LANGUAGE IN INDIA

Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow

Volume 14:5 May 2014
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.
         S. M. Ravichandran, Ph.D.
         G. Baskaran, Ph.D.
         L. Ramamoorthy, Ph.D.
         C. Subburaman, Ph.D. (Economics)
Assistant Managing Editor: Swarna Thirumalai, M.A.

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Resyllabification of English Words by Urdu L1 Speakers

Mazhar Iqbal Ranjha, Ph.D. Scholar
Muhammad Kamal Khan, Ph.D.

Abstract

This paper investigates the resyllabification of English words by L1 Urdu speakers. This qualitative-exploratory research tries to explore the difference between the template/s of original words and the template/s used by the L1 speakers. For this purpose, three different TV recordings of public interviews have been taken as a sample. The results show that most of the words undergo a change when are uttered by the speakers. As every language puts some constraints and restrictions on the syllabification of words so does Urdu. Urdu has different templates from that of English. The study reveals that only CVC template remains stable. In resyllabifying process, Urdu follows templatic method of syllabification. The V and VC templates have been found the most unstable templates. The /?/ sound has also been replaced with long vowel /?:/ and /?/ sound with neutral and central vowel /?/.

1. Introduction

The process of dividing a word into its constituent syllables is called syllabification (Bartlett, Kondrak, & Cherry, 2009) and every language has its own principles of syllabification (Hays, 2011, p. 251). Urdu has the capacity to absorb new words and has a handsome vocabulary of English words. However it has its own principles of syllabification. Contrary to English, Urdu is Language in India www.languageinindia.com 14:5 May 2014 M.I. Ranjha and M. K. Khan, Ph.D. <261-280> right to left language and imposes some restriction on its syllabification. It does not allow more than one consonant on onset position and maximum two on coda where as English allows as many as three on either side. In English non-vocalic sounds also behave as nucleus while Urdu never permits any non-vocalic sound at this position. When foreign words like that of English are spoken by Urdu Pakistani speakers, sometimes they either delete some sound/s or add epenthesis. For example station /ste???n/ as astation /??ste???n/.

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

Mazhar Iqbal Ranjha, Ph.D. Scholar
Prof.mazhariqbalranjha@gmail.com

Muhammad Kamal Khan, Ph.D.
mkkamazai@hotmail.com
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