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Shahpuri (شاہپوری; pronounced [ʃaː(ɦ)pʊɾi]) is a western dialect of Punjabi, primarily spoken in the former Shahpur District in what are now Sargodha and Khushab districts of Punjab, Pakistan.

Geographic distribution and classification

Its name is derived from the former Shahpur District. Grierson (1919) considered Shahpuri to be representative of Lahnda (Western Punjabi), but later opinions by Shackle (1976) and Masica (1991) have re-classified it as a general dialect of Punjabi, with certain Saraiki features. It is mostly spoken in Sargodha District and Khushab District. It is also spoken in the neighbouring districts of Jhang, Chiniot, Mandi Bahauddin, Khanewal, Sahiwal and Bhakkar. It is mainly spoken on western end of Sindh River to Chenab River, traversing the Jhelum River.

Jatki dialect is a common name for the Jhangvi dialect, Shahpuri dialect and Dhani dialect. Sometimes also termed as Rachnavi dialect, the glotlog codes for these are:

• shah1266
• jatk1238
• jang1253
• dhan1272

Notable Features

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 (1979) finds it more plausible that it is the result of Shahpuri's central position between areas favouring one or another vowel in these contexts.

Grammar

Continuous Tense

Like most Punjabi dialects, Shahpuri also uses the past-tense inflections of paiṇā (peyā, paī, paye, paiyā̃) to signify the continuous tense.

The place of "pyā" may sometimes be switched with respect to the verb.

"Tusī̃ bahoon changā kamm paye karenday o", meaning "You (plural) are doing a very good thing"

"Tū̃ bahoon changā kamm krendā ain pyā", meaning "You (sing, m) are doing a very good thing"

"Sāḍā hāl kehṛā puchhdā ãi, mar mar ke paye aan jeenday, meaning "What do you ask about us? We are living in great distress" (a song by Mansoor Malangi)

"Paye aapna vanjeynday visaah o", meaning "You are wasting the trust people have in you" (from "Tusi changean naseeban de shah")

"Eh dohven aape vich larde hin paye". meaning "These two are fighting amongst themselves"

"Ethay seklaan pyiaan vikkdiyaan hin" or "Ethay seklaan vikkdiyaan ne pyiaan", meaning "Bicycles are being sold here"

Future Tense

The future tense in Jatki Punjabi is formed by adding -s as opposed to the Eastern Punjabi gā.

This tense is also utilized in Pothwari, Hindko, Saraiki and other Western Punjabi dialects.

Past Tense

The past tense in the Jatki dialects differs from that of Eastern Punjabi.

Present Tense

The present tense of non-causative verbs in Jatki may involve the addition of -eyndā, while causative verbs may attain either -eyndā or -āandā. The future tense changes accordingly.

Verbs that have a causative form, rarely acquire -eyndā, for example, Mardā (dies) cannot become Mareyndā (kills/hits) as that is the present form of Maarnā (killing/hitting).

However, Mannnā (to be convinced) and Mannāvnā (to convince) both can be said as Maneyndā in the present form.

Verbs like āvan (to come) and lyāvan (to bring) will not take -eyndā, as they lack a passive form, so they are either said as -āndā or -aundā

The progressive tense is built upon the present tense, and is used in all Punjabi dialects. It is made by ending the verb with -eān in the present form.

For example, "to be doing" or "while doing", can be either kardeān or kareyndeān.

Passive Tense

The Jatki dialects have a special passive tense for most verbs.

The present passive is made by adding -eendā, past passive by adding -eevyā/eeyā, subjunctive by adding -eevay (s.) and -eevan (pl), progressive by adding -eendeān , gerundive passive by adding -eevna/eejna and future passive by adding -eesi. The continuous passive is built upon the present passive by adding pyā, while perfect passive is built by adding gyā to the past passive.

Varteendā (is used), Varteenday (are used), Varteevay/Varteejay (to be used, sing), Varteevan/Varteejan (to be used, pl), Varteevyā (was used), Vartee-gyā (has been used), Varteenda-pyā (is being used), Varteendeān (while being used), Varteevna/Varteejna (its "being used"), Varteesi (will be used), Vartee-veysi or Vartee-jaasi (will have been used/will end up being used), Vartee-veynda or Vartee-jaanda (gets used).

