Urdu

Urdu

An example of Urdu script.

Urdu ( ) is an Indo-Aryan language spoken chiefly in Pakistan and India. It is the official national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. In India, it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and is an official language of five states. Urdu is also widely spoken in the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States, among other countries.

History

A historical manuscript in Urdu.

Urdu developed during the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughal Empire in South Asia. It evolved from the Apabhraṃśa register of the preceding Shauraseni language, a Middle Indo-Aryan language. The language was influenced by Persian, Arabic, and Turkish due to the cultural and political influence of the Persianate Mughal Empire.

Script and Orthography

Urdu is written in the Perso-Arabic script, which is a right-to-left script. The script is an extension of the Arabic script with additional letters to accommodate the phonetic requirements of Urdu. The script is known for its calligraphic beauty and is used in various forms of art and literature.

Geographical Distribution

Geographical distribution of Urdu in India and Pakistan.

Urdu is predominantly spoken in Pakistan, where it serves as the national language and a symbol of national identity. In India, it is spoken in several states, including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Telangana, Jammu and Kashmir, and Delhi. The language has a significant number of speakers in the Middle East, particularly in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, due to the large South Asian diaspora.

Cultural Significance

Urdu holds a prestigious place in South Asian culture, particularly in the fields of literature, poetry, and music. The language is known for its rich literary tradition, with notable poets such as Mirza Ghalib, Allama Iqbal, and Faiz Ahmed Faiz. Urdu poetry, especially ghazals, is celebrated for its emotional depth and linguistic beauty.

Official Status

Urdu speakers by Pakistani district according to the 2017 Census.

In Pakistan, Urdu is the official language and is used in government, education, and media. In India, it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and is an official language in several states. Urdu is also recognized as a minority language in several countries with significant South Asian communities.

Usage in Public Signage

A signboard in the UAE featuring Urdu.

Urdu is commonly used in public signage in Pakistan and in areas with significant Urdu-speaking populations. In India, it is often seen on trilingual road signs alongside Hindi and English.

Related Pages

• Hindi
• Indo-Aryan languages
• Persian language
• Arabic language
• Mughal Empire