English and Urdu

With coming of British in India, Urdu came into direct contact with the language that was becoming a very influential in the world. Urdu not only held its ground against English but won a few lovers in the English speaking world.

Urdu has given many words to the English language which are commonly used now. e.g. bazaar, khaki etc. In the latest edition Oxford English Dictionary a few more words have been included.

"What's wrong with Urdu? Even the Oxford Dictionary embraces the usage of yet more words spoken in South Asia in its 11th edition unveiled just recently. Words like dicky (car boot or trunk), batchmate (classmate) fitna (unrest or rebellion), jihad or jihadist, niqab, and punditocracy are now perfectly legit (as the Americans call it) to use as pucca English. "

Read this article from New York, which will give you more background about Urdu and introduce you to some of the scholars.

On Dicky and Fitna : The Daily Star Web Edition