Note: The past passive in Shahpuri is made by adding -eevyā, in Jhangochi by adding -eeyaā, Dhani is made by adding -eetā, and in Thalochi it is made by adding -eechā.

Some verbs may attain this form without any change in usage or meaning, such as:

ਬਵ੍ਹਣਾ ਉਠੀਵਣਾ / بہوَنا اُٹھِیونا, being the same as ਉੱਠਣਾ / اُٹھّنا

ਦਿਸੀਂਦਾ / دِسِیندا, being the same as ਦਿੱਸਦਾ / دِسّدا

Proverb example: Heṭṭhon utton vaḍḍheeveeye taan ḍakk sadeendaa (ہیٹھوں اُتّوں وڈھِیوِیئے تاں ڈکّ سدِیندا)

(If we are cut from top to bottom, then are to be called a cane)

Note: The past tense of Marnā is Moyā (dead) and the past passive tense is Mareejā (killed)

Agentive Tense

The agentive tense of verb in Punjabi is either shown in the standard manner by adding the words "āalā" or "laggeā".

For example, "He is to come" or "He is about to come" is spoken as Oh aavan aalā/laggeā ae.

In Jatki, another manner exists where the root verb is suffixated by adding -oo

Examples:

Tun kitthay jaaoo/vanjoo ain? (Where are you to go?)

Oh kay karoo ae? (What is he up to)

Ajj mein tuhānu hik ehjihi gall sunāoo aan (Today I am about to tell you such a thing...)

Tuseen ohnu deoo o ke menu deoo o? (You are to give him or me?)

Ghaabarda kyon pya ain? Saanu vi miloo ae (Why are you worried? We too are to get it)

Vocabulary

Present Plural Marker

The dialects of Jatki Punjabi use Hin (ہِن) or No (نو) to signify the present plural tense. These are dialectal forms of "Han" (ہَن) and "Ne" (نے) respectively.

"Do janey hin/no" (دو جنے ہِن/نو), meaning "There are two people".

The word "hin" may be attached with the verb colloquially.

"Oh menū̃ dassdin" (اوہ مینُوں دسّدِن), meaning "They tell me".

"Bahū̃ vādey keetin" (بہُوں وعدے کِیتِن)، meaning "Made many promises"

The word Heņ (ہَیڻ) may also be used.

Words for "Then/Again"

Words like Vatt (وتّ) or Muṛ (مُڑ) and its variant pronunciation Munṛ (مُنڑ) are used instead of the Standard Punjabi Phir (پھیر).

"Halā vatt ki hoya?" (ہلا وتّ کی ہویا؟), meaning "Alright, what happened then?".

"Tenu vatt vii aas praai rahi" (تَینُوں وتّ وی آس پرائی رہی), meaning "Even then, you had hopes for some other", a lyric from "Changean Naseeban de Shah", by Talib Hussain Dard

Words for "Going"

Words like Vaj̈aṇ (ونجن) and Jāwaṇ (جاوَن) are both used.

"Kithay vendā/jāndā pyā ain?" (کِتھّے ویندا/جاندا پیا ایں؟), meaning "Where are you going?"

Words for "Someone" and "What"

For "what", Jatki either uses the common word Kii (کی) or the Western word Kay (کے)

For "someone", Jatki may use either the standard Kisay (کِسے) or another word that is Kaheeṇ (کہِیں)

Words for "That"

Ba, Bai or Jo are used, as opposed to ke in Standard Punjabi. (بہ، بئی، جو)

Mein tuhaanu dassaan bai (ke) aes ton changga mein pehlon kaday nhi vekhya

(Let me tell you that I have never seen one better than this)

Kaday vi mein nahi aakhya jo (ke) tun menu kujh desein taahin mein tenu kujh desaan

(Never did I say that you must first give only then to receive from me)

Tuseen inj keeta karo ba (ke) menu dass ditta karo

(You should do it as such that you should inform me)

Menu pata ae ba (ke) khoon rattaa ae, tey hetna rattaa ae jo (ke) teray hatthaan tey mehndi lagsi

(I know that blood is red, and it is so much that it will look like henna on your hands)

Similarly, Kyunjo (or Kyunjay) is used for Kyunke, and Taanjo (or Taanjay) is used for Taake.

