ABSTRACT
A Contrastive Study on Tense of Korean and Urdu
Atif Faraz
Majoring in Korean Studies
Department of Korean Studies
The Graduate School of Sangmyung University
We have studied about the tenses in Urdu and Korean in this dissertatio...
ABSTRACT
A Contrastive Study on Tense of Korean and Urdu
Atif Faraz
Majoring in Korean Studies
Department of Korean Studies
The Graduate School of Sangmyung University
We have studied about the tenses in Urdu and Korean in this dissertation. It is noteworthy that the two languages possess quite a few similarities despite the fact that they belong to two different language families.
The basic sentence structure of both languages is the same. The combination for both languages is Subject, Object and Verb. It can be interesting to find that both Urdu and Korean have the same sentence structure despite belonging to two different language family groups.
Both Urdu and Korean show liberty when it comes to the place of words. In both languages you can move the words within the sentence to form a new combination, and still it doesn’t change the actual meaning of the sentence but one has to keep the verb at the end of the sentence.
Verbs in Korean end with ‘-다,/Da/’ whereas verbs in Urdu end with /Na/.
The ending of a sentence has to be changed and adjusted in accordance with nouns gender, number or case. Such characteristic can’t be found in Korean language.
We have seen already that ending of an Urdu sentence has to be adjusted with respect to noun’s gender, number or case, but sometimes, the verb is changed due to subject and sometimes due to object of the sentence. People who study Urdu as a foreign language have no choice but to memorize all the genders of the nouns, something they will find very difficult to grasp and master.
When it comes to making interrogative sentences, both Urdu and Korean are quite similar in one way that is to use the intonation. In both languages if the ending of the sentence goes up rather than staying steady then the sentence becomes an interrogative one. Also, Korean sentences ending with ‘-까?’ are all interrogatives, this word comes at the end of the sentence. Whereas in Urdu the word that is used to demonstrate interrogative is /Kya/ and it is placed at the very beginning of the sentence. So, ‘-까?’of Korean language and /Kya/ of Urdu language are playing a similar role.
When it comes to tense studies, I’d like to say that both Urdu and Korean are quite complicated and complex, making it difficult for any foreigner to master at the beginning. Tense in both languages can be elaborated by the undermentioned points.
First, present Tense in Korean can be made by using three different methods, whereas only two methods are used in Urdu to make present tense.
Second, when using Present tense or present continuous tense for interrogative sentences in Urdu, the sentence ending /Hun, Hai, Ho, Hain/ is dropped. Same characteristic can be seen when using negative sentences. Korean language doesn’t possess such phenomenon.
Third, in both Urdu and Korean, character of things, current state, repetitive actions or habits and universal truths are represented in present tense.
Fourth, time Adverbs ‘today’, ‘these days’, ‘now’, etc are used in present tense in Korean language. However, even though we can use time adverbs ‘today’, ‘these days’ or ‘now’ in present tense in Urdu but when we use time adverb ‘now’ it can also be used as continuous tense. In this matter, Urdu behaves more like English or other western languages. Also, if we use ‘today’ or ‘these days’ when the action has already taken place, then we have to use past tense in Urdu. Likewise, if we use ‘today’ or ‘these days’ when the action is still to take place then we have to use future tense. This is perhaps one of the biggest differences in these languages as far as tenses are concerned.
Fifth, in Korean language, one can use present tense even when the incident is due to take place in the future, as long as it is an expected, scheduled or arranged action. However, in Urdu no such liberties are available and one has to use the future tense even if the action that is due to take place is planned, expected or scheduled. This is another area where Urdu behaves more like English or other western languages.
Sixth, when we use past tense in Urdu, if the sentence has no object, then we add another word right after the noun which is /Ne/. In Urdu /Ne/ is used only in past tense. This is probably the most difficult and complicated part of Urdu language for Korean speakers where they can find no examples in their own language and have to come to terms with this phenomenon of Urdu language. Moreover, the noun itself is changed when used as plural instead of singular. For example, in 3rd person plural term, the noun /Jin/ is changed into /Jinhon Ne/, noun /kin/ is changed into /Kinhon Ne/ and the noun /Un/ is changed into /Unhon Ne/. If we don’t change it according to these rules, we can’t make a proper sentence. Even the native Urdu speakers sometimes use /Ne/ in present tense, that is, however a wrong practice.
Seventh, while making negative sentences, we use ‘안’ in Korean and /Nahin/ in Urdu. Both these words are placed right before the verb in the sentence and are playing a similar role giving the same meaning.
Eighth, it is possible in Korean to express the strong or normal intention of the speaker to carry out an act regarding how the sentence is ended but no such expression is available in Urdu. One can only express the strong will by using the intonation or pitch of the voice. However a word /Zarur/ can be added right before the verb to express the strong intention of the speaker to carry out some act. This word /Zarur/ in Urdu has the same meaning and place as ‘꼭’of Korean language.
We have studies about the tenses of Urdu and Korean languages. Studies regarding tenses of Korean language are underway at a lively, brisk and vigorous pace. But no such zeal can be seen when it comes to Urdu. One of the main reasons for that is that Urdu major students in Pakistan normally don’t write dissertations on gr
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