Kunal Kapoor
Independent Researcher
Punjab, India
Abstract
This study undertakes a comprehensive exploration of Urdu’s multifaceted role in public street-level communication within Hyderabad’s rich multilingual milieu. Drawing on six weeks of ethnographic observations across four major marketplaces—Laad Bazaar, Sultan Bazaar, Begum Bazaar, and Koti—along with thirty hours of audio-recorded natural conversations and sixty semi-structured interviews, the research illuminates the dynamic functions that Urdu serves in everyday urban interactions. Far from being a relic of historical prestige alone, Urdu emerges as a practical lingua franca that facilitates commercial exchanges, a symbolic marker of communal identity, and an aesthetic resource enriching speech with politeness and warmth. Vendors and customers employ Urdu not only to broaden their clientele and smooth negotiation processes but also to evoke cultural solidarity, particularly in Muslim-majority sections adjacent to religious landmarks. Patterns of code-switching—ranging from single-word insertions of honorifics to full-clause alternations—reveal strategic language choices that interlocutors deploy to signal respect, assert group membership, and navigate shifting social contexts. Quantitative analysis indicates that nearly half of all recorded utterances contained Urdu elements, underscoring its persistence even as Telugu, Hindi, and English compete for dominance. Written signage data further demonstrate Urdu’s visual presence in shop names and promotional messages, often co-presented with Telugu and English to maximize reach. The study concludes that Urdu in Hyderabad has evolved into a resilient sociolinguistic tool: it bridges linguistic communities, sustains cultural memory, and adapts to contemporary urban demands. These findings carry implications for language policy, urban planning, and heritage preservation, suggesting that supporting Urdu’s visibility in education, media, and public signage can foster greater social cohesion and economic opportunity in a rapidly changing cityscape.
Keywords
Urdu, Multilingualism, Street Communication, Hyderabad, Code-Switching, Sociolinguistics
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