Supporting Verbs

In Jatki, many verbs exist to support the adjoining verb, giving the same meaning as de/dittaa/devay/desi.

De chaa (دے چا), is the same as De de (دے دے), meaning "Give it"

Rakkh chhaḍḍ (رکھّ چھڈّ), is the same as Rakkh de (رکھّ دے), meaning "Place it"

Chaa karay (چا کرے), is the same as Kar devay (کر دیوے), meaning "Someone do it"

Other examples:

Chaa keetaa (چا کیتا), meaning "Done it"

Mukaa chhoryaa (مُکا چھوڑیا), meaning "Finished it"

Pivaa chaa (پِوا چا), meaning "Get me (something) to drink"

Laah satto (لاہ سٹّو), meaning "Remove it"

Bhann sattyaa (بھنّ سٹّیا), meaning "Broke it"

Hun dass vi chhaḍḍo (ہُن دسّ وی چھڈّو), meaning "Now tell already"

Koi ghatt chhaḍḍay (کوئی گھتّ چھڈّے), meaning "Someone come and pour it"

Mein ohnu de chhaḍḍsaan (میں اوہنُوں دے چھڈّساں), meaning "I will give him"

Maar ghattsan (مار گھتّسن), meaning "Will come and beat"

The verb "Vattnā"

In its past form Vadā, it can either show continuous action (like pyā) or a state of being (like hoyā), depending on the main verb's form.

In the latter case, Khalā and Khlotā (both meaning "standing") may also be used.

Menu bukkh laggi vadi/khali/pyi ae (I have hunger)

Menu bukkh laggdi vadi/pyi ae (I am getting hungry)

Oh chendā vadā/pyā ae (He is picking it up)

Oh chaai vadā/khalā ae (He has it picked up)

Ukkā moye vaday āen (We are completely dead)

Oh khādhi khalā hosi (He must have eaten)

Ohnu treh laggi vadi/khloti ae (He has thirst)

Mein kamm mukaai vadā/khalā/khlotā aa'n (I have finished the work)

Mein dhammi da progam keeti khalā/vadā/khlotā/pyā aa'n (I have decided it for morning)

Rujjhay vaday o, naveān saangeān vich (You are busy in your new attachments, a lyric from "Tusi Changean Naseeban de Shah", a song by Talib Hussain Dard)

In other forms, the verb Vattnā, (literally meaning "to wander") depicts a continuity in an action, and is synonymous with the word Phirnā.

Hyaati saari nassdyān vattnā/phirnā (Running for all life)

Oh tenu kay kujh ghalldā vattdā/phirdā ee? (What does he keep on sending you?)

Beyli ruṭṭhā vadā hove tey aseen jeende vateeye/phireeye? (The friend is unhappy and we are to keep on living?)

Mein injay tue'n magar laggya vattaa'n/phiraa'n? (I should stay after you for no reason?)

Personal Pronouns

Jatki uses special personal pronouns such as Kãi (Kihne/Kis), and Jãi (Jihne/Jis).

Kãi aakhya? کَیں آکھیا؟, meaning "Says who?"

Jãi vii aakhya hovay جَیں وی آکھیا ہووے, meaning "Whomsoever might have said it"

Eh kãinda ghar ae? ایہہ کَیندا گھر اے؟, meaning "Whose house is this?"

Kãi kãi janay eh aali kheyḍ kheyḍi ee?, کیں کیں جنڑے ایہہ آلی کھیڈ کھیڈی ہئی؟ meaning "Who has played this game?"

Jãi kahen vii karna hovay جَیں کہیں وی کرنا ہووے or Jis kisay vii karna hovay جِس کِسے وی کرنا ہووے, meaning "Whomsoever wants to do"

Jainda vii mann kareynda or Jain kahen da vii mann kareynda

Pronominal Affixes

Eh ki keetum (What have I done?)

