Shahpuri dialect

Shahpuri is a Punjabi dialect spoken in the Sargodha Division of Punjab Province in Pakistan. Grierson considered it to be representative of Western Punjabi ("Lahnda"), but later opinions have tended to see it as a dialect of Punjabi "proper" that is transitional to Siraiki. Its name is derived from former Shahpur District (now Shahpur Tehsil, part of Sargodha District).

Geographic distribution and classification

Shahpuri can be described as a mixture of Majhi, Pothohari and Thalochi dialects. Shahpurias in the Khushab area speak this dialect in a more Thalochi tone while those in southern parts of its distribution have color of Jhangochi on their language.

It is mostly spoken in Sargodha and Khushab Districts. It is also spoken in neighbouring Mianwali,Jhang,Chiniot Mandi Bahudin and Bhakkar Districts. It is mainly spoken on western end of Sindh River to Chennab river crossing Jehlam river. This entire area has almost the same traditions, customs and culture. The Shahpuri dialect of Punjabi has several aspects that set it apart from other Punjabi variants.

Grammar

In its phonology Shahpuri has the same tonal pattern as Standard Punjabi.

In common with Thali and Hindko, there is a class of two-syllable nouns that mark case distinctions by vowel alternation. The case suffixes of the older language have dropped, leaving the assimilated root vowels as the only indicator of the case: /jʌŋɡʊl/ ~ /jʌŋɡəl/ /jʌŋɡɪl/. Grierson explains this by substratal Dardic influence, whereas Shackle finds it more plausible that it is the result of Shahpuri's central position between areas favouring one or another vowel in these contexts.

Differences with other dialects

English	Majhi or Standard Punjabi. (Central Punjab of Pakistan)	Shah puri. (Centro Western parts of Punjab Province)
What, This	Ki, Ae	Kay, Ay
How much, This much, That much	Kinna, Inna, Unna	Kitna, Itnna, Utnna
My, Your, His, Our, Yours, Their, Of	Mayre, Tayra, Oda/Osda, Saada, Tuada/Tuwada/Tuhaada, Onaanda, Da	Mayra, Tayra, Usda, Asaada/Saada, Tusada/Tuhaada, Uneenda, Da
Me, To you, Him, To it, Us, To you, Them, To	Maynoo, Taynoo, Onoo, Aynoo, Saanoo, Tuanoo/Tuwanoo/Tuhanu, Onaannoo, Noo	Maynoo, Taynoo, Usnoo, isnhoo, asaanoo, Tusaanoo, Uneennoo, Noo
I am, You are, He is, We are, You are, They are (going)	Mae aan, Tu ayn, O ay, Assee aan/Assaan aan, Tussi/Tussaan o O, O nay (Jaa nda/day (plu) )	Mae haan, Tu hayn, Oo hay, Assaan haan, Tussaan ho, Oo hin (Ve aynada/ay (plu) pya/ay )
I was, You were, He was, We were, You were, They were	Mae saan, Tu saen, O si, Assee/Assaan saan, Tussi/Tussaan so, O sn	Mae ahus, Tu aahayn, Oo aahaa, Assaan assay, Tussaan aahay, Oo aahin
I shall take, You will take, He will take, We shall take, You will take, They will take	Mae lae aanga, Tu lae aynga, O lae ayga, Assee/Assaan lae aangay, Tussi/Tussaan lae aaogay, O lae aangay	Mae lae aysaan, Tu lae aysayn, Oo lae aysi, Assaan lae aysaan, Tussaan lae ayso, Oo lae aysn
Go, Come, Happen, Take away, See	Ja, Aa, Ho, Lae Ja, Vekh	Vnj, Aa, Ho, Lae vnj, Dekh
Boy, Girl, Women, Man	Munda, Kuri, Znaani/Budi, Banda	Chor, Kuri, Budi, Banda
From, A lot, Then	Toon, Bot/bara/wawa/chokha, Fer	Toon, Bo, Vat
One, Two, Nine, Ten	Aek, Do, No, Das	Hekk, Do, Naa, Daah

Bibliography

• Shackle, Christopher (1976). The Siraiki language of central Pakistan : a reference grammar. London: School of Oriental and African Studies. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
• Shackle, Christopher (1979). "Problems of classification in Pakistan Panjab". Transactions of the Philological Society. 77 (1): 191–210. doi:10.1111/j.1467-968X.1979.tb00857.x. ISSN 1467-968X 0079-1636, 1467-968X. {{cite journal}}: Check |issn= value (help); Invalid |ref=harv (help)

Further reading

• Wilson, James (1898). Grammar and dictionary of western Panjabi, as spoken in the Shahpur district with proverbs, sayings, & verses. Lahore: Panjab Govt. Press. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)