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→‎Origins: Please refer to the actual Wikipedia page. The sources used aren't credible. There is no evidence it originated in Lahore.
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Changed the wording, since grammar looks like confusing, since there 3 ofs between words in a row.
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| agency = [[National Language Promotion Department]] (Pakistan)<br>[[National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language]] (India)
| agency = [[National Language Promotion Department]] (Pakistan)<br>[[National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language]] (India)
}}
}}
{{Constitutionally recognised languages in India}}
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'''Urdu''', also known as '''Lashkari''',<ref name="Ahmad2009">{{cite book|author=Aijazuddin Ahmad|title=Geography of the South Asian Subcontinent: a critical approach |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=I2QmPHeIowoC&pg=PA120|year=2009 |publisher=Concept Publishing Company|isbn=978-81-8069-568-1|pages=120–|quote=The very word Urdu came into being as the original '''''Lashkari''''' dialect, in other words, the language of the army.}}</ref> or the '''Lashkari language''' (لشکری ‍زبان)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pu.edu.pk/images/journal/uoc/PDF-FILES/(13)%20Kanwal%20Khalid-90-3-2015.pdf|title=Lahore During the Ghaznavid Period|work=Kanwal Khalid, PhD Associate Professor, College of Art and Design [[University of the Punjab]], [[Lahore]]}}</ref> is the [[national language]] of [[Pakistan]] and a recognized [[regional language]] in India. It is an [[Indo-Aryan languages|Indo-Aryan language]], meaning it descends from Proto-Indo-Aryan, a language spoken northeast of the [[Caspian Sea]] in the third millennia [[BC]].<ref>Trautmann, Thomas, and Yoda Press. "Indo-European topics."</ref>


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'''Urdu''', also known as '''Lashkari''',<ref name="Ahmad2009">{{cite book|author=Aijazuddin Ahmad|title=Geography of the South Asian Subcontinent: a critical approach |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=I2QmPHeIowoC&pg=PA120|year=2009 |publisher=Concept Publishing Company|isbn=978-81-8069-568-1|pages=120–|quote=The very word Urdu came into being as the original '''''Lashkari''''' dialect, in other words, the language of the army.}}</ref> or the '''Lashkari language''' (لشکری ‍زبان)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pu.edu.pk/images/journal/uoc/PDF-FILES/(13)%20Kanwal%20Khalid-90-3-2015.pdf|title=Lahore During the Ghaznavid Period|work=Kanwal Khalid, PhD Associate Professor, College of Art and Design [[University of the Punjab]], [[Lahore]]}}</ref> is the [[national language]] of [[Pakistan]] and a recognized [[regional language|regional dialect]] in India. Urdu is an [[Indo-Aryan languages|Indo-Aryan language]], which means that it came from Proto-Indo-Aryan, a language that was spoken northeast of the [[Caspian Sea]] in the second millennium BCE.<ref>Trautmann, Thomas, and Yoda Press. "Indo-European topics."</ref>
It is spoken as an official language and [[lingua franca]] by most people in [[Pakistan]]. It is also spoken in some parts of [[India]] like the states of [[Delhi]], [[Bihar]] and [[Uttar Pradesh]]. With some exceptions words are similar to spoken Hindi. When written, it is written completely different from [[Hindi]]. That is why speakers of Hindi and Urdu can have a [[conversation]] with one another, but may not be able to read or write one of these two scripts.


Most people in [[Pakistan]] speak it as a [[lingua franca]]. There are parts of [[India]] that speak it, such as [[Delhi]], [[Bihar]], and [[Uttar Pradesh]], for example. Despite a few differences, the words in Hindi are very similar to Urdu. The way it is written, is different from how [[Hindi]] is written. People who speak Hindi and Urdu may be able to able to understand or express the meaning of one of these two scripts in any order.
==Origins==
In the Delhi region of India the native language was [[Dehlavi dialect|Khariboli]], whose earliest form is known as [[Old Hindi]] (or Hindavi).<ref name="Mody2008">{{cite book |last1=Mody |first1=Sujata Sudhakar |title=Literature, Language, and Nation Formation: The Story of a Modern Hindi Journal 1900-1920 |date=2008 |publisher=University of California, Berkeley |page=7 |language=en |quote=...Hindustani, Rekhta, and Urdu as later names of the old Hindi (a.k.a. Hindavi).}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=English-Urdu Learner's Dictionary |date=6 March 2021 |publisher=Multi Linguis |isbn=978-1-005-94089-8 |language=English |quote=** History (Simplified) ** Proto-Indo European > Proto-Indo-Iranian > Proto-Indo-Aryan > Vedic Sanskrit > Classical Sanskrit > Sauraseni Prakrit > Sauraseni Apabhramsa > Old Hindi > Hindustani > Urdu}}</ref><ref name="Kesavan1997"/><ref name="Das2005">{{cite book |author1=[[Sisir Kumar Das]] |title=History of Indian Literature |date=2005 |publisher=[[Sahitya Akademi]] |isbn=978-81-7201-006-5 |page=142 |language=English |quote=The most important trend in the history of Hindi-Urdu is the process of Persianization on the one hand and that of Sanskritization on the other. Amrit Rai offers evidence to show that although the employment of Perso-Arabic script for the language which was akin to Hindi/Hindavi or old Hindi was the first step towards the establishment of the separate identity of Urdu, it was called Hindi for a long time. "The final and complete change-over to the new name took place after the content of the language had undergone a drastic change." He further observes: "In the light of the literature that has come down to us, for about six hundred years, the development of Hindi/Hindavi seems largely to substantiate the view of the basic unity of the two languages. Then, sometime in the first quarter of the eighteenth century, the cleavage seems to have begun." Rai quotes from Sadiq, who points out how it became a "systematic policy of poets and scholars" of the eighteenth century to weed out, what they called and thought, "vulgar words." This weeding out meant "the elimination, along with some rough and unmusical plebian words, of a large number of Hindi words for the reason that to the people brought up in Persian traditions they appeared unfamiliar and vulgar." Sadiq concludes: hence the paradox that this crusade against Persian tyranny, instead of bringing Urdu close to the indigenous element, meant in reality a wider gulf between it and the popular speech. But what differentiated Urdu still more from the local dialects was a process of ceaseless importation from Persian. It may seem strange that Urdu writers in rebellion against Persian should decide to draw heavily on Persian vocabulary, idioms, forms, and sentiments. . . . Around 1875 in his word ''Urdu Sarf O Nahr'', however, he presented a balanced view pointing out that attempts of the Maulavis to Persianize and of the Pandits to Sanskritize the language were not only an error but against the natural laws of linguistic growth. The common man, he pointed out, used both Persian and Sanskrit words without any qualms;}}</ref>
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Punjab was also known as "Hind" or the land east of the Indus.<ref>Brard, Gurnam Singh Sidhu. "East of Indus: My memories of old Punjab." (2007).</ref>


