Punjabi language
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Modern Indic languages derived from Apabhraṁśas from roughly 1000 CE onwards.[1] In Pakistan, Punjabi is generally written using the Shahmukhī script.[2] Old Indic continued until 500 BCE, after which regional Prākrits took over; the Earlier Middle Indic phase spanned 500 BCE to 500 CE, and the Later Middle Indic phase lasted from 500 CE to 1000 CE.[1] The arrival of Muslim conquests in the late first millennium brought Arabic and Modern Persian influence to the Punjab region.[3]
During the Mughal era, there was a rise in the use of local Indo-Aryan languages for literary works, especially those involving spiritual poetry.[4] In the mediaeval period, Muslim Sufis were the main contributors to the development of written Punjabi, which they recorded using the Persian script.[5]
What the cited sources add
According to Bhardwaj (2016), Punjabi is spoken by around 102 million people, including both Eastern and Western dialectal varieties.[1] The World Punjabi Conference held at Guru Nanak Dev University from February 20-22, 2026 focused on the role of artificial intelligence in the development of Punjabi language and culture.[6][7] Vice Chancellor Professor Karamjeet Singh stated that Punjabi now stands at a juncture where the combination of tradition and modern technology has become inevitable.[6] The university established a Centre for Ethical AI in memory of the late Punjabi poet Surjit Patar, supported by the Punjab government.[6]
Former chief secretary KBS Sidhu said the conference deliberations could lead to a roadmap connecting Punjabi with global technological systems.[7]
References
- Wikipedia, "Punjabi language" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Bhardwaj, "Panjabi: A Comprehensive Grammar", Routledge, 25 August 2016 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Punjabi language" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Columeau, "Linguistic Resistance in Pakistan: Punjabi Language Movements After Independence", Columbia University Press, 31 March 2026 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Punjabi language" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Brard, G.S.S., "East of Indus: My Memories of Old Punjab", Hemkunt Publishers, 2007, p. 81 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Punjabi language" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Shackle, "Institutions and Ideologies: A SOAS South Asia Reader", Taylor & Francis, February 2013, p. 64–73; Mir, F., "The Social Space of Language: Vernacular Culture in British Colonial Punjab", University of California Press, 2010, p. 35; Schiffman, H., "Language Policy and Language Conflict in Afghanistan and Its Neighbors: The Changing Politics of Language Choice", Brill, 2011, p. 314 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Punjabi language" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Shackle, "Institutions and Ideologies: A SOAS South Asia Reader", Taylor & Francis, February 2013, p. 64–73 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- "GNDU to initiate dialogue on ethical use of AI in Punjabi language", The Tribune, 17 February 2026. facts only, no text reused. tribuneindia.com
- "Focus on AI-driven Punjabi language research at Guru Nanak Dev University Meet", Hindustan Times, 21 February 2026. facts only, no text reused. hindustantimes.com
Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Punjabi language (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.
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Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Punjabi language (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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