Major Punjabi Dialects

By Dr.Masood Tariq - Jan 16th, 2012 (5 Comments) 17 1. Majhi Punjabi The Majhi dialect is the prestige dialect of Punjabi’s and spoken in the heart of Punjab where most of the Punjabi population lives. The Majhi dialect, the dialect of the historical region of Majha, spans the Lahore, Sheikhupura, Kasur, Okara, Gujranwala, Wazirabad, Sialkot, Narowal, Gujrat and to some extant in Jhelum District of Pakistani Punjab and Amritsar, Tarn Taran Sahib, and Gurdaspur Districts of the Indian State of Punjab. 2. Pothowari Punjabi This Pothowari dialect is spoken in north area of Pakistani Punjab. It extends in the north from Muzaffarabad to as far south as Jhelum, Gujar Khan, Rawalpindi, Murree Hills (north of Rawalpindi), and east to Bhimber. Poonchi is east of Rawalakot. Potwari is in the plains around Rawalpindi. Alternate names: Potwari, Pothohari, Potohari, Chibhali, Dhundi-Kairali. Dialects: Pahari (Dhundi-Kairali), Pothwari (Potwari), Chibhali, Punchhi (Poonchi), Jhelumi, Mirpuri. Pahari means ‘hill language’ referring to a string of divergent dialects, some of which may be separate languages. Pahari is a dialect chain with Panjabi and Hindko. Closeness to western Pahari is unknown. Lexical similarity 76% to 83% among varieties called ‘Pahari’, ‘Potwari’, and some called ‘Hindko’ in Mansehra, Muzaffarabad, and Jammun. 3. Hindko Punjabi Classified under Lahnda languages by many linguists; perhaps differs from Punjabi. Hindko dialect is spoken in north west Pakistani Punjab and North-West Frontier Province mainly this dialect is spoken in districts of Peshawar, Attock, Nowshehra, Mansehra, Balakot, Abbottabad and Murree and the lower half of Neelum District and Muzaffarabad. 4. Jhangochi /Rachnavi/Changvi or Chenavari Punjabi Jhangochi dialect is spoken in Pakistani Punjab. Jhangochi or Rachnavi is the oldest and most idiosyncratic dialect of the Punjabi. It is spoken throughout a widespread area, starting from Khanewal and Jhang at both ends of Ravi and Chenab to Gujranwala district. It then runs down to Bahawalnagar and Chishtian areas, on the banks of river Sutlej. This entire area has almost the same traditions, customs and culture. The Jhangochi dialect of Punjabi has several aspects that set it apart from other Punjabi variants. This area has a great culture and heritage, especially literary heritage, as it is credited with the creation of the famous epic romance stories of Heer Ranjha and Mirza Sahiba. It is spoken in the Bar areas of Punjab, i.e., areas whose names are often suffixed with ‘Bar’, for example Sandal Bar, Kirana Bar, Neeli Bar, Ganji Bar and also from Khanewal to Jhang includes Faisalabad and Chiniot. 5. Shahpuri Punjabi The Shahpuri dialect has been spoken by the people of the town Shahpur. This language has been spoken by the people of District Sargodha including Dera Chanpeer Shah, Khushab, Mianwali, Attock, Chakwal, Mandi Bahauddin and Jhang. Parts of Faisalabad, Dera Ismail Khan, Dera Ghazi Khan and Bahawalnagar districts. 6. Dhani Punjabi The people of Pothohar speak Pothohari dialect. However, the people of Chakwal or the Dhanni area in particular do not speak Pothohari and are ethnologically not regarded as Potoharis. They speak a distinctive Chakwali or Dhanni dialect of Punjabi, which is closer to Shahpuri, a dialect spoken in the Shahpur-Salt Range area and also has a slight element of Saraiki and Pothohari. 