Learn Punjabi Sat Sri Akal

[DeepSingh]

I hope everyone is well.

My goal is to be fluent in spoken punjabi by the end of this year!

Having no Sikh friends make this a problem. But I'm looking through this thread and it seems very helpful.

It would be good to have more Sikh friends and maybe practice punjabi with.

Kind regards.

 

[Embers]

Sat Sri Akal DeepSingh
Welcome to the forum.
That is a grand goal, I wish you success. May I ask how much you can understand and speak presently, just to know what your goal may mean, please?

I too would like to undestand more. My aim is to understand the Sukhmani Sahib so when I attend the Gurdwara I feel the words.

 

[DeepSingh]

Sat Sri Akal DeepSingh
Welcome to the forum.
That is a grand goal, I wish you success. May I ask how much you can understand and speak presently, just to know what your goal may mean, please?

I too would like to undestand more. My aim is to understand the Sukhmani Sahib so when I attend the Gurdwara I feel the words.

I can understand my parents when they speak punjabi, but I find it hard understanding others. I can get the jist of what they are saying, but its frustrating not being able to respond!

My goals are:

1) Speak punjabi fluently with confidence.

2) Read and write punjabi to be able to read newspapers and the Guru Granth.

I hope to achieve number 1) first. To do this I will.

1) Listen to punjabi music 24/7, I've put some songs on my ipod and will listen even when I'm asleep. I've been listening to some bhangra for the last 3 hours and don't understand anything Also I will start listening to some pardth.

2) Start watching punjabi movies and tv shows.

For number 2)

I will start learning the alphabet and learn a few words EVERYDAY.

I want to improve my basic speaking before I go to the Gurdwara again. So at least I can understand and cement the basics.

I've never been more motivated than anything in my life before. I feel ashamed that I can't speak punjabi properly. But life is filled of struggles, what has happened, has happened. I have the strength now, to turn things around. Being on this forum is good motivation.

Growing up in a western environment, I've lost my roots. I will be speaking punjabi and understanding punjabi before this year is out!

 

[DeepSingh]

I hope everyone is well.

My goal to speak punjabi isn't going very well! :blushh:

I've joined up to mylanguageexchange to find voice partners to practice punjabi.

Is there anyone here would be willing to help me learn and practice?

My skype is hardeep812,

Kind regards khandaa

 

[Roop Kaur]

Ahh, you sound like a lovely fella Deep - too bad I don't have any equipment to help etc!

How old are you if you don't mind me asking - do you have Punjabi classes?

Here, in Australia we have Punjabi school that many attend - it's quite good!

 

[DeepSingh]

Thank you for the reply!

I'm 27, so almost a buda lol . I live in London, in a heavily populated Sikh area. But I'm a bit embarrased going to a class, as I want to gain some confidence and solidify the basics first. I know a basic repitore of words but can't string them together coherently.

I've been listening to alot of punjabi songs today, and wish I could understand them properly! I'm perservering and following some online punjabi stuff. I didn't know the word for blue was neela :blushh:

 

[spnadmin]

deepsingh ji

Read your Visitor's comments. I have a summer project in mind. Once it is firmed up we can invite other people to be part of it.

 

[Roop Kaur]

Hehe, not old at all!

To be honest with you, I find it very difficult to understand some punjabi songs - and I'd say I'm pretty fluent!

I don't mind helping you learn some basic punjabi, but I guess getting the pronunciation right might be a little difficult.

P.S- I'm really bad with colours, so please share some more! Although, I know red is laal, black is kaala, white is chita ... and that's as far as it goes! lol

I hope your summer project goes ahead Narayanjot Ji :thumbsuppp:

 

[spnadmin]

Roop Kaur ji

Here is what I have in mind.

I have been collecting a large number of resources in two categories.

One is a large collection of learning aids from Punjabi sources for learning vocabulary and grammar, basic sentences, and that kind of thing.

The second is a collection of materials on how to teach second language to adults/adult learners. Adults do not learn the way young children do. Yet, the information out there is not much geared to adults but just like what you would do with children. Adults get bored and frustrated and give up.

So I am going to do is organize some learning using group interaction based on adult-friendly language experiences. Give me some time.

By the end of May I can start this. Not until then. We can all learn together, with the help of experts on the forum from time to time. Everyone can participate and it will not matter if the group is large or even just 2 o r 3 of us. It will be worth it. In the mean time, everyone needs to learn their alphabet - Punjabi - to save time.

http://www.punjabonline.com/punjabi/alphabet.html BTW Click on the letter and you will hear the sound.

