Punjabi language

Punjabi (also Panjabi, Pa?j?b?, ?????? in Gurmukh?, ?????? in Shahmukhi) is the language of the Punjab regions of India and Pakistan. It is an Indo-European language of the Indo-Iranian subfamily. Also, as an adjective, the word Punjabi qualifies anything or anyone that is related to either Punjab or the Punjabi language, such as the speakers of Punjabi, inhabitants of the Punjab or the Punjabi cuisine of the region.

Related Topics:
Gurmukh? - Shahmukhi - Punjab region - India - Pakistan - Indo-European language - Indo-Iranian - Punjabi cuisine

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Punjabi is the official language of the Indian state of Punjab, and is also spoken in neighbouring areas such as Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Delhi.

Related Topics:
Haryana - Himachal Pradesh - Delhi

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Punjabi is also spoken as a minority language in several other countries where Punjabis have emigrated in large numbers, such as Britain, the United States and especially Canada, where it is the fifth most commonly used language{{ref|canadacensus}}. Punjabi is the sacred language of the Sikhs, in which the religious literature is written. It is the usual language of Bhangra music, which has recently gained wide popularity both in South Asia and abroad.

Related Topics:
Minority language - Britain - United States - Canada - Sikhs - Religious literature - Bhangra - South Asia

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Punjabi culture suffered a split between India and Pakistan during the Partition of 1947. As such, Punjabi language and culture tend to be one of the uniting factors in spite of national and religious affiliations.

Related Topics:
Partition - 1947

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Modern Punjabi vocabulary has been influenced by other languages, including Hindustani and English. Like other North Indian languages, it is derived from Sanskrit and is therefore Indo-European. Many sources subdivide the Punjabi language into Western Punjabi — Lehnda (??????) or Lahnda (??????) — and Eastern Punjabi. Siraiki and Hindko are mutually intelligible with Punjabi and are often considered dialects.

Related Topics:
Hindustani - English - Sanskrit - Indo-European - Siraiki - Hindko

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There are several different scripts used for writing the Punjabi language, depending on the region and the dialect spoken, as well as the religion of the speaker. Sikhs and others in the Indian state of Punjab tend to use the Gurmukh? (from the mouth of the Gurus) script. Hindus, and those living in neighbouring states such as Haryana and Himachal Pradesh sometimes use the Devan?gar? script. Gurmukh? and Shahmukhi scripts are the most commonly used for writing Punjabi and are considered the official scripts of the language.

Related Topics:
Gurmukh? - Hindu - Haryana - Himachal Pradesh - Devan?gar? - Shahmukhi

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Much like English, Punjabi has moved around the world and developed local forms by integrating local vocabulary. While most loanwords come from Hindi-Urdu and English, Punjabi emigrants around the world have integrated terms from such languages as Spanish and Dutch. A distinctive "Diaspora Punjabi" is thus emerging. As there is no formal consensus over vocabulary and spelling in Punjabi, it is likely that Diaspora Punjabi will increasingly deviate from the forms found on the Indian Subcontinent in the future.

Related Topics:
Spanish - Dutch - Indian Subcontinent

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