'اُردو لغت (تاریخی اصول پر)' : تدوینی طریقۂ کار اور علمی اہمیت کا تحقیقی مطالعہ

‘Urdu Lughat (Tarikhi Usool par)’: A Study of Compilation Methodology and Scholarly Significance

Abstract

This article traces the 52-year development of the 22-volume Urdu Dictionary (Urdu Lughat: Tarikhi Usool par), a landmark lexicographical project undertaken by the Urdu Dictionary Board and completed in 2010. It examines the dictionary's compilation process, methodological foundations, the contributions of its leading scholars, and the academic and linguistic challenges encountered throughout its preparation, including critical assessments of its lexical and phonological accuracy. The study argues that the dictionary established a comprehensive and standardized lexical resource that significantly strengthened Urdu's status as a major language of scholarship. It concludes by highlighting the importance of the dictionary's digital transformation and emphasizing the need for periodic revisions to incorporate emerging vocabulary, refine pronunciation standards, and ensure its continued relevance in contemporary linguistic and digital contexts.