Eh ki keeto-ee (What have you done?)

Eh ki keeta-nhay (What have you done? plural/respect)

Eh ki keeta-nay (What have they done?)

Eh ki keeto-say (What have we done?)

Eh ki keetus (What has he done?)

Kii naa'n-us? (What is his name?)

Nisay keeta (We did not do)

Nimoo keeta (I did not do)

Tenu aakhyam (I have told you)

Bhiraa nisay? (Are we not brothers?)

Jehri naveen film kaddhi nay, ḍiṭṭhi hayi? (The new film they released, have you seen it?)

Punjabi aapni dhi nu sikhaai koi nhoo'n? (You did not teach your daughter Punjabi?)

Bhalla honay (respectfully, "Thank you")

Bhalla hovi (Thankh you)

Counting

Counting is generally the same throughout Punjabi dialects, but with some notable deviations being:

Note:

• The counting used in Jhangochi, Shahpuri and Dhanni is almost the same as in Majhi and Pothohari with the main difference being the use of "Dāh" for 10 instead of "Das".
• Standard Punjabi in the above table is more closer to the Malvai dialect (which also uses Biatāli instead of Batāli)

Oblique form

The numbers in their oblique form function the same throughout Punjabi dialects.

General Vocabulary

Jatki dialects have several words that differ from Standard Punjabi.

Words for "Taking" and "Bringing"

Commonly observed in the Lahnda dialects is the use of Ghinṇā (گھِننا) and Aaṇnā (آننا) instead of the Eastern Punjabi words Laiṇā (لَینا) and Lyāṇā (لیانا).

Jatki makes usage of both sets. The Dhani dialect however, seems to lean more towards the former.

Retention of the irrgeular past tense

In Jatki Punjabi, as well as in Saraiki, the irregular Punjabi past tense form of verbs is retained when used with the verb Karnā, a feature that is not present in Eastern dialects such as Majhi, or even in other Lahnda varieties such as Pothohari and Hindko.

The irregular past tense is generally the same throughout the Punjabi dialects (e.g. khādhā, peetā, nahātā, dhotā, moyā, latthā, khalotā, ḍaṭṭhā, suttā, keetā, dittā, ghidā, seetā, baddhā).

Jatki does seem to have some additional ones as well, such as runnā for royā (cried) ḍiṭṭhā for vekhya (seen), and syātā for syāneā (recognized).

Examples:

This is also observed with the verbs "Rakkhnā" and "Jānā/Vanjnā".

Examples:

Asī̃ ohnū̃ ditti rakhie? (اسِیں اوہنُوں دِتّی رکھّیئے؟) instead of Asī̃ ohnū̃ dei rakhie? (اسِیں اوہنُوں دئی رکھّیئے؟)

(meaning, "Shall we keep on giving him?")

and

Oh keeti jāndā ae (اوہ کِیتی جاندا اے) instead of Oh kari jāndā ae (اوہ کری جاندا اے)

(meaning, "He keeps on doing")

Kalla mai-aan kamm keeti jaavan? instead of Kalla maiiyon kamm kari jaavan?

(meaning, "I alone am to keep on doing?)

This can be further observed with the verbs Aanā (to come) and Jānā/Vanjnā (to go), when used in this manner.

Ohnu ohndey pesay taan ditti aa (اوہنُوں اوہندے پیسے تاں دِتّی آ), meaning "Give him his money and come back"

Pesay taan mere ditti vanj (پیسے تاں میرے دِتّی ونج), meaning "Give my money as you go"

Pesay taan ditti veynda/jaanda (پیسے تاں دِتّی ویندا/جانا), meaning "You could have at least given the money as you went"

Mein hikk kamm keeti aavaan (میں ہِکّ کمّ نہ کیتی آواں), meaning "I'll be back after one task"

Mein veyndean do trae moṭian moṭian gallaan bas keeti jaavan (میں ویندیاں دو ترۓ گلّاں بس کیتی جاواں), meaning "I'm just going to say a few things as I go"

Ajj kujh baahroon na khaadhi aaveeye? (اجّ کُجھ باہرُوں نہ کھادی آوِیئے؟), meaning "Shouldn't we eat something from outside today?"