==History==
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The Ghaznavids, although racially [[Turkic peoples|Turkic]], spoke [[Persian language|Persian]] as their main language. When conquering [[Punjab]] or Hind with [[Lahore]] as its capital, they came into contact with the local population who spoke an Indo-Aryan language which began to adopt Persian words into their language. This local language was also the ancestor of modern standard [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Lahore: Glimpses of a Glorious Heritage|author=Nazir Ahmed Chaudhry|year=1998|page=18|publisher=Sang-e-Meel Publications, 1998, [[University of Michigan]] (origin)|isbn=9693509447}}</ref>
In the 11th century AD, the [[Ghaznavid Empire]] ruled over [[Punjab]], the region characterized by five rivers.<ref name="Dogra, Ramesh Chander 1973">Dogra, Ramesh Chander. "Cataloguing Urdu Names." International Library Review 5.3 (1973): 351-377.</ref>


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Also known as ''Hind'', the Punjab was a land east on the Indus River.<ref>Brard, Gurnam Singh Sidhu. "East of Indus: My memories of old Punjab." (2007).</ref>
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The contacts between Persian and the native language of Punjab began to form a new language and that became known as 'Lashkari Zaban' or language of the battalions.<ref name="Dogra, Ramesh Chander 1973"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://pu.edu.pk/images/journal/uoc/PDF-FILES/(13)%20Kanwal%20Khalid-90-3-2015.pdf|title=Lahore During the Ghaznavid Period|work=Khanwal, Kahlid Associate Professor, College of Art & Design, Punjab University}}</ref>


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The primary language spoken by Ghaznavids, who were of [[Turkic peoples|Turkic ethnicity]], was [[Persian language|Persian]]. The Ghaznavids met the people who spoke an Indo-Aryan dialect after acquiring [[Punjab]] or ''Hind'', which had [[Lahore]] as its capital. The contemporary [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]] language derives from this language indigenous to the region.<ref>{{cite book|title=Lahore: Glimpses of a Glorious Heritage|author=Nazir Ahmed Chaudhry|year=1998|page=18|publisher=Sang-e-Meel Publications, 1998, [[University of Michigan]] (origin)|isbn=9693509447}}</ref>
This new language also known as Hindavi became the common language of the locals and the ruling Ghaznavids in the region. By the twelfth century AD, the Ghaznavids pushed further east into the subcontinent and brought this language to [[Delhi]] where it became influenced by the local language, Khariboli.


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A distinctive dialect, dubbed 'Lashkari Zaban,' was created when Persian began to influence the language of the natives of the region.<ref name="Dogra, Ramesh Chander 1973"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://pu.edu.pk/images/journal/uoc/PDF-FILES/(13)%20Kanwal%20Khalid-90-3-2015.pdf|title=Lahore During the Ghaznavid Period|work=Khanwal, Kahlid Associate Professor, College of Art & Design, Punjab University}}</ref>
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From Delhi it spread across much of the northern subcontinent and became the common language of communication. It continued to be influenced by Khariboli and spread to cities like [[Lucknow]] and [[Hyderabad]] Daccan. It was also given new names and titles through the centuries.<ref>Shaheen, Shagufta, and Sajjad Shahid. "The Unique Literary Traditions of Dakhnī." Languages and Literary Cultures in Hyderabad (2017): 7.</ref>


The Ghaznavids and inhabitants of the area adopted this new language. In the 12th century AD, the Ghaznavids moved to the west of present-day India and brought this language to [[Delhi]]. The language was influenced by the Khariboli dialect that was spoken in the area.<ref>Bailey, T. Grahame. "Urdu: the Name and the Language." Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society 62.2 (1930): 391-400.</ref>
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Native poets in these cities and most of the region contributed to its development and added many Persian and [[Chagatai language|Chagatai]] words to it. They also indirectly added [[Arabic language|Arabic]] words which Persian already contained.


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From Delhi it spread to the northern regions, where it became a standard way of interacting. Khariboli's influence on the language spread to cities like [[Lucknow]] and [[Hyderabad]]. Over the course of time, the language has been referred to in numerous ways.<ref>Shaheen, Shagufta, and Sajjad Shahid. "The Unique Literary Traditions of Dakhnī." Languages and Literary Cultures in Hyderabad (2017): 7.</ref>
It continued to evolve during the [[Delhi Sultanate]] under the influence of Khariboli.


