STRUCTURAL AND SEMANTIC FUNCTIONS OF INTERFIXES IN URDU NOMINAL CONSTRUCTIONS: A CONSTRUCTION MORPHOLOGY PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

This study examines the morphological process of interfixation in Urdu noun formation, focusing on its structural, phonological, and semantic functions. As a contact language shaped by Arabic and Persian, Urdu displays a complex nominal system influenced by multiple linguistic traditions. Drawing on Geert Booij's Construction Morphology (2010), which conceptualizes morphological patterns as form–meaning pairings, the study reconceptualizes interfixes as meaningful linking elements rather than purely phonological connectors. It specifically analyzes forms such as izāfat (-e-), coordinative (-o-), and Arabic genitive (-ul-), demonstrating that they function as constructional morphemes encoding relational, genitive, and coordinative meanings within nominal compounds. Using qualitative data from authoritative lexicographic sources, including Rekhta and Feroz-ul-Lughat, the study identifies systematic and rule-governed patterns of interfix insertion. The findings reveal that interfixation enhances both morphological productivity and semantic cohesion, reflecting the hybrid and cognitively motivated nature of Urdu morphology. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of noun-internal structure in Urdu. It highlights the broader typological significance of interfixation, while suggesting avenues for future research on other regional Pakistani languages.