Punjab Punjabi and Saraiki

Abstract

Every human being has a language and he needs it to communicate his feelings. It acts as a tool for verbal expression of one’s thoughts, feelings, emotions and social relations. Our communication system establishes on the basis of two organs e.g., tongue and brain. Instead of being a collection of words, language can be defined as a means of communication and connection in the society. Linguistics is the way to explore languages and their development. Language always depicts social change, history, continuity and cultural identity. Punjabi and Saraiki have deep historical roots in Punjab from so many centuries. Both have evolved over centuries ad shaped the religion. Punjabi has two scripts i.e., Gurmukhi and Shahmukhi. Saraiki is spoken mostly in southern Punjab and surrounding areas. There are some concepts regarding Saraiki, some linguists consider Saraiki a dialect of Punjabi while others recognize it as an in dependent language. Historically both Punjabi ad Saraiki have been influenced by classical and regional Languages. This article also highlights the importance of orthography and standardization particularly in case of Saraiki and Punjabi. Furthermore, the study emphasizes that language is closely tied to identity and religion.  Language communities preserve traditions, spirituality and construct social themes. Issues of spellings, scripts, representation and phonetic accuracy remain central to the development of standardized written form. Literary Production and linguistic preservation is essential by orthographic practices. In conclusion, Punjabi, Saraiki represent not only linguistics but also culture, entities, shaped by historical process and social interaction. Their mutual influences illustrate dynamic nature of language. Linguistic study of both enhance understanding of regional recognition, cultural identity and wide framework.

Keywords: Language, Linguistics, Communication, Punjabi, Saraiki, Orthography, Standardization, Dialects, Cultural Identity