Urdu
Spoken language
Urdu is an Indo-Aryan language spoken chiefly in South Asia.
It is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan, where it is also an official language alongside English. Wikipedia
Language families: Indo-European languages, Indo-Aryan languages, and Indo-Iranian languages
Dialects: Deccani; Dhakaiya; Judeo-Urdu
Early forms: Shauraseni Prakrit: Apabhraṃśa > Old Hindi > Hindustani > Rekhta
Official language in: Pakistan;
Region: Pakistan (widely used as lingua franca); Hindi Belt and Deccan, India; Afghanistan; Terai, Nepal; Old Dhaka, Bangladesh
Signed forms: Indian Signing System
Speakers: L1: 70 million (2011–2017); L2: 170 million (2020)