Some Issues with the Orientalists’ Urdu-English Dictionaries

Abstract

After their invasion in the sub-continent, the British rulers took great interest in the local languages in order to understand the beliefs, literature and folklore of the natives. They prepared materials and dictionaries in order to facilitate the learning of the local languages. The Urdu-English dictionaries written by them are of great merit as they mark the beginning of lexicography in the Indian sub-continent on sound principles. Despite being of great merit, these dictionaries do not measure up to the needs of the learners of English in Pakistan. Their needs and wants warrant the publishing of an Urdu-English learner’s dictionary which incorporates the new developments in the fields of lexicography, applied linguistics and information technology.