kiya yeh Urdu hai? (whay type of Urdu it is?)

[nadim]

just saw this page, look at the words used in it. very strange for me.
my fellow members,
where this type of urdu is spoken or written?
is it good or right to compulsory translate every word in urdu?
comments from everyone speaking urdu is welcome.

 

[marrish]

Dear Nadim,

I'd call this kind of language "trumped-up Urdu". As the Wikipedia article is written in Urdu (it is not an English language article), every word should be written in this language, not in other languages.

A person who knows only Urdu should be able to understand it.

Words that are not current in Urdu must be avoided, taking English wholesale shouldn't be done either.

A compound like "baazii-ifaadah" (sic!), made to function as an adjective, is MORE unintelleglible than the English words if left untranslated.

Then, you may not be familiar with the word "naaqil", but I can assure you that it is a healthy word. The only problem is that it has a completely different - if not opposite - meaning!!!

One thing that is okay with me in the article is the grammar.

In any case, this is only my private opinion on the first sight.

 

[nadim]

Dear Nadim,

I'd call this kind of language "trumped-up Urdu". As the Wikipedia article is written in Urdu (it is not an English language article), every word should be written in this language, not in other languages.

A person who knows only Urdu should be able to understand it.

Words that are not current in Urdu must be avoided, taking English wholesale shouldn't be done either.

A compound like "baazii-ifaadah" (sic!), made to function as an adjective, is MORE unintelleglible than the English words if left untranslated.

Then, you may not be familiar with the word "naaqil", but I can assure you that it is a healthy word. The only problem is that it has completely different - if not opposite - meaning!!!

The only thing that is okay with me in the article is the grammar.

In any case, this is only my private opinion on the first sight.

u r right, isn´t it like making fun of urdu

 

[marrish]

It's a really good find!

 

[Alfaaz]

nadim SaaHib, if you have seen some of the previous threads where this topic was briefly discussed, you will see that there are usually two opinions on this subject (summarized below):

• Such translations are ludicrous and the English words should be directly borrowed/transliterations should be used.
  • This appears to be your opinion in this thread...!?
• Such additions to Urdu's technical vocabulary are allowing it to become updated according to current times. Even though they might sound odd and incomprehensible in the beginning, this perception could fade once the terms gain currency after repeated usage (just as has occurred in English and other languages). If one looks at the roots/original meanings of many of the technical terms used in English now, they might similarly sound strange. Due to repeated usage, however, they have gained acceptance and now seem completely "normal"!
  • Persian and Urdu Specialised/technical terminology is a probably a good example of this phenomenon. Many of the terms might sound odd to those who are not in the related fields, but would sound fine to those who are and use them regularly.

 

[tarkshya]

I hope this is not off topic. In India, Hindi has evolved up to the extent that while writing in Hindi, common English words are not just left untranslated, they are actually typed in Roman letters as well. That too in government notifications. Just take a look at the below pictures to know what I am saying.

http://i.ndtvimg.com/i/2016-01/pollution-meter_650x400_71451668066.jpg

http://img01.ibnlive.in/ibnlive/uploads/2016/01/odd_even_tt_cjs_wkt.jpg

I think it is a welcome development. Instead of coining awkward sounding words, languages should just adopt foreign words which are already well known.

 

[amiramir]

http://i.ndtvimg.com/i/2016-01/pollution-meter_650x400_71451668066.jpg

http://img01.ibnlive.in/ibnlive/uploads/2016/01/odd_even_tt_cjs_wkt.jpg

I don't know what I think. I like the idea of a language keeping up with modernity. On the other hand, insisting on ridiculous calques also invites derision. I don't think that the above two pics prove your point though.

I'm pretty sure that average man on the Delhi street is not going to understand 'severe, satisfactory, etc'-- I fail to see why that's in English. If the whole sign had been in Hindi, with the exception of 'Live'-- then I think it would have supported your argument better, since I'm sure most people will understand 'live.' Again the second sign is also a bit disappointing in that is there really no colloquial way to say odd and even? And what is the point of writing 'kaar' in Hindi instead of gaaDi? I really try to be open to language development, etc, but there's something about these signs that points to a general slow capitulation to English-- i.e. not even pretending to be a real alternative to English.

 

[nadim]

its very interesting to get points of my learned folks.
I think everyone is ok with healthy, natural development of language, more or less, but here arise a few questions:
are we afraid of taking over the english, the most important language of our era, over urdu?
how far should we insist on the local or official language of the region? (because urdu is not spoken or understand completely all over the country)

I think there may be two levels of language, academic and street. again in academic there are two more classifications, urdu literary and science. The street language has its own path, I think no one can control it. At academic level, both urdu literary and science, are important. Without learning the pure shudh urdu, we cant understand and relate to our past. And for the sciene and current subjects, we must avoid the terms like baazi afaada naaqil or mustaqir chopahiya.

By the way I personally like some hindi alternatives, aakaash wani, door darshan. May be hindi is more vast as compared to urdu. But in this facebook age, things are pretty fast. May be we are converting to a global language.

all comments are welcome, specially contradictary