7. Multani/ Saraiki Punjabi Multani or Saraiki is a mixture of Jhangochi of Punjabi and Sindhi. Saraiki is the new name. For centuries, Multani was in use. It is now considered a separate language instead of merely a dialect of Punjabi. Historically, the speakers of dialects now recognized as belonging to Saraiki did not hold the belief that they constituted a cohesive language community or a distinct ethnicity. This consciousness developed among local elites in the years after the founding of Pakistan in 1947 in response to the social and political upheaval caused by the mass immigration of Urdu speaking refugee Muslims from India. Saraiki has various sub-dialects such as Derewali, Thalochi, Multani and Riasuti. It is mostly spoken in southern and western districts of Punjab, which comprises Dera Ghazi Khan, Muzaffargarh, Bhakkar, Layyah, Mianwali, western parts of Khushab districts, Multan, Lodhran, southern and western parts of Khanewal, Bahawalpur, southern parts of Bahawalnagar and Rahim Yar Khan. More than Saraiki waseb, Saraiki is native language in the districts of Chakwal, Hafizabad, Mandi Bahuddin, Faisalabad, Okara and Toba Teksingh are also Saraiki. It is widely spoken and understood as a second language in Northern and Western Sind down to the suburbs of Karachi and in Kachhi plain of Baluchistan. In Sindh Saraiki is widely spoken in Kashmore, Jacobabad, Shikarpur, Tando Allahyar, Sobho Khan Mastoi, Kamal Khan Mastoi and Ghotki. In Balochistan Saraiki is widely spoken in Barkhan, Naseerabad, Jafarabad and Jhal Magsi. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Saraiki is native language in the districts of Dera Ismail Khan. In India Saraiki is spoken in Sirsa, Fatehabad, Hisar, Bhiwani, Panipat districts of Haryana, some area of Delhi and Ganganagar district, Hanumangarh and Bikaner districts of Rajasthan. 8. Malwi Punjabi Malwi dialect is spoken in the eastern part of Indian Punjab. Main areas are Ludhiana, Moga, Sangrur, Barnala, Faridkot, Patiala, Fatehgarh Sahib, Mansa, Muktsar, Ambala, Bathinda, Ganganagar, Malerkotla, Ropar, and Ferozepur. Malwa is the southern and central part of present day Indian Punjab. It also includes the Punjabi speaking northern areas of Haryana, viz. Ambala, Hissar, Sirsa, Kurukshetra etc. Not to be confused with the Malvi language, this shares its name. 9. Doabi Punjabi Doabi dialect is spoken in Indian Punjab. The word “Do Aabi” means “the land between two rivers” and this dialect is spoken between the rivers of Beas and Sutlej. It includes Jalandhar, Nawanshahr, Kapurthala and Hoshiarpur districts. 10. Pwadhi Punjabi Powadh or Puadh or Powadha is a region of Punjab and parts of Haryana between the Satluj and Ghaggar rivers. The part lying south, south-east and east of Rupnagar adjacent to Ambala District (Haryana) is Powadhi. The Powadh extends from that part of the Rupnagar District which lies near Satluj up to the Ghaggar River in the east, which separates the states of Punjab and Haryana. Parts of Fatehgarh Sahib District, and parts of Patiala districts like Rajpura are also part of Powadh. The Pwadhi dialect is spoken over a large area in present Punjab as well as Haryana. In Punjab, Kharar, Kurali, Ropar, Nurpurbedi, Morinda, Pail, Rajpura, and Samrala are the areas where the Puadhi language is spoken and the area itself is claimed as including from Pinjore, Kalka to Bangar area in Hisar district which includes even Nabha and Patiala in it. 11. Dogri Punjabi Although Dogri is generally considered a separate language having its own vocabulary, some sources consider it a dialect of Punjabi. It is spoken by about 3.5 million peoples in the Jammu region of India. Examples English Majhi, Standard Punjabi Pothohari Dogri Pahari Multani Doabi What are you doing? (masculine) Ki karda ain?/ki karan deya ain?