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Native poets from these cities and the surrounding areas helped improve it by adding many Persian and [[Chagatai language|Chagatai]] words to it. They added [[Arabic language|Arabic]] words in the language that already existed from Persian.
The [[Mughal Empire]] was another Muslim Empire of [[Turkic]] origin and spoke Chagatai natively and Persian as their other language, although they were not ethnically Persian or racially Iranic.


During this time the language commonly became known as the ''Zaban-i-Ordu'' or language of the Royal Camp.
During the [[Delhi Sultanate]], the language continued to change.


The '[[Mughal Empire]]' was a distinct Muslim empire of [[Turkic]] origin, with primary language Chagatai and secondary language Persian. But they did not have any signs that they were from Iran or the Persian region.
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By the very late eighteenth century AD, the poet Ghulam Mashafi is believed to have given it the name "Urdu" which was shortened from "Zaban-i-Urdu."<ref name="Garcia, Maria Isabel Maldonado 2011">Garcia, Maria Isabel Maldonado. "The Urdu language reforms." Studies 26 (2011): 97.</ref>


At that time, the royal camps' dialect was known as ''Zaban-i-Ordu''.
The word is from Chagatai, the native language of the Mughals and belonged to the Eastern Turkic subfamily of languages. Chagatai was closely related to today's [[Uzbek language|Uzbek]] and [[Uyghur language|Uyghur]] and distantly related to today's [[Turkish language|Turkish]] because all of them belonged to the same Turkic family of languages.


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It is said that the late eighteenth-century AD poet Ghulam Mashafi bestowed upon it the designation “Urdu”, which was shortened from “Zaban-i-Urdu.”<ref name="Garcia, Maria Isabel Maldonado 2011">Garcia, Maria Isabel Maldonado. "The Urdu language reforms." Studies 26 (2011): 97.</ref>
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In its own indigenous translation it was ''Lashkari Zaban'' and ''Lashkari'' for short.


The name "urdu" originated from Chagatai. Chagatai was related to the [[Turkish language|Turks]] because they were all part of the same Turkic family, unlike [[Uzbek language|Uzbek]] and [[Uyghur language|Uyghur]] languages.
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Also during the Mughal Empire, what commonly became known as Urdu was a court language in a number of major South Asian cities, including Delhi, Amristsar, Lucknow and Lahore.<ref name="Dogra, Ramesh Chander 1973"/>


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In its own indigenous translation, it was a ''Lashkari Zaban'' and ''Lashkari'' for short.
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By the time of the [[British Empire]], it also became known as "[[Hindustani language|Hindustani]]" or the language of Hindustan, the land of the Indus. It continued to serve as a court language in the same cities.


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The language commonly referred to as Urdu was used as a court language in numerous South Asian cities, including Delhi and Amritsar.<ref name="Dogra, Ramesh Chander 1973"/>
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It was adopted as a first language by many people in [[North India]].

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During the time of the [[British Empire]], it gained the designation of "[[Hindustani language|Hindustani]]." Hindustan, a name associated with the [[Indus River]]. The court proceedings were continuing in the language.

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It eventually became the first language of many people in [[North India]].


By the end of [[British Raj|British rule]] and the independence of Pakistan, it was selected as the national language for the people of the country because they spoke different languages and dialects.
By the end of [[British Raj|British rule]] and the independence of Pakistan, it was selected as the national language for the people of the country because they spoke different languages and dialects.


In India it became the national language but went by the name Hindi and was written in the Devanagari script. It also used a lesser amount of Arabic, Persian and Chagatai words and instead [[Sanskrit]] words were adopted in their place.
In India, it became the national language but went by the name Hindi and was written in the Devanagari script. It also used a lesser amount of Arabic, Persian, and Chagatai words and instead, [[Sanskrit]] words were adopted in their place.


Today it is the most widely spoken language in Pakistan in terms of total speakers and a registered language in 22 Indian states.
Today, it is the most widely spoken language in Pakistan in terms of total speakers and a registered language in 22 Indian states.


== Relations to Persian ==
== Relations to Persian ==
=== Differences ===
=== Differences ===
The letters in Urdu are derived from the Persian/Farsi alphabet, which is derived from the Arabic alphabet. The additional letters that are found in Urdu include ٹ ,ڈ ,ڑ (ṫ, ḋ, ṙ). To make the alphabet more enriched two letters were created for sounds ه (h) and ی (y). By adding these letters to the existing Persian letters the Urdu alphabet became more suitable for the people of [[Pakistan]] and for some people of North India who primarily use nastaliq script. Both are also Indo-Iranic languages descending from Proto-Indo-Iranic, but deriving from separate subbranches, Iranic and Indo-Aryan respectively.{{fact|date=November 2021}}
The letters in Urdu are derived from the Persian/Farsi alphabet, which is derived from the Arabic alphabet. The additional letters that are found in Urdu include ٹ ,ڈ ,ڑ (ṫ, ḋ, ṙ). To make the alphabet more enriched, two letters were created for the sounds ه (h) and ی (y). By adding these letters to the existing Persian letters, the Urdu alphabet became more suitable for the people of [[Pakistan]] and for some people of North India, who primarily use nastaliq script. Both are also Indo-Iranic languages descending from Proto-Indo-Iranic, but deriving from separate subbranches, Iranic and Indo-Aryan respectively.{{fact|date=November 2021}}


