Phono-semantics and Translation: A Cross-Linguistic Study of Urdu and Punjabi Ideophones

Abstract

Ideophones are marked linguistic expressions that vividly evoke sensory imagery through sound symbolism. Common across numerous languages, particularly in African and Asian linguistic traditions, ideophones are underexplored in many Indo-Aryan languages such as Urdu and Punjabi. This paper investigates the phonetic, semantic, and cultural dimensions of ideophones in these two languages, highlighting their role in expressive communication and narrative performance. Drawing on descriptive and comparative analysis, the study examines the structural patterns, iconicity, and translation challenges posed by ideophones due to their culture-specific and often non-compositional meanings. It also considers the implications of ideophones for theories of meaning, embodiment, and linguistic typology. The findings contribute to broader discussions in linguistics about multimodality, language ideation, and the intersection of phono semantics and culture.