LANGUAGE IN INDIA

Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow

Volume 15:12 December 2015
ISSN 1930-2940

Managing Editor: M. S. Thirumalai, Ph.D.
Editors: B. Mallikarjun, Ph.D.
         Sam Mohanlal, Ph.D.
         B. A. Sharada, Ph.D.
         A. R. Fatihi, Ph.D.
         Lakhan Gusain, Ph.D.
         Jennifer Marie Bayer, Ph.D.
         G. Baskaran, Ph.D.
         L. Ramamoorthy, Ph.D.
         C. Subburaman, Ph.D. (Economics)
         N. Nadaraja Pillai, Ph.D.
         Soibam Rebika Devi, M.Sc., Ph.D.
Assistant Managing Editor: Swarna Thirumalai, M.A.

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A Semantic, Syntactic, Grammatical and Cultural Description of Urdu Idiomatic Phrases

Sumaira Akhtar, M.Phil. Applied Linguistics
Muhammad Rizwan, M.Phil. Applied Linguistics


Abstract

The nature of this think-piece is the investigation into the semantic, syntactic, grammatical and cultural unraveling of Urdu idiomatic phrases. For this object the researchers selected eighty idiomatic expressions from the Urdu language by following data driven approach. The data was analyzed qualitatively and presented in tables. The outcomes gathered from the data analysis indicated that Urdu idioms from the viewpoint of their semantics may be complex, semi-complex and translucent. As regards their syntactic structure, most of the idioms follow: noun + noun, noun + verb and noun + adjective structural pattern. In so far as the grammatical description of Urdu idioms is concerned, they can be verbal, adverbial, adjectival and nominal. A number of Urdu idiomatic expressions are cultural specific and they can only be used and comprehended by parties of shared cultural values.

Keywords: semantic, syntactic, cultural, grammatical, constituent, figurative, collocation.

Introduction

Idiomatic lexis and terminology transpire most recurrently in Urdu. This study carries the contribution and involvement of the depiction of Urdu idioms and their semantic, syntactic, cultural, grammatical traits to facilitate and govern their use and their configuration in the Urdu language. In a lexicon, idioms co-operate and participate to perform a dominant and noteworthy position. Idiomatic expressions and their description are not considered a new-fangled and innovative phenomenon across the languages. Hockett (1958) and Malikiel’s (1959) contribution and input about the doctoral thesis and binomials were exceedingly advantageous towards idiomaticity. Alexander (1984, 1987), McCarthy (1992), and finally Moon (1998) highlighted a wide range of angles and perspectives of idioms and their authenticity and genuineness in the Urdu language. Systematically, words take place together in a shape of cluster. Collocational patterning is viewed in words. Because of collocational ties, the consequential cluster looks regular and simple in its structure accordingly. Words offer an impression of unaccompanied entity which performs the function of single lexeme having a particular significance of meaning. Because of such accomplishments and undertakings, these lexemes are categorized into “Multiword Units”. Several types of such units are viewed. Along with these varieties, idioms are merely a solitary component of them.


This is only the beginning part of the article. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE IN PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION.


Sumaira Akhtar, M.Phil. Applied
University of Management and Technology Lahore, Pakistan
illusivelife10@gmail.com

Muhammad Rizwan, M.Phil. Applied Linguistics
University of Management and Technology Lahore, Pakistan
malikje17@gmail.com

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