Aseen gall kareynde haaen, pehlon booha taan band keeti aa (اسِیں گلّ کریندے ہائیں، پہلوں بُوہا تاں بند کیتی آ), meaning "We will talk, first go close the door"

Booha band keeti jaaveen (بُوہا بند کیتی جاوِیں), meaning "Close the door when you go"

Oh ditti aaya karay (اوہ دِتّی آیا کرے), meaning "He can give (and come back)"

Oh ditti jaaya karay (اوہ دِتّی کرے), meaning "He can give give (while he is passing/leaving)"

Mein ḍiṭṭhi aavaan (میں ڈِتھّی آواں), meaning "I'll be back after a look"

Jaa nahaati aa (جا نہاتی آ), meaning "Go take a bath"

The words in bold would be "de", "kar", "khaa", "dekhya", and "nahaaya" in Standard Punjabi as well as in Urdu-Hindi translation.

With the verb Baiṭhnā

"Hun taan mein keeti baitha aan" instead of "Hun taan mein karii baitha aan".

(meaning, "Now I have done it" )

"Peeti baitha ae" instead of "Pee baitha ae"

(meaning, "He has drunk")

References

1. ^ Shackle 1976, p. 8.
2. Masica 1991, p. 442.
3. Shackle 1979, p. 201.
4. ^ "District Website". Archived from the original on 2 October 2014. Retrieved 31 December 2012.
5. http://www.sikhchic.com/history/mother_tongue_the_many_dialects_of_punjabi
6. "Glottolog 4.7 - Shahpuri".
7. "Glottolog 4.7 - Jatki".
8. "Glottolog 4.7 - Jhangi".
9. "Glottolog 4.7 - Dhanni".
10. Shackle 1979, p. 202.
11. Shackle 1979, p. 205.
12. J. Wilson (1898). Western Punjabi ( Shahpur District). p. 54. me venda pyā̃, me kamm pya karendā̃.
13. "Grammar and Dictionary of Western Punjabi". archive.org. p. 50. The future tense is formed by adding to the root the letter -s with the general personal endings
14. "Dictionary of the Jatki or Western Punjabi Language". archive.org. 9 December 2023.
15. J. Wilson. Western Punjabi ( Shahpur District). p. 46.
16. Singh, Maya (1895). "The Panjabi dictionary". dsal.uchicago.edu. Retrieved 19 October 2023. WATT ਵੱਤ ad. Again, afterwards
17. "Grammar and Dictionary of Western Punjabi". archive.org. p. 31. Vatt, Mur, Then, Again
18. J. Wilson. Western Punjabi ( Shahpur District). p. 54. Vanj (Go).
19. Singh, Maya (1895). "The Panjabi dictionary". dsal.uchicago.edu. Retrieved 21 October 2023. GHINNAṈÁ ਘਿੱਨਣਾ v. a. To take
20. Grammar and dictionary of Western Panjabi, as spoken in the Shahpur district with proverbs, sayings and verses. Punjab Government Press, Lahore. 1899. p. 1. Ghinn for Le (Take).
21. A. Jukes (1900). Dictionary of the Jatki or Western Panjábi Language. p. 22. آننْڑ / Anan, v. t. To bring.
22. "Salah-ud-Din Panjabi dictionary". dsal.uchicago.edu. Retrieved 21 October 2023.

Bibliography

• Shackle, Christopher (1976). The Siraiki language of central Pakistan : a reference grammar. London: School of Oriental and African Studies.
• 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 0079-1636.
• Masica, Colin P. (1991). The Indo-Aryan languages. Cambridge language surveys. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-23420-7.

Further reading

• Grierson, George A. (1919). Linguistic Survey of India. Vol. VIII, Part 1, Indo-Aryan family. North-western group. Specimens of Sindhī and Lahndā. Calcutta: Office of the Superintendent of Government Printing, India.
• Wilson, James (1898). Grammar and dictionary of western Panjabi, as spoken in the Shahpur district with proverbs, sayings, & verses. Lahore: Panjab Govt. Press.

• Punjabi language in Pakistan
• Punjabi dialects