Punjabi

Punjabi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by inhabitants of the historical Punjab region in South Asia. It is the native language of the Punjabi people, and the official language of the Indian state of Punjab and the Islamabad Capital Territory and one of the 22 scheduled languages of India. It is also widely spoken in Punjab, Pakistan.

Etymology

The term Punjabi can mean both a person who lives in Punjab and also a speaker of the Punjabi language. This linguistic definition is synonymous with the cultural definition of a Punjabi: a person who lives in Punjab and/or practices the cultural traits associated with the region.

History

The Punjabi language has its origins in the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It evolved from the Shauraseni Prakrit which was used in the post-Vedic period in the north of the Indian subcontinent.

Dialects

Punjabi has many dialects. The major dialects are Majhi, Doabi, Malwai, and Powadhi in India, and Pothohari, Multani, and Derawali in Pakistan.

Writing systems

Punjabi is written in two different scripts, called Gurmukhi and Shahmukhi. Gurmukhi, which is the most common script used for writing Punjabi in India, is considered the official script for Punjabi, while Shahmukhi is used in Pakistan.

Literature

Punjabi literature has a rich history and includes a variety of genre. The earliest Punjabi literature is found in the fragments of writings of the 11th century Nath yogis Gorakshanath and Charpatnah which are primarily spiritual and mystical in tone.

See also

• Punjabi culture
• Punjabi cuisine
• Punjabi music
• Punjabi dance

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