BEYOND TRANSLATION: LINGUISTIC AND CULTURAL DIVERGENCE IN URDU-ENGLISH PROVERBS

Abstract

This study investigates the semantic and structural dimensions of English and Urdu proverbs through the lens of Lado's Contrastive Analysis Hypothesis. By analyzing 15 proverb pairs, this research identifies areas of convergence and divergence in how these linguistically and culturally distinct languages encode collective wisdom. Findings reveal that while both languages utilize proverbs to convey universal themes such as morality, wisdom, and social behavior, significant differences emerge in metaphorical expressions, syntactic structures, and cultural connotations. English proverbs demonstrate greater structural rigidity and abstract conceptualization, reflecting individualistic cultural orientations, whereas Urdu proverbs exhibit more flexibility, poetic devices, and collectivist values. The analysis demonstrates how linguistic structures in proverbs serve as vehicles for cultural worldview transmission, with Urdu showing greater reliance on contextual imagery and emotional resonance. This research contributes to contrastive linguistics, translation studies, and cross-cultural communication by providing empirical evidence of how proverbial expressions reveal the intricate relationship between language, cognition, and culture. The findings have significant implications for language pedagogy, translation practices, and intercultural understanding in bilingual contexts.