Urdu started developing around the 12th century in North India, near Delhi.
Urdu's origins can be traced to the region around Delhi, where it emerged as a lingua franca. This means it served as a common language for communication between people who spoke different languages. The development of Urdu was heavily influenced by several languages:
- Local dialects: It was based on the existing languages spoken in the Delhi area.
- Persian: Persian was the court language of the Delhi Sultanate and Mughal Empire, and had a significant impact on Urdu's vocabulary and literary style.
- Arabic: Arabic, the language of the Quran, also contributed significantly to Urdu, primarily in terms of religious and scholarly vocabulary.
- Turkish: Turkish, spoken by the ruling elite of the Delhi Sultanate, also influenced Urdu.
The interaction between these languages led to the creation of a new language, eventually recognized as Urdu. While the 12th century marks the beginning of its development, it's important to understand that it was a gradual process, rather than a single event of "invention." The language continued to evolve and refine over the centuries.