=== Similarities ===
=== Similarities ===
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In local translation, it is called ''Lashkari Zabān'' ({{Nastaliq|لشکری زبان}} [{{IPA|lʌʃkɜ:i: zɑ:bɑ:n}}])<ref>Khan, Sajjad, Waqas Anwar, Usama Bajwa, and Xuan Wang. "Template Based Affix Stemmer for a Morphologically Rich Language." International Arab Journal of Information Technology (IAJIT) 12, no. 2 (2015).</ref> meaning "language of [[battalion]]s" or "battalion language." This can be shortened to ''Lashkari''.
In local translation, it is called ''Lashkari Zabān'' ({{Nastaliq|لشکری زبان}} [{{IPA|lʌʃkɜ:i: zɑ:bɑ:n}}])<ref>Khan, Sajjad, Waqas Anwar, Usama Bajwa, and Xuan Wang. "Template Based Affix Stemmer for a Morphologically Rich Language." International Arab Journal of Information Technology (IAJIT) 12, no. 2 (2015).</ref> meaning "language of [[battalion]]s" or "battalion language." This can be shortened to ''Lashkari''.


The [[etymology]] of the word used in the Urdu language for the most part [[wikt:decides|decides]] how nice or well done your speech is. For example, Urdu speakers would distinguish between پانی ''pānī'' and آب ''āb'', both meaning "water" for example, or between آدمی ''ādmi'' and مرد ''mard'', meaning "man." The first word is ad derivative from Adam (آدم) Arabic mean from Adam and it can be used for both man and woman in place of human being. Second word مرد ''mard'' refers to a gender or can be used for manly hood as well.
The [[etymology]] of the word used in the Urdu language, for the most part, [[wikt:decides|decides]] how nice or well done your speech is. For example, Urdu speakers would distinguish between پانی ''pānī'' and آب ''āb'', both meaning "water" for example, or between آدمی ''ādmi'' and مرد ''mard'', meaning "man." The first word is ad derivative from Adam (آدم) Arabic means from Adam, and it can be used for both man and woman in place of human being. The second word مرد ''mard'' refers to a gender or can be used for manly hood as well.


If a word is of [[Persian language|Persian]] or [[Arabic language|Arabic]] origin, the level of speech is thought to be more formal. If [[Persian language|Persian]] or [[Arabic language|Arabic]] grammar [[wikt:constructs|constructs]], such as the izafat, are used in Urdu, the level of speech is also thought more formal and correct. If a word is inherited from [[Chagatai language|Chagatai]], the level of speech is thought more colloquial and personal.<ref name="University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill">{{cite web|url = http://www.unc.edu/| title = About Urdu| publisher = Afroz Taj (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)|accessdate = 2008-02-26}}</ref>
If a word is of [[Persian language|Persian]] or [[Arabic language|Arabic]] origin, the level of speech is thought to be more formal. If [[Persian language|Persian]] or [[Arabic language|Arabic]] grammar [[wikt:constructs|constructs]], such as the izafat, are used in Urdu, the level of speech is also thought more formal and correct. If a word is inherited from [[Chagatai language|Chagatai]], the level of speech is thought more colloquial and personal.<ref name="University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill">{{cite web|url = http://www.unc.edu/| title = About Urdu| publisher = Afroz Taj (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)|accessdate = 2008-02-26}}</ref>


=== Formal ===
=== Formal ===
Urdu is supposed to be a well formed language; many of words are used in it to show respect and politeness. This [[wikt:emphasis|emphasis]] on politeness, which comes from the vocabulary, is known as '''Aadab ( Courteous )''' and to sometimes as '''takalluf (Formal)''' in Urdu. These words are mostly used when addressing elders, or people with whom one is not met yet. Just like ''French '''Vous''' and '''Tu'''. Upon studying French and other forms of Language similar formal language construct are present. The whole grammatical layout appears to be almost identical to French language structure. The rules to form sentences and structuring them are identical''{{fact|date=November 2021}}
Urdu is supposed to be a well-formed language; many of words are used in it to show respect and politeness. This [[wikt:emphasis|emphasis]] on politeness, which comes from the vocabulary, is known as '''Aadab (Courteous)''' and to sometimes as '''takalluf (Formal)''' in Urdu. These words are mostly used when addressing elders, or people with whom one is not met yet. Just like ''French '''Vous''' and '''Tu'''. Upon studying French and other forms of Language, similar formal language constructs are present. The whole grammatical layout appears to be almost identical to French language structure. The rules for forming sentences and structuring them are identical''{{fact|date=November 2021}}


== Poetics ==
== Poetics ==
[[File:Mushafi-ghulam-hamdani.png|thumb|250px|Ghulam Hamdani Mushafi, the poet first believed to have coined the name "''Urdu''" for the language around 1780 AD. Before that this language went by different names.<ref name="Garcia, Maria Isabel Maldonado 2011"/>]]
[[File:Mushafi-ghulam-hamdani.png|thumb|250px|Ghulam Hamdani Mushafi, the poet first believed to have coined the name "''Urdu''" for the language around 1780 AD. Before that, this language went by different names.<ref name="Garcia, Maria Isabel Maldonado 2011"/>]]
Two very respected poets who are not only celebrated in the South Asian subcontinent but are famous in many other communities worldwide are Mirza Ghalib and Sir Dr Muhammed Iqbal. 
Two well-respected poets who are not only celebrated in the South Asian subcontinent, but are famous in many other communities worldwide are Mirza Ghalib and Sir Dr. Muhammed Iqbal. 