You can help us by being the spoken-Punjabi language expert!!!!!!!!!

 

[Roop Kaur]

Haha I think that's a fantastic idea Narayanjot Ji, and I would be very happy to help my fellow SPN'ers learn Punjabi. Given the wealth of knowledge I have learnt from this forum, it's the least I can do!

I'm sure I will learn a thing or two as well.

Please keep us posted, as I'm quite interested in lending a hand :thumbsuppp:
Gurfateh!

 

[Charan]

To be honest with you, I find it very difficult to understand some punjabi songs - and I'd say I'm pretty fluent!

Yes, Roop Kaur ji is right. I am also fluent in Punjabi, and I also feel they use a lot of difficult words in Punjabi songs.
Or they say the words in a different way than one is used to.

Let's take this song as an example:
YouTube - Romey Gill - Tutt Gaye Yarane
Pst, sorry about the pictures in the video, they are not too optimistic I see.. but then again, it's the song that matters.. :2:

I did not know that jind was the same as jindagi (life) or that minnat is another way of saying ment (which means something like request). I know that hanju means tears, but I would never use it in a normal conversation. Words like verhi/vedi (I think it's a noun) or saherhi/sahedi (verb?) are completely unkown to me. And guys, can someone translate this sentence - "Mukk gaya tel lo, khind gi veraag di." :{- Does mukk gaya tel lo mean the oil is finished? :{-

And I thought I knew Punjabi.. Hehe.. But the reason that a lot of us don't understand Punjabi songs, I think, is that as NRIs we are mostly familiar with only the "everyday" Punjabi and not "thet" (pure) Punjabi

 

[spnadmin]

Well a progress report. My set of 2 DVD's has arrived and I played a few tracks. These may be at just the right level for beginners and too simplistic for some of you who have responded so far.

I have to find a way to upload them without breaking copyright laws so that you can preview them. Then let me know if they will be useful. I listened to a few tracks today and definitely they are at the right level for me. I understood some words, but still needed help with the grammatical forms of sentences and questions. The other thing we need to think about -- whether, let's say, roop kaur ji could play a different role. For her the tracks might be too too simple, but she could add sentences, questions and situations that are similar to those on the track. Actually play the role of coach in order to move the people at the bottom of the class a bit farther. I am still working out the plan, but want to hear reactions.

Also Charan ji - Your comments on different forms, formal versus everyday, are really interesting and I wonder how that fits in.

 

[Charan]

Yes Narayanjot ji, not only do you have formal and informal Punjabi, but you also have the different dialects.
You can read more about it on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punjabi_language


Though Punjabi is Punjabi, the different dialects are not always easy to understand. This one time I met two Pakistani Punjabi women. The conversation went on in Hindi/Urdu, but as one of the women made a joke in Punjabi, they both started speaking Punjabi. I was shocked OMG Being a native Punjabi speaker myself, I did not understand much of what they said.. I just kept smiling .. :whisling:

And yes, another thing... the Sikh scriptures are written in archaic Punjabi which I find quite different from the Punjabi most Punjabis use in their everyday life.

So before learning Punjabi, know what "type" of Punjabi you want to learn!

 

[Roop Kaur]

Hi guys!

Sorry I didn't get the chance to respond earlier.

Firstly, SSA Charan ji, wonderful to see your contribution to this thread - we need more people helping, so thank you!

I listened to that song ... and lets just say - THAT WAS DIFFICULT! It's songs and words like those that make me think ... "Perhaps, I'm not as good as I thought" hehe .. but hey, we want our brothers/sisters to learn punjabi well enough to communicate with others, and I think we can manage that well.

And I completely agree with you about the Punjabi dialects ... I've always been told that we speak very type 'Pindu'/Villiager Punjabi ... But yes, there are the different dialects- Malwi, Doabi etc etc ... that's what you're referring to right?

In regards to your Pakistani-punjabi - don't you think they are absolutely AWESOME punjabi speakers though? Majority of those that I have met speak some of the best Punjabi I have heard, and I generally don't have a problem understanding it at all...My sister recently introduced me to a Punjabi-pakistani singer, Imran Khan, and well .. although he might not have the 'best' lyrics - they are quite bad actually - I always understand as I speak very similar punjabi ... as my dad tells me, apparantly it's because our families were originally from a villiage in pakistan punjab, and later migrated to India punjab during the partition

Ok, I am so rambling on, but Charanji I was tried to decipher the 'code', and 'mukk gaya tel lo' - I also thought it meant something like 'the oil is finished' ... hoping someone can help us with that!

