constructing pathways to translation - Higher Education Commission

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there is ambiguity, but it is restricted to the word level, and is not there in sentences. The
sentence exposes its meanings, as plural or singular. This ambiguity is sometimes
eliminated with the addition of figures, and sometimes with definitions. Like “Aap ka
makan” is singular, and “Aap key makan” is plural, or “Aik Makan” is singular, and
“Doo makan” is plural. Majority of Urdu translators blindly follow Arabic and Persian
translators, which has no grammatical justification.
In order to form plural of a feminine, one needs to consider whether it ends with “Yeh
Maroof”(ﯼ) or not. If it ends with “Yeh” (ے) the plural would be formed with the
replacement of “Yeh” with “Yan” (ںا), like “Beti” into ‘Betiyan’ and ‘Larki’ into
‘Larkiyan’. Here care must be taken, since some of the translators have used ‘Kursyean’
instead of ‘Kursiyan’.
Special care must also be taken, where the word sounds like feminine but in reality is
masculine; the word ends with “Yeh maroof” but is male in reality. Examples are ‘Pani’,
‘Ghee, Hathi’ and ‘Moti’, etc. It is essential to treat them as Masculine, when
converting them into plural. If the word does not end with “Yeh”, then “ein” (ںﻳ) would
be added, like “Aurat” into ‘Auratein’ as plural (Baig,1988: 64).
Formation of unmarked Plural (Jama-i-Ghair Faili) or Plural Post- Position (Jamai-Ghair
Mughree)
In this case letters, ‘oun’(ںﻮ) are added, like ‘Ghar’ into ‘Gharoun’, Maiz into Maizoon
and Dukan into Dukanoun to make unmarked plural. However care should be taken
when Masculine singular word ends with “Alif”, the “Alif” would be eliminated like
Beta into Betoon and Larka into Larkoon.
It is important to consider that some words in English are used in plural form and their
counterpart in Urdu would remain singular, like ‘Trousers’ and ‘Scissors’ would be
‘Pajama’ and ‘Kainchey’ as singulars. Here the translators must follow the practice in
Urdu.
Sometimes an English word has different meanings when used as a singular , than when
used as plural. The meanings contained in singular form are totally different from the
one used as plural, like ‘Good’ is used as “Omda” and “Acha”, while the meanings of