/ki karda pya ain? Ka karne uo? Ke karde o? Ke (kay) peya kare-nanh? ke karende paye o? ki karda aa? What are you doing? (masculine to address fem+ale) Ki kardi ain?/ki karan dayi ain?/ki kardi payi ain? Ka karani ay? Ke karani ae? Ke (kay) pai (payi) kare-neenh? ke (kay) karende paye o? ki kardi aa tu? How are you? Ki haal ae? Keh aal e? ke aal a? Tudda ke haal e (eh)? keevein haal tuhaade? ki haal chal aa? Do you speak Punjabi? Tusi Punjabi Bol lainde o ? Punjabii bolne uo? Punjabi bolde o? Punjabi uburne o? tussan punjabi bol lainde o? tu punjabi bol laena? Where are you from? Tusi kithon de o?/Tusi kidron aaye o? Tusa kudhr nay aiyo? Tus kudhr to o? Kathe ne o? tussan kithon de o? kithon aa tu? Pleased to meet you Tenu/tuanu mil ke bahut khushi hoyi. Tusan milay tay boo khushi oye Tusan nu miliye bahut khusi oyi Tussan mil ke khushi thi. Tenu/tuanu mil ke bahut khushi thi e. tuhanu mil k bahut khushi hoyi What’s your name? Tuada naa ki ae? Tusan naa ke aa? Tusan da naa kay ai? Tudda ke naanh ve? Tuada naa ki ae? tera naam ki aa? My name is … Mera naa ain… Mara naa … e Mera naa … e Mainda naanh … eh mainda naa …. e. mera naam aa What is your village’s name? Tuade pind/graan da naa ki ae?/ Tuada pind/graan kehda ae? Tusane graana naa ke aa? Tusan da graan kay aa? Tudde gerayenh na ke naanh ve? tuade pind/graan da kay naa ae? tere pind da ki naam aa Yes Haanji Aaho Aah Haan haanji hanji No Nay Naa Nahin Nayin naa nai Would you like (to eat) some sweets? Mithaee lawoge? / Mithaee Khawoge? Mithaee khaso? Kish mithaee khaani e? Kuj mitha khaine o? tussan mithaee ghinso? mitha khaunge tusi? I love you. Main tenu pyaar karda haan. Mai tuki pyar karna. Mai tugi pyar karna. Main tuhan pyar kare-nanh. main tenu pyaar karda haan. mai tuhanu pyar karda haan. We went to the Cinema Assin Cinema gaye saan. Assa cinema gaye saa As cinema gaye he. Assi cinema gaye ayan. aasan cinema gaye saa. asin cinema gye si. Where should I go? Mainu kitthe jana chahida ae? Mai kudhar jaa Migi kuthe jaavnaah? mainu kitthe vanjna chaida ae? mai kithe jawa ==================== Dr.Masood Tariq says: January 25, 2012 at 6:45 am Pakistan is a State of four lands Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. It is a Nation of four Nationalities viz. Punjabis, Sindhis, Pukhtoon’s, and Balochis. Population of Pakistan nationality-wise comprises as; Punjabis (44.15%) 78.7 million, Pukhtoon’s (15.42%) 27.2 million, Sindhis (14.1%) 24.8 million, Saraikis (10.53%) 14.8 million, Muhajir’s (7.57%) 13.3 million, Balochis (3.57%) 6.3 million and Others (4.66%) 11.1 million. Even though in Pakistan, 97% Punjabis, Pukhtoon’s, Sindhis, Balochis and Muhajir’s are Muslim, but in matter of fact, excluding Punjab, in all the parts of Pakistan, politics is ethnic and somewhat anti Punjabi and Punjab. At present Punjabis are under abomination, loathing and hate in Karachi by Muhajir’s, in Sindh by Sindhis, in Baluchistan by Balochis and in Pakhtoonkhwa by Pukhtoon’s. In Punjab, political trends follow perceptions of clans and community emotions. In the result Punjab and Punjabis are in process of disintegration into Pothohari, Hindko, Jhangochi / Rachnavi/ Changvi or Chenavari, Shahpuri, Dhani, Saraiki/‏Multani, Malwi, Doabi, Pwadhi and Dogri dialect clans and degenerating into Aheers, Arains, Awans, Dogars, Gakhars, Gujjars, Jats, Kambohs, Khokhars, Mughals, Rajputs, Sheikhs, Syeds etc communities. In united India all the Muslim, Hindu, Sikh and Christian Punjabis were a nation because of common land, language, culture, traditions, race, etc. The religion was a personal subject whereas; clans and communities were the institutions for social