اردو تلفظ پر غیر ملکی زبانوں کے اثرات : ایک معاصر مطالعہ

THE EFFECTS OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES ON URDU PRONUNCIATION: A CONTEMPORARY STUDY

Abstract

The phonetic system of the Urdu language is a profound manifestation of cultural synthesis, reflecting centuries of interaction between Indo-Aryan, Semitic, and Indo-Iranian linguistic traditions. This article explores the historical impact of foreign languages—primarily Arabic, Persian, and English—on Urdu pronunciation (Talaffuz) and analyzes the factors contributing to its contemporary decay. Historically, Arabic provided Urdu with its articulatory depth (Makharij), while Persian infused it with melodic elegance, and its Indo-Aryan roots preserved its local identity through retroflex and aspirated sounds. However, the research highlights a significant shift in the modern era. The influence of the English language, accelerated by the post-1857 socio-political changes and contemporary globalization, has altered traditional phonetic patterns. A critical portion of the study is dedicated to the "contemporary corruption" of pronunciation driven by electronic and social media. The lack of familiarity with diacritics (Erab), the dominance of English-medium backgrounds among media professionals, and the haste of digital communication have led to the normalization of "vulgar errors" (Ghalat-ul-Awam). The article concludes that this phonetic decline poses a threat to the semantic integrity of the language. It recommends institutional intervention, the establishment of linguistic codes of conduct for media, and the development of digital phonetic tools to safeguard the classical eloquence of Urdu in the digital age.