Punjabi, Western
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A language of Pakistan
65,000,000 in Pakistan (2017 census). Total users in all countries: 66,441,240.
Punjab province: Chakwal, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Hafizabad, Jhang, Jhelum, Kasur, Khushab, Lahore, Mandi Bahauddin, Nankana, Narowal, Okara, Pakpattan, Sahiwal, Sargodha, Shekhupura, and Sialkot districts.
5 (Developing).
Punjabi Proper (Central Punjabi, Lahori, Majhi, Standard Punjabi, Ṭheṭh Punjabi), Jhelum (Dhanni, Dhanni Boli), Khushabi (Shahpuri), Lamochari (Jatki), Sohain (Sawain), Jangli (Jangli Boli, Jhangi), Talagang (Awankari). A continuum of related varieties between Eastern Punjabi [pan] in India and Western Punjabi, and ‘Lahnda’. Lahnda (originally called Western Panjabi by Grierson) is a label for the dialect continuum between Hindko [hno] [hnd], Pahari-Potwari [phr], and Saraiki [skr]. Lexical similarity: 70%–85% with Eastern Punjabi [pan]. A member of macrolanguage Lahnda [lah].
SOV; postpositions; gender (masculine/feminine); no articles; case-marking (7 cases); verb affixes mark person, number, gender of subject; passives; tense and aspect; 15 consonant and 24 vowel phonemes; tonal (3 tones: high, mid, low).
Educated younger generations living in cities opt to use Urdu [urd] and English [eng], and parents also encourage them to use Urdu or English even at home. Home, community, religious settings. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Also use Saraiki [skr]. Used as L2 by Aer [aeq], Northern Hindko [hno], Sansi [ssi], Southern Hindko [hnd].
Literature. Newspapers. Periodicals. Radio. TV. Videos. Grammar. NT: 1819–1931.
Muslim, Christian.