So guys ... I'm on board!

 

[spnadmin]

mukk gaya tel lo

I think that either Gyani ji or Nam Jap ji can help with that.

Charan and Roop Kaur jios, I will have to decide which way we go. And I am learning toward two different but concurrent sections. One for learning banee and one for conversational Punjabi -- which would need to be fairly standard.

As I said earlier, the DVD's and workbooks have arrived. That is the good news. However there are technical problems to work out-- how to upload files and divide larger files into smaller ones. And also copyright issues.

This weekend I will be experimenting with the first few entries. Aman Singh has created a "sandbox" where it is possible to experiment with posting online before anyone can see it. Then once all is ready we can start.

Thanks to both of you, because those who are only reading for information must be finding your comments very helpful.

 

[Charan]

SSA Roop ji

First of all, thanks for replying. And no need to thank me for my contribution, it goes both ways, I am learning a lot myself

About Pakistani Punjabi.. I usually also understand Punjabi spoken by people from Pakistan, but these ladies had a very special dialect... I’ll ask them what kind it was if I meet them again.

Imran Khan’s Punjabi, however, is quite standard, don’t you think? Even though he is Pakistani, his lyrics are quite understandable to me as well. He probably doesn’t have a Pakistani touch to his Punjabi deliberately, so that he can reach a broader audience. But about Pakistani Punjabi being AWESOME, hehe.. It really depends, I have heard Pakistanis speak Punjabi very sweetly and politely, but I have also heard Pakistanis speak Punjabi very rudely, which sadly makes people who don’t speak Punjabi, think Punjabi people are rude. That actually goes for all those who shout, use bad words etc. when they speak. People who are not familiar with their language will automatically think they are rude. As a speaker of a language, we need to remember that we are representing its people and to act in the best manner we can...

Ok, a bit off topic now.. but back to Punjabi!

If “mukk gaya tel lo” means “the oil is finished”, what does “khind gi veraag di" mean?
(Btw, the sentence "Mukk gaya tel lo, khind gi veraag di" comes at 2.05 – 2.12 in the video)



Narayanjot ji, I am also hoping to learn the Punjabi used in Banee some day.. You are lucky! How far have you gotten with the conversational Punjabi? I did not actually know that you don’t speak Punjabi. No wonder you didn’t reply to my question about me calling you Didi in one of my first posts! :34: Didi is by the way a sweet way of saying “big sister” 8) Anyway, wish you good luck and hope to have a conversation in Punjabi with you, some time soon.

Before ending, just a random question.. How many of you use “tar” and how many of you use “kheera” for cucumber?

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Charan

 

[spnadmin]

charan ji Please forgive me if I did not reply to your calling me Didi. I do know what that word means, and have been didi, bhenji, phenji, and bibi to other people for a couple of years. I am very embarrassed by my oversight. :blushhh::blushhh::blushhh: Will you forgive me?

I do know some words -- like the names of all the vegetables and spices. That will not take me out of the kitchen. Also-- the names of birds and animals. I have to make more progress.

 

[Charan]

charan ji Please forgive me if I did not reply to your calling me Didi. I do know what that word means, and have been didi, bhenji, phenji, and bibi to other people for a couple of years. I am very embarrassed by my oversight. :blushhh::blushhh::blushhh: Will you forgive me?

I do know some words -- like the names of all the vegetables and spices. That will not take me out of the kitchen. Also-- the names of birds and animals. I have to make more progress.

Didi, no need to be embarrassed or ask for forgiveness, it’s completely fine, not a big deal at all! And wow, you actually know a lot, despite not being a native Punjabi speaker, I am amazed! Way to go!

 

[ugsbay]

What a wonderful thread, Charan Ji, we at home say "thaar" for Cucumber, i have heard the word "Kheera" used too at some relatives house. I speak fairly good fluent Punjabi but there is always room to learn more. I will certainly learn more on this thread as we go along. Thanks everyone.

 

[Charan]

What a wonderful thread, Charan Ji, we at home say "thaar" for Cucumber, i have heard the word "Kheera" used too at some relatives house. I speak fairly good fluent Punjabi but there is always room to learn more. I will certainly learn more on this thread as we go along. Thanks everyone.

Interesting! Most people I know say "kheera". How do you say it, "thaar" or "tar"? Does it start with a "th" sound like the one in "hathi" (elephant) or does is start with "t" sound like the one in "tu"(you)?

And yes, there is indeed always room to learn more! I think that is why the native Punjabi speakers are on this thread; to help the non-Punjabi speakers, as well learn some more ourselves.