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What Should I Do To Improve My Punjabi? (Speaking)


Guest Mr_C
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I always thought my Punjabi speaking skills weren't that good because I was born and raised in the United States. However, over the years I have made friends with a lot of people who are Punjabi and they speak Punjabi very well even though they were also born in the United States just like me. Since then I have always wondered: Why is my Punjabi not so good?

My parents were both born in Punjab, India and raised there until they migrated here. As a child, I always spoke to them in Punjabi, but I was raised around a lot of Hispanics and White people. Fast-forward to now, I am 23 years old and I speak in Punjabi at home so I can practice. However, my pronunciation is still very bad as well as my vocabulary and sentence structure. I know I can speak with my friends but they all make fun of me when I try to speak with them in Punjabi. They can understand me, but they stay I speak it very funny and "white-washed". It gets really sad when I'm at the Gurdwara doing sewa or at a wedding with elders and people try to make conversation with me in Punjabi and I try my best but then they realize that my Punjabi isn't very good, so they are forced to speak in English to me because of that.

What should I do to change this? So far I only speak to my parents and grandfather in Punjabi. Are there any books or videos or anything that can help me learn and make my Punjabi-speaking skills better?

Thank you

Mr_C

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You're doing the right thing, practice makes perfect and before you know it you'll be up to speed with those making fun if not surpass their level. A visit to Punjab once every other year if possible is also helpful. Relatives there find even my wife's Punjabi (she's from Punjab) watered down and since we've come back my son speaks more than me!

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Thank you guys.

Preeet, that is true. My parents are both from the Majha region of Punjab while most of my friends are from the Doab region. They have mentioned this to me as well.

InderjitS, thank you and I know I should keep practicing. I've been speaking Punjabi to my parents at home since I was a kid but my pronunciation has always been horrible. I wish it would just improve and my sentences would make sense to native Punjabi speakers. I get so shy when my Punjabi is bad it makes it even worse. And that is true, going to India would really help, I have only been there 3 times. It's time