|
| SIL code: |
URD |
| ISO 639-1: |
ur |
| ISO 639-2: |
urd |
| |
| Population |
10,719,000 mother tongue speakers in Pakistan (1993), 7.57%
of the population. Population total all countries 60,290,000
or more. Including second language speakers: 104,000,000 (1999
WA). |
| Region |
Also spoken in Afghanistan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Botswana,
Fiji, Germany, Guyana, India, Malawi, Mauritius, Nepal, Norway,
Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Thailand, UAE, United
Kingdom, Zambia. |
| Classification |
Indo-European,
Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Central zone, Western Hindi, Hindustani. |
| Comments |
Intelligible with Hindi, but has formal vocabulary borrowed
from Arabic and Persian. The second or third language of most
Pakistanis for whom it is not the mother tongue. National
language. Grammar. Arabic script in Nastaliq style with several
extra characters used. Muslim. Bible 1843-1998. |
Also spoken in
India
|
| Language name |
URDU |
| Population |
48,062,000 in India (1997 IMA). |
| Alternate names |
ISLAMI, UNDRI, URUDU |
| Dialects |
DAKHINI (DAKANI, DECCAN, DESIA, MIRGAN), PINJARI, REKHTA
(REKHTI). |
| Comments |
Dakhini is freer of Persian and Arabic loans than Urdu.
Rekhta is a form of Urdu used in poetry. National language.
Arabic script for both Urdu and Dakhini. Muslim. Bible 1843-1998.
See main entry under Pakistan. |
| |
| Mauritius |
|
| Language name |
URDU |
| Population |
64,000 in Mauritius (1993 Johnstone). |
| Comments |
Often used in government and politics. Muslim. Bible 1843-1998.
See main entry under Pakistan. |
| |
| South
Africa |
|
| Language name |
URDU |
| Population |
170,000 South Asian Muslims in South Africa (1987). |
| Comments |
Most speak English. Merchants, traders, industrial, professional
(medicine, computers), clerical workers, craftsmen. Muslim.
Bible 1843-1998. See main entry under Pakistan. |
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