Punjabi
I am a British Asian and my mother tongue is Punjabi. From a young age I was taught how to speak Punjabi and had an understanding for it. As I got older I attended school and forgot nearly everything that I had learnt. Although I can still speak it and understand the language, I am embarassed to say that I am at a beginner's level. I believe that I should have been more encouraged to carry on speaking my mother tongue in my home or maybe even taken more notice of the classes that I attended, rather than thinking this is a waste of time. Which brings me to my last point, how will I be able to teach my future kids a language that I am not even fluent in.
Sent by: Nicky
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Hello everyone. I am an American interested in learning Punjabi. I have just purchased a phrasebook, and have also been cultivating friendships with Punjabis who have immigrated into this area. A young Punjabi lady showed me her English lesson- and phrase-book, but I was shocked to find HUNDREDS of errors in the English parts. Additionally, the choice of sentences was not very practical or realistic. I can't imagine ever having a need to say most of the phrases in her book! So, I advised her to not to learn from this book, and that I would make an effort to locate a better book with accurate English grammar and spelling and with more useful phrases. There must be something of good quality out there that teaches Punjabis correct and useful English.
The phrase "where there is a will, there is a way" applies to learning another language as well. I started learning Punjabi, Hindi and English in my school in India. The interest in languages inspired me to become an interpreter and translator.
Well you have a reason I mean as British Asians integrate into British society we loose our language and part of our cuture but on the good side some of our culture lives on in our music and in British slang (i.e. Chuddies, Balti, salah etc.)
It may seem sad, but it's also natural that you didn't take much interest in being bilingual when you were a kid. Now you're older and see more value in it, but it's not too late if you're motivated and don't get embarrassed about making mistakes. You've already got the basics, so why not try to find some Punjabi speakers (if you don't know some already) and get some practice. Good luck!
Hindi, which is the fourth most spoken language in the world is also dying as most Indians prefer to speak English.
As a native-born British Asian, my first languages is English. However, I also speak, read and write Bengali. This has given me a more rounded identity. From mz experience teaching English as a foreign language, I know that people speaking regional and local languages feel threatended by powerful global languages.
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