Urdu, Hindi: omitting the correlative

MonsieurGonzalito

Senior Member
Castellano de Argentina
Friends,

The following 2 sentences come from very different backgrounds.
This first one comes from an Urdu religious song, Aaqaa:

jahaaN bhii dekhuuN, teraa nishaan hai

The second comes from some Hindi online magazine's advices about gardening:

jyoN jyoN yah paudhaa baRhtaa jaae_gaa, logoN ko chhaaNv de_gaa

What both sentences have in common, is that they have a relative clause without a correlative counterpart.

For the first sentence, I was told that omitting the "vahaaN" lends more gravity, more lyrical character to the verse (and it also fits the metre, which is important).
But what whould be the effect of omitting a "tyoN tyoN" on the second sentence?

And more generally, I am wright in assuming that the "normal", "unmarked" thing is to always use the correlative word, and that when it is omitted it is usually deliberate, in order to produce some effect?

Thanks in advance for your comments.
 
  • MonsieurGonzalito

    Senior Member
    Castellano de Argentina
    To ask it in a different way: what is the difference between:

    jahaaN bhii dekhuuN, teraa nishaan hai
    and
    jahaaN bhii dekhuuN, vahaaN teraa nishaan hai

    or between

    jyoN jyoN yah paudhaa baRhtaa jaae_gaa, logoN ko chhaaNv de_gaa
    and
    jyoN jyoN yah paudhaa baRhtaa jaae_gaa, tyoN tyoN logoN ko chhaaNv de_gaa ?
     

    littlepond

    Senior Member
    Hindi
    There is no difference, not even in any perceived emphasis! However, your second set of sentence is not so perfect. It should be "detaa jaayegaa." One would often, but it's not necessary, avoid "bhii" in "jahaaN dekhuuN, vahaaN teraa hii nishaan hai."
     

    Qureshpor

    Senior Member
    Panjabi, Urdu پنجابی، اردو
    To ask it in a different way: what is the difference between:

    jahaaN bhii dekhuuN, teraa nishaan hai
    and
    jahaaN bhii dekhuuN, vahaaN teraa nishaan hai

    or between

    jyoN jyoN yah paudhaa baRhtaa jaae_gaa, logoN ko chhaaNv de_gaa
    and
    jyoN jyoN yah paudhaa baRhtaa jaae_gaa, tyoN tyoN logoN ko chhaaNv de_gaa ?
    Yes, there is a difference.

    In the first one, I would say the inclusion of vahaaN provides emphasis to the place the speaker/writer is looking at.

    jahaaN bhii dekhuuN, teraa nishaan hai - Wherever I look, your presence is there.

    jahaaN bhii dekhuuN, vahaaN teraa nishaan hai - Wherever I look, your presence is there.

    jyoN jyoN yah paudhaa baRhtaa jaae_gaa, logoN ko chhaaNv de_gaa

    As this plant keeps on growing, it will provide shade for the people.

    jyoN jyoN yah paudhaa baRhtaa jaae_gaa, tyoN tyoN logoN ko chhaaNv de_gaa

    As this plant keeps on growing, at the same time it will provide shade for the people.
     
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