My family is transitioning from lower class to lower middle. Like most #Punjabi families, with marriages & the third generation being born, the home language is shifting to Urdu (between siblings, spouses, parents and kids, kids and kids)#sociolinguitics #linguistics #punjabiyat
Even the second generation (=my) siblings speak Urdu or switch b/W Urdu and Punjabi while speaking.
I, however, am an exception who insists on speaking Punjabi for topics that are considered too modern for Punjabi, e.g. technology and business.
I, however, am an exception who insists on speaking Punjabi for topics that are considered too modern for Punjabi, e.g. technology and business.
Grandparents (mum and dad) to grand kids (my nephews and nieces) communicate in Urdu, only I keep Punjabi on (my niece says 'Shakir mamoo Punjabi boltay hain' Shakir (maternal) uncle speaks Punjabi. And then she laughs sometimes).
As a user of Punjabi, I am not sure how to react to this. Obviously I can only keep Punjabi on (until I can) to give them a passive or in some cases equal to Urdu active knowledge of Punjabi.
As a #linguist however, this is so fascinating: seeing a language being phased out gradually like sand in hand slipping away. I need to study it before it is too late, perhaps for my #postdoc
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