Urdu language

Urdu

Pronunciation
Native to
Region
Ethnicity
Speakers	70 million native speakers
Language family	Indo-European
Early forms
Writing system
Official status
Regulated by

Urdu (اردو) is an Indo-Aryan language, primarily spoken in South Asia. It is the national language of Pakistan and one of the 22 scheduled languages of India. Urdu is also officially recognized in the constitution of India and has official language status in the Indian states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Telangana, and others. It is mutually intelligible with Hindi, with both languages sharing a common Indo-European origin and significant vocabulary from Persian, Arabic, and Turkic.

History

Urdu developed during the Delhi Sultanate and Mughal Empire in South Asia, where Persian was the official language. The language was initially called Hindvi and later known as Urdu, meaning "the language of the camp" in Turkish. It evolved from the medieval (6th to 13th century) Apabhraṃśa register of the preceding Shauraseni language, a Middle Indo-Aryan language.

Literature

Urdu literature boasts a rich tradition of poetry and prose. The classical period of Urdu literature dates back to the 16th century, with notable poets such as Mirza Ghalib, Allama Iqbal, and Faiz Ahmed Faiz. Urdu prose literature developed in the 19th century and includes genres such as the novel, short story, and drama. Prominent prose writers include Saadat Hasan Manto and Ismat Chughtai.

Script

Urdu is written in the Nastaʿlīq script, which is a derivative of the Arabic script. It is written from right to left and has a distinct calligraphic style. The script is also used for Persian and Pashto in the region.

Dialects

Urdu has several dialects, including Dakhini (spoken in Deccan), Rekhta (used in Urdu poetry), and Modern Vernacular Urdu (based on the Khariboli dialect of the Delhi region).

Usage

Urdu is used in various domains of life including education, literature, office and court business in Pakistan. It holds a significant place in cultural, political, and social aspects in Pakistan and India. Urdu media is vibrant and encompasses a wide array of television channels, newspapers, and radio stations.

Education

Urdu is taught as a first language in schools in Pakistan and as a second language in many schools in India. It is also studied as a subject at higher levels of education in both countries.

See also

• Languages of Pakistan
• Languages of India
• Hindustani language
• Persian language influence on Urdu