Analysis of Linguistic Variation in Urdu Language Through Ages

Assignment # 2

Madiha Shams
An Analysis of Linguistic Variation Through Ages
Selected Material: Ghalib's Letter

I have selected one of Ghalib’s letters to observe the kind of changes Urdu language has undergone through the decades.

While analyzing the letter I came across many lexical terms which are no more used or are rather replaced with new linguistic items. These lexical items are as following.

Old Urdu Lexical Terms                                      New Equivalent Lexical Terms

Jharaay                                                                                khezaan

Abr                                                                                       barish

Kasad                                                                                   Irada

Hoos                                                                                    Talaab

Sang                                                                                    Pather

Khak                                                                                   Matti

Dha                                                                                     Gira

Zoja                                                                                    Biwi

Khabr Tarashoon                                                              Sahafi

Gustakhi                                                                           Battamizi

Bay-adbiyan                                                                    Bay-adbi

Extinct Words:

Ibarat araeyaan, Sehr sazi, Sukhen parwazi, Ruday neel, Shunbay. , Azeemat, Sitm paisha.