=== Mirza Ghalib ===
=== Mirza Ghalib ===
{{further|Mirza Ghalib}}
{{further|Mirza Ghalib}}
Ghalib (1797-1869) is famous for his classic satire and sarcasm as seen in the following verse;
Ghalib (1797-1869) is well-known for his classic satire and sarcasm, as seen in the following verse;


(Latin/Roma alphabet):
(Latin/Roma alphabet):
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=== Sir Dr Muhammed Iqbal ===
=== Sir Dr Muhammed Iqbal ===
{{further|Muhammed Iqbal}}
{{further|Muhammed Iqbal}}
Iqbal (1877-1938) was a poet, and an active politician. He focused his poetry on bringing out the plight of the suffering Muslim community of [[British India]]. In his poetry he very boldly highlighted the missing virtues and values in the morally corrupt Indian society. Despite much opposition in the beginning, he ended up leaving a huge impact. He is also called the “Poet of the East” and the “Poet of Islam”. His work is displayed in the following verse;
Iqbal (1877-1938) was a poet, and an active politician. He focused his poetry on bringing out the plight of the suffering Muslim community of [[British India]]. In his poetry, he very boldly highlighted the missing virtues and values in the morally corrupt Indian society. Despite much opposition in the beginning, he ended up leaving a considerable impact. He is also called the “Poet of the East” and the “Poet of Islam”. His work is displayed in the following verse;


(Latin/Roma Alphabet):     
(Latin/Roma Alphabet):     
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''Aapne bhe khafa mujh sei beganey bhe na khush''
''Aapne bhe khafa mujh sei beganey bhe na khush''


''Mein zeher -e-halahal ku kabhi keh na saka qand''
''Mein zeher-e-halahal ku kabhi keh na saka qand''


(translation):
(translation):


''I could not keep happy either my loved ones nor the strangers,''
''I could not keep happy either my loved ones or the strangers,''


''as I could never call a piece of poison a piece of candy.''  
''as I could never call a piece of poison a piece of candy.''  
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== Common Words/Phrases in Urdu ==
== Common Words/Phrases in Urdu ==
[[File:Zar Wali Khan's Voice.ogg|thumb|Spoken form]]
[[File:WIKITONGUES- Scarlett speaking Urdu.webm|thumb|WIKITONGUES-Scarlett speaking Urdu/Lashkari]]
Formal Urdu:
Formal Urdu:


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Aap kaisay hein? = How are you?
Aap kaisay hein? = How are you?


Main theek hun = I am fine
Main sahein hun = I am fine


Assalam O Alaikum = Peace be upon you (It basically means hello, and it is a common greeting used in Islamic countries or among Muslims in general)
Assalam O Alaikum = Peace be upon you (It basically means hello, and it is a common greeting used in Islamic countries or among Muslims in general)


== Urdu vs Hindi--What's the difference? ==
== Urdu vs. Hindi--What's the difference? ==
Although often misunderstood as two separate languages, Urdu and Hindi are two registers of the same Hindustani language, often called Hindi-Urdu.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-02-22|title=Yes, Hindi and Urdu are the same language|url=http://www.oxirsoc.com/blog-articles/2017/2/22/yes-hindi-and-urdu-are-the-same-language|access-date=2023-06-30|website=Oxford IRSoc|language=en-GB}}</ref> Urdu is the official language of Pakistan and spoken by 71 million people in India.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Urdu - Worldwide distribution|url=https://www.worlddata.info/languages/urdu.php|access-date=2023-06-30|website=Worlddata.info|language=en}}</ref> Urdu's vocabulary borrows primarily from [[Chagatai language|Chagatai]], [[Sanskrit]], [[Persian language|Persian]] and [[Arabic language|Arabic]].
Urdu's terminology borrows from [[Chagatai language|Chagatai]], [[Sanskrit]], [[Persian language|Persian]], [[Arabic language|Arabic]].
[[Hindi]], also historically known as '''''Hindui''''' ('''हिंदुई'''),<ref>Dwyer, Rachel. "Hindi/Hindustani". Key Concepts in Modern Indian Studies, edited by Gita Dharampal-Frick, Monika Kirloskar-Steinbach and Jahnavi Phalkey, New York, USA: New York University Press, 2016, pp. 102-103. https://doi.org/10.18574/9781479826834-041</ref> is a language spoken primarily in India which replaced Farsi, Chagatai and Arabic terminology with [[Sanskrit]]. Grammatically they are the same, which is why Hindi and Urdu speakers are able to have a somewhat easy conversation with each other.
[[Hindi]], also historically known as '''''Hindui''''' ('''हिंदुई'''),<ref>Dwyer, Rachel. "Hindi/Hindustani". Key Concepts in Modern Indian Studies, edited by Gita Dharampal-Frick, Monika Kirloskar-Steinbach and Jahnavi Phalkey, New York, USA: New York University Press, 2016, pp. 102-103. https://doi.org/10.18574/9781479826834-041</ref> is the most spoken language of India, which replaces much of Urdu's Farsi, Chagatai and Arabic terminology with [[Sanskrit]] derived vocabulary. They are grammatically the same. Everyday words are often shared between the two registers, while formal vocabulary can differ significantly. Urdu and Hindi speakers can understand each other with little to no difficulty, largely from using shared, or English vocabulary, rather than using highly Arabized or Sanskritized vocabulary. Hindi speakers are more likely to use words of Arabic/Persian origin (Kitaab, Dil, Mahobbat), than Urdu speakers are to use words of Sanskrit origin (Pustak, Man, Prem), as Urdu-speaking Pakistani's have less exposure to Hindi, than Hindi-speaking Indians do to Urdu. This can be seen in Bollywoods extensive use of the Urdu register,<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-02-27|title=Is Urdu losing its charm in Bollywood films?|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/opinion/in-perspective/is-urdu-losing-its-charm-in-bollywood-films-955816.html|access-date=2023-06-30|website=Deccan Herald|language=en}}</ref> and India being a nation where both registers are natively spoken.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Hashmi|first=Rasia|date=2019-09-02|title=Urdu is the 2nd most spoken language in 5 states|url=https://www.siasat.com/urdu-2nd-most-spoken-language-5-states-1604362/|access-date=2023-06-30|website=The Siasat Daily|language=en-US}}</ref>

<u>Example</u>

English: I want to know how your mind is feeling.

