How to learn Punjabi How to learn Punjabi

1. HOW TO LEARN PUNJABIHOW TO LEARN PUNJABI
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Learning PunjabiLearning Punjabi
Punjabi (ਪੰਜਾਬੀ, ‫,پنجاببی‬ पंजाबी) is an Indo-
Aryan language, related to Sanskrit, Hindi, Urdu,
Gujarati, and Sindhi, and is spoken by roughly 100
million people in the Eastern and Western Punjab
regions of Northern India and Pakistan as well as
Haryana, Delhi, West Bengal, and the Punjab
diaspora spanning Canada to Kenya to Japan.
Punjabi also serves as the sacred liturgical
language of the Sikh faith.

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STEPS FOR LEARNING PUNJABISTEPS FOR LEARNING PUNJABI
• Take a Punjabi course or get a Punjabi tutor
• Immerse yourself in the Punjabi culture
• Listen to Punjabi
• Read Punjabi
• Don't be afraid to make mistakes
• Obtain print and audio materials
• TIPS

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Take a Punjabi Course or get aTake a Punjabi Course or get a
Punjabi TutorPunjabi Tutor
Many people feel more confident being taught their
target language by a native speaker. If you have
access to a local Indian community, ask around
and check out their community centers,
community events, mosques, and Sikh temples
regarding available classes and tutors

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Immerse yourself in the PunjabiImmerse yourself in the Punjabi
CultureCulture
Language and culture are inseparable elements;
you need to know both in order to understand the
nuances of the people behind the language, and
language behind the people. Attend Sikh religious
and cultural events, shop at Punjabi stores, eat
Punjabi cuisine, make Punjabi-speaking friends, etc.

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Listen to PunjabiListen to Punjabi
This is important for getting a feel for the ebb
and flow of the language. Listen to as much of
the language as you can---eavesdrop on
conversations, listen to Punjabi music and radio
programs, watch Punjabi television. You don't
have to understand a single word, just absorb
the language like a baby

7. Read PunjabiRead Punjabi
Presuming that you're studying outside India, the
Punjabi diaspora is a very literate one rich in
community newspapers, bilingual signage, and
small libraries filled with books for both children
and adults. Learn how to read Punjabi and then
start reading whatever you can get your hands
on, first for pronunciation and later for
comprehension.
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8. Don't be afraid to make mistakesDon't be afraid to make mistakes
Try not to be intimidated if your grammar is
broken, your vocabulary is limited, or your
comprehension is poor. It will come with time
and practice. People learn best from their
mistakes and native speakers will be more
than happy to correct you.
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9. Obtain print and audio materialsObtain print and audio materials
Many publishers such as Travel Guide, Teach
Yourself, and Assimil offer an array of phrase
books, textbooks, tapes, CDs, and other
learning materials to get you started learning
Punjabi. Do your homework on what's
available and invest in what works for you.
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10. TIPSTIPS
Don't be surprised if you hear Punjabi borrow
and use words and even sentences from other
languages, especially English. Most Punjabi
speakers (and Indians in general) are very
multilingual people and have grown up co-
existing and doing business with other
languages and cultures their whole lives.
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