urdu is derived from the Turkish word "Ordu", which means "army".
With over 70 million speakers using it as their first language and more than 100 million people using it as their second, Urdu is one of the most widely spoken languages across the world. Apart from Pakistan and India, Urdu is also used in countries across the Middle East, Bangladesh, Nepal and many other countries around the world where Pakistani communities have settled.
History of Urdu
Urdu came into existence during the 12th century when the Indian subcontinents were invaded by Persian and Turkish forces. Later, it was further developed during the Delhi Sultanate (1206–1526) and the Mughal Empire (1526–1858).
Hindi is found to be very closely related to the spoken form of Urdu however, both languages have different influences and scripts. Hindi is influenced by Sanskrit and uses the Devanagari script, whereas Urdu resembles Persian and Arabic and is written with the Nastaliq script.
Due to the Persian and Arabic influences, Urdu's scripts are written right-to-left and are traditionally written in a Perso-Arabic script called a Nastaliq. Nastaliq is a flowy, ornate and hanging script. But when used on software applications or websites, Urdu is depicted in Naskh, which is known as an angular and rather stodgy script that comes from Arabic.
Some of the Urdu dialects recognized include Rekhta, Dakhni and Modern Vernacular Urdu.
Fun Facts about Urdu
Urdu is one of the world's most sophisticated and beautiful languages.
Poets use it to write poems because of its beauty and grace.
The Urdu language contains up to 40 alphabets.
Urdu's words have an emphasis on politeness and many of the words are used to show respect. These words are mainly used when addressing elders or new acquaintances.
Here are some English words with Urdu origins:
Cummerbund: waist binding.
Khaki: dusty, grey.
Pashmina: shawl or scarf.
Pajamas: trouser.
Typhoon: storm.
Not only are the words of Urdu pleasant to see, but the sounds of the words are mystical. From using this language to write songs and poems to being used in schools and courts, the grace and class keeps Urdu as one of the most dignified languages in the world.
https://ohfact.com/interesting-facts-about-urdu-language/
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Urdu-language
https://www.omniglot.com/writing/urdu.htm
Further GPI Resources on Country Specific Topics
What is Diwali?
Doing Business in India
News: Chinese Brand Leads India's Smartphone Market
News: Alibaba Invests in Online Grocery Store
Written By: Vimal Panicker
Vimal Panicker
Vimal Panicker is from Mumbai, India, and currently lives in Dubai, UAE. He has 7 years of experience in the translation and localization industry including roles in project management and account management. He has worked with a range of clientele from manufacturing, hotel & hospitality, legal, government and interactive agencies from around the world. He has extensive experience working with various translation and project management platforms, tools, processes and practices for companies including Merrill Brink and United Language Group.
Vimal holds a Bachelors Degree in Commerce from Mumbai University and has completed the dual certification in Global Digital Marketing & Localization from Boeing Institute of International Business, Saint Louis University.
He loves working with a culturally-diverse team and believes in exceeding client expectations. For him, translation is not only a great medium to work with people from diverse cultures but also a great platform to connect with organizations from varied sectors and understand their business functions.
Outside work, he loves to watch and play football and has a great interest in fitness activities.
See All Posts by Vimal Panicker Click to Contact Vimal