Literary Urdu: Mujhe aap ke dimaagh ki jazbaat maatloob hai.

Literary Hindi: Mujhe aap ke mastishk ka bhaav vaanchit hai.


Casual Hindustani: Main tere man* ka haal* jaanna chaata hun.
Urdu has a majority of its vocabulary words and phrases borrowed from Persian, Chagatai and Arabic, languages spoken in Turkey, Iran, Saudi Arabia, many countries of the Middle East and in Afghanistan etc. Urdu's written script is also in the exact alphabets and scripts of Persian-Arabic and Chagatai. That is why, they are able to read and write easily in Arabic and Persian.


<nowiki>*</nowiki>man is of Sanskrit origin, while haal is of Arabic origin<ref>{{Cite web|title=Meaning of man in English|url=https://www.rekhtadictionary.com/meaning-of-man|access-date=2023-06-30|website=Rekhta Dictionary|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Meaning of haal in English|url=https://www.rekhtadictionary.com/meaning-of-haal|access-date=2023-06-30|website=Rekhta Dictionary|language=en}}</ref>
Name of colors, objects, feelings, animals and more are all different in Urdu and Hindi.{{fact|date=November 2021}}


== References ==
== References ==
Line 189: Line 200:


==Other websites==
==Other websites==
*[https://www.omniglot.com/writing/urdu.htm Omniglot page] the online encyclopedia of languages and writing systems
{{InterWiki|code=ur}}
{{InterWiki|code=ur}}


Revision as of 01:12, 2 August 2024

Urdu
Lashkari (لشکری)
اُردُو‎
Urdu in Nastaliq script
Pronunciation[ˈʊrduː] (audio speaker iconlisten)
Native toIndia and Pakistan
RegionSouth Asia
Native speakers
68.62 million (2021)
Total: 230 million (2021)[1]
Early forms
Dialects
Official status
Official language in
 Pakistan
(national)

 India
(state-official)

Recognised minority
language in
 South Africa (protected language)[7]
Regulated byNational Language Promotion Department (Pakistan)
National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language (India)
Language codes
ISO 639-1ur
ISO 639-2urd
ISO 639-3urd
Glottologurdu1245
Linguasphere59-AAF-q
  Areas in India and Pakistan where Urdu is either official or co-official
  Areas where Urdu is neither official nor co-official
This article contains IPA phonetic symbols. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols instead of Unicode characters. For an introductory guide on IPA symbols, see Help:IPA.

Urdu, also known as Lashkari,[8] or the Lashkari language (لشکری ‍زبان)[9] is the national language of Pakistan and a recognized regional dialect in India. Urdu is an Indo-Aryan language, which means that it came from Proto-Indo-Aryan, a language that was spoken northeast of the Caspian Sea in the second millennium BCE.[10]

Most people in Pakistan speak it as a lingua franca. There are parts of India that speak it, such as Delhi, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh, for example. Despite a few differences, the words in Hindi are very similar to Urdu. The way it is written, is different from how Hindi is written. People who speak Hindi and Urdu may be able to able to understand or express the meaning of one of these two scripts in any order.

History

In the 11th century AD, the Ghaznavid Empire ruled over Punjab, the region characterized by five rivers.[11]

Also known as Hind, the Punjab was a land east on the Indus River.[12]

The primary language spoken by Ghaznavids, who were of Turkic ethnicity, was Persian. The Ghaznavids met the people who spoke an Indo-Aryan dialect after acquiring Punjab or Hind, which had Lahore as its capital. The contemporary Punjabi language derives from this language indigenous to the region.[13]

A distinctive dialect, dubbed 'Lashkari Zaban,' was created when Persian began to influence the language of the natives of the region.[11][14]

The Ghaznavids and inhabitants of the area adopted this new language. In the 12th century AD, the Ghaznavids moved to the west of present-day India and brought this language to Delhi. The language was influenced by the Khariboli dialect that was spoken in the area.[15]

From Delhi it spread to the northern regions, where it became a standard way of interacting. Khariboli's influence on the language spread to cities like Lucknow and Hyderabad. Over the course of time, the language has been referred to in numerous ways.[16]

Native poets from these cities and the surrounding areas helped improve it by adding many Persian and Chagatai words to it. They added Arabic words in the language that already existed from Persian.

During the Delhi Sultanate, the language continued to change.

The 'Mughal Empire' was a distinct Muslim empire of Turkic origin, with primary language Chagatai and secondary language Persian. But they did not have any signs that they were from Iran or the Persian region.

At that time, the royal camps' dialect was known as Zaban-i-Ordu.

It is said that the late eighteenth-century AD poet Ghulam Mashafi bestowed upon it the designation “Urdu”, which was shortened from “Zaban-i-Urdu.”[17]

The name "urdu" originated from Chagatai. Chagatai was related to the Turks because they were all part of the same Turkic family, unlike Uzbek and Uyghur languages.

In its own indigenous translation, it was a Lashkari Zaban and Lashkari for short.

The language commonly referred to as Urdu was used as a court language in numerous South Asian cities, including Delhi and Amritsar.[11]

During the time of the British Empire, it gained the designation of "Hindustani." Hindustan, a name associated with the Indus River. The court proceedings were continuing in the language.

It eventually became the first language of many people in North India.

By the end of British rule and the independence of Pakistan, it was selected as the national language for the people of the country because they spoke different languages and dialects.

In India, it became the national language but went by the name Hindi and was written in the Devanagari script. It also used a lesser amount of Arabic, Persian, and Chagatai words and instead, Sanskrit words were adopted in their place.

Today, it is the most widely spoken language in Pakistan in terms of total speakers and a registered language in 22 Indian states.

Relations to Persian

Differences

The letters in Urdu are derived from the Persian/Farsi alphabet, which is derived from the Arabic alphabet. The additional letters that are found in Urdu include ٹ ,ڈ ,ڑ (ṫ, ḋ, ṙ). To make the alphabet more enriched, two letters were created for the sounds ه (h) and ی (y). By adding these letters to the existing Persian letters, the Urdu alphabet became more suitable for the people of Pakistan and for some people of North India, who primarily use nastaliq script. Both are also Indo-Iranic languages descending from Proto-Indo-Iranic, but deriving from separate subbranches, Iranic and Indo-Aryan respectively.[source?]

Similarities

Urdu is written right to left like Farsi (Persian) script. Urdu is also written in the Nasta’ liq style of Persian Calligraphy. Nastaliq style is a cursive script invented by Mīr ʿAlī of Tabrīz, a very famous calligrapher during the Timurid period (1402–1502). Both belong to the Indo-Iranic language subfamily.[source?]

Levels of formality

Lashkari Zabān ("Battalionese language") title in Nashk script

Informal

Urdu in its less formalized register has been called a rekhta (ریختہ, ), meaning "rough mixture". The more formal register of Urdu is sometimes called zabān-e-Urdu-e-mo'alla (زبان اردو معلہ [zəbaːn eː ʊrd̪uː eː moəllaː]), the "Language of Camp."

In local translation, it is called Lashkari Zabān (لشکری زبان‎ [lʌʃkɜ:i: zɑ:bɑ:n])[18] meaning "language of battalions" or "battalion language." This can be shortened to Lashkari.

The etymology of the word used in the Urdu language, for the most part, decides how nice or well done your speech is. For example, Urdu speakers would distinguish between پانی pānī and آب āb, both meaning "water" for example, or between آدمی ādmi and مرد mard, meaning "man." The first word is ad derivative from Adam (آدم) Arabic means from Adam, and it can be used for both man and woman in place of human being. The second word مرد mard refers to a gender or can be used for manly hood as well.

If a word is of Persian or Arabic origin, the level of speech is thought to be more formal. If Persian or Arabic grammar constructs, such as the izafat, are used in Urdu, the level of speech is also thought more formal and correct. If a word is inherited from Chagatai, the level of speech is thought more colloquial and personal.[19]

Formal

Urdu is supposed to be a well-formed language; many of words are used in it to show respect and politeness. This emphasis on politeness, which comes from the vocabulary, is known as Aadab (Courteous) and to sometimes as takalluf (Formal) in Urdu. These words are mostly used when addressing elders, or people with whom one is not met yet. Just like French Vous and Tu. Upon studying French and other forms of Language, similar formal language constructs are present. The whole grammatical layout appears to be almost identical to French language structure. The rules for forming sentences and structuring them are identical[source?]

Poetics

Ghulam Hamdani Mushafi, the poet first believed to have coined the name "Urdu" for the language around 1780 AD. Before that, this language went by different names.[17]

Two well-respected poets who are not only celebrated in the South Asian subcontinent, but are famous in many other communities worldwide are Mirza Ghalib and Sir Dr. Muhammed Iqbal. 

Mirza Ghalib

Further information: Mirza Ghalib

Ghalib (1797-1869) is well-known for his classic satire and sarcasm, as seen in the following verse;

(Latin/Roma alphabet):

Umer bhar hum yun hee ghalati kartey rahen Ghalib

Dhool ch-herey pei thee aur hum aaina saaf karte rahe

(translation):

O Ghalib (himself) all my life I kept making the same mistakes over and over,

I was busy cleaning the mirror while the dirt was on my face. 

Sir Dr Muhammed Iqbal

Further information: Muhammed Iqbal

Iqbal (1877-1938) was a poet, and an active politician. He focused his poetry on bringing out the plight of the suffering Muslim community of British India. In his poetry, he very boldly highlighted the missing virtues and values in the morally corrupt Indian society. Despite much opposition in the beginning, he ended up leaving a considerable impact. He is also called the “Poet of the East” and the “Poet of Islam”. His work is displayed in the following verse;

(Latin/Roma Alphabet):     

Aapne bhe khafa mujh sei beganey bhe na khush

Mein zeher-e-halahal ku kabhi keh na saka qand

(translation):

I could not keep happy either my loved ones or the strangers,

as I could never call a piece of poison a piece of candy.  

Iqbal is considered by many an inspirational poet. He played a large role in the Pakistan Movement, with many claiming that he was the one to imagine and initiate it.

Common Words/Phrases in Urdu

Spoken form
WIKITONGUES-Scarlett speaking Urdu/Lashkari

Formal Urdu:

Aap tashreef rakhein = Please have a seat

Main mu'azzarat chahta/chahti hun = Please excuse me/I apologize

Informal Urdu: Aap bethein (You sit) or Tum betho (Sit, more informal)

Main maafi chahta/chahti hun= I ask for forgiveness

*************

Aap kaisay hein? = How are you?

Main sahein hun = I am fine

Assalam O Alaikum = Peace be upon you (It basically means hello, and it is a common greeting used in Islamic countries or among Muslims in general)

Urdu vs. Hindi--What's the difference?

Although often misunderstood as two separate languages, Urdu and Hindi are two registers of the same Hindustani language, often called Hindi-Urdu.[20] Urdu is the official language of Pakistan and spoken by 71 million people in India.[21] Urdu's vocabulary borrows primarily from Chagatai, Sanskrit, Persian and Arabic. Hindi, also historically known as Hindui (हिंदुई),[22] is the most spoken language of India, which replaces much of Urdu's Farsi, Chagatai and Arabic terminology with Sanskrit derived vocabulary. They are grammatically the same. Everyday words are often shared between the two registers, while formal vocabulary can differ significantly. Urdu and Hindi speakers can understand each other with little to no difficulty, largely from using shared, or English vocabulary, rather than using highly Arabized or Sanskritized vocabulary. Hindi speakers are more likely to use words of Arabic/Persian origin (Kitaab, Dil, Mahobbat), than Urdu speakers are to use words of Sanskrit origin (Pustak, Man, Prem), as Urdu-speaking Pakistani's have less exposure to Hindi, than Hindi-speaking Indians do to Urdu. This can be seen in Bollywoods extensive use of the Urdu register,[23] and India being a nation where both registers are natively spoken.[24]

Example

English: I want to know how your mind is feeling.

Literary Urdu: Mujhe aap ke dimaagh ki jazbaat maatloob hai.

Literary Hindi: Mujhe aap ke mastishk ka bhaav vaanchit hai.

Casual Hindustani: Main tere man* ka haal* jaanna chaata hun.

*man is of Sanskrit origin, while haal is of Arabic origin[25][26]

References

  1. ↑ "What are the top 200 most spoken languages?". Ethnologue. 3 October 2018. Retrieved 2021-02-26.
  2. ↑ Hindustani (2005). Keith Brown (ed.). Encyclopedia of Language and Linguistics (2nd ed.). Elsevier. ISBN 0-08-044299-4.
  3. ↑ Gaurav Takkar. "Short Term Programmes". punarbhava.in. Archived from the original on 15 November 2016. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
  4. ↑ "Indo-Pakistani Sign Language", Encyclopedia of Language and Linguistics
  5. ↑ "Urdu is Telangana's second official language". The Indian Express. 16 November 2017. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  6. ↑ "Urdu is second official language in Telangana as state passes Bill". The News Minute. 17 November 2017. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  7. ↑ "Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 - Chapter 1: Founding Provisions". www.gov.za. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  8. ↑ Aijazuddin Ahmad (2009). Geography of the South Asian Subcontinent: a critical approach. Concept Publishing Company. pp. 120–. ISBN 978-81-8069-568-1. The very word Urdu came into being as the original Lashkari dialect, in other words, the language of the army.
  9. ↑ "Lahore During the Ghaznavid Period" (PDF). Kanwal Khalid, PhD Associate Professor, College of Art and Design University of the Punjab, Lahore.
  10. ↑ Trautmann, Thomas, and Yoda Press. "Indo-European topics."
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Dogra, Ramesh Chander. "Cataloguing Urdu Names." International Library Review 5.3 (1973): 351-377.
  12. ↑ Brard, Gurnam Singh Sidhu. "East of Indus: My memories of old Punjab." (2007).
  13. ↑ Nazir Ahmed Chaudhry (1998). Lahore: Glimpses of a Glorious Heritage. Sang-e-Meel Publications, 1998, University of Michigan (origin). p. 18. ISBN 9693509447.
  14. ↑ "Lahore During the Ghaznavid Period" (PDF). Khanwal, Kahlid Associate Professor, College of Art & Design, Punjab University.
  15. ↑ Bailey, T. Grahame. "Urdu: the Name and the Language." Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society 62.2 (1930): 391-400.
  16. ↑ Shaheen, Shagufta, and Sajjad Shahid. "The Unique Literary Traditions of Dakhnī." Languages and Literary Cultures in Hyderabad (2017): 7.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Garcia, Maria Isabel Maldonado. "The Urdu language reforms." Studies 26 (2011): 97.
  18. ↑ Khan, Sajjad, Waqas Anwar, Usama Bajwa, and Xuan Wang. "Template Based Affix Stemmer for a Morphologically Rich Language." International Arab Journal of Information Technology (IAJIT) 12, no. 2 (2015).
  19. ↑ "About Urdu". Afroz Taj (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill). Retrieved 2008-02-26.
  20. ↑ "Yes, Hindi and Urdu are the same language". Oxford IRSoc. 2017-02-22. Retrieved 2023-06-30.
  21. ↑ "Urdu - Worldwide distribution". Worlddata.info. Retrieved 2023-06-30.
  22. ↑ Dwyer, Rachel. "Hindi/Hindustani". Key Concepts in Modern Indian Studies, edited by Gita Dharampal-Frick, Monika Kirloskar-Steinbach and Jahnavi Phalkey, New York, USA: New York University Press, 2016, pp. 102-103. https://doi.org/10.18574/9781479826834-041
  23. ↑ "Is Urdu losing its charm in Bollywood films?". Deccan Herald. 2021-02-27. Retrieved 2023-06-30.
  24. ↑ Hashmi, Rasia (2019-09-02). "Urdu is the 2nd most spoken language in 5 states". The Siasat Daily. Retrieved 2023-06-30.
  25. ↑ "Meaning of man in English". Rekhta Dictionary. Retrieved 2023-06-30.
  26. ↑ "Meaning of haal in English". Rekhta Dictionary. Retrieved 2023-06-30.

Further reading

Other websites

  • Omniglot page the online encyclopedia of languages and writing systems
Urdu edition of Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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