constructing pathways to translation - Higher Education Commission

151
East is not unfamiliar with its words. It appears to have reached all corners of the globe
which have been visited by Indians or where Indians have settled’ (Qadir,1989:05).
4.2 DEVELOPMENT OF URDU PROSE
The development of every language shows that in its beginning, it creates good deal of
poetry, but as it grows, poetry gradually gives place to prose. The real wealth and status
of language is judged in modern times, by the wealth of its prose.
The earliest contacts between Urdu and the West were through the Portuguese and the
French. A large number of words in everyday use are a legacy left by them. Words like
almari (wardrobe), mez (table), pistaul (pistol) and nilam (auction) among a host of
others, commemorate Indian contact, with the Portuguese. Similarly, there are large
number of French words which form a part of the Urdu language, for example. Chand
Mari(Champ de Mars), edikang(aid-de-camp), quami(Chemise), Sabun(Savon),and
botam (boutan).
With the passing away of the influence of the Portuguese and French, came the more
lasting contact with the English, and numerous English words have now found their way
into Urdu Language and Literature. It is difficult to form a correct estimate of the number
of such words. In an article written many years ago by the late professor Wahid-ud-Din
Salim, it was stated, that he found no less then 500 English words in Farhang-i-Asafia,
the well known Urdu dictionary compiled by Maulvi Sayid Ahmad of Delhi. It must be
remembered that the dictionary was published more than thirty years before Professor
Salim framed his estimate. The number has grown enormously since, and now more than
1,000 words would be a modest estimate. Many of the recent inclusions relate to
common usage like school, company, doctor, rail, ticket, etc. Some words relate to
science, technology and modern inventions, for which there were none in Urdu.
Sometimes efforts are made to coin new words by way of translation, but such efforts are
not very successful, nor very popular, being archaic, outlandish or difficult. There are
also words relating to politics and civic institutions which have been adopted by writer in
Urdu journals and periodicals and by speakers on political platforms, as for instance,
council, parliament, president, vote, ballot, etc.