A Critical and Analytical study of Orientalist’s Contribution in Urdu Dictionaries and Glossaries

مستشرقین کی لغت وفرہنگ نویسی کے محرکات: تحقیقی وتنقیدی مطالعہ

Abstract

European invasion in the sub-continent impacted every aspect of the life of this continent. They as ruler took great interest in local languages. Their motive is to understand subcontinent customs and belief system. They set up various educational institutes to learn the indigenous languages. There were no such books of local languages which can be used as syllabus. In order to learn the local languages, they prepared dictionaries, glossaries and grammar books. Some of these dictionaries and glossaries were published from Europe and rest of them from sub-continent. Most of orientalist work got funding from their governments. Overall purpose of their compilations was to strengthen their rule in sub-continent by understanding their culture and belief system and to improve their trade in this part of land but research proved that some of orientalist’s work was based on their interest and affection with local languages.

Keywords: Orientalism, dictionary, glossary, trade, subcontinent, colonialism, Hindustani, Culture, belief