interaction and charity work. Punjab was a secular region and Punjabi was a respectable and honorable language, culture and nation in India, but in 19th century due to politics of congress dominated by Hindi speaking leaders. Hindu Punjabis started preferring Hindi language, culture and traditions instead of Punjabi. Later on, Muslim Punjabis did the same due to influence of Muslim League, dominated by Urdu speaking Muslim leaders. Because of preferring the Hindi language, culture and traditions by Hindu Punjabis and Urdu language, culture and traditions by Muslim Punjabis, “A Great Nation Got Divided by the Clans of Same Nation” and started receiving the reward of hate and regret by every honorable nation, even from Hindi and Urdu speaking persons. This is the punishment for Punjabis for not respecting their mother land, language, culture and traditions. Atmosphere of Punjab and mind set of Punjabis are still following the path of national breakdown , disintegration and degeneration by avoiding the rules of nature, principals of sociology and procedures of politics for the grooming of great nations. Accordingly common land, language, culture and traditions are counted as the basic binding forces for assembling the clans and communities to outward appearance of a nation. Yet Punjabis don’t have the respect, regard and honor for their mother land language, culture and traditions. Therefore, the basic and vital binding force for Punjab and Punjabis, i.e.; Punjabi language is not the official and educational language of Punjab because of that, Punjab and Punjabis are on way of breakdown into Majhi, Saraiki, Jangli, Shahpuri, Dhani, Pothohari, Hindko etc dialects leading towards the disintegration into Siraiki v/s Derewali v/s Thalochi v/s Multani v/s Riasuti v/s Jangli v/s Mianwali v/s Hindkowan v/s Kashmiri v/s Pothari v/s Majhi, Malwi, Doabi, Pwadhi etc clans and conflict along with degeneration into Aheers v/s Arains v/s Awans v/s Dogars v/s Gakhars v/s Gujjars v/s Jats v/s Kambohs v/s Khokhars v/s Mughals v/s Rajputs v/s Sheikhs v/s Syeds etc communities and clashes. In matter of fact, the dialects spoken in different regions of Punjab have a common vocabulary and a shared heritage. All Punjabi clans and communities are part and parasol of “Great Punjab”. “The Land of Five Rivers” with the back ground of five thousand years of historical heritage, land, language, culture, traditions and civilization called as; “Indus Valley Civilization”. Therefore, in Non-Punjabi Nations all dialects, clans and communities of Punjab are identified, recognized and treated as Punjabis. It is in best interest of Punjab and Punjabis to adopt the “Punjabi Culture and Traditions” along with “Punjabi Language” at official and educational level for assimilation of different clans of Punjabis and to unite the Punjab for their future affluence, prosperity, wealth and most important for respect, regard and honor of Punjab and Punjabis. Is it not logical that; if a nation doesn’t have the respect, regard and honor for their own land, language, culture and traditions then that nation will not face the process of breakdown, disintegration and degeneration? Is it not logical that; if a nation doesn’t have the respect, regard and honor for their own land, language, culture and traditions then how some other nation may hope the same from that nation? In the past, same misshape was experienced by Bengalis and at present the interaction and relationship is complex with Sindhis, Pukhtoon’s and Balochis…. The Nations… have great respect, regard and honor for their own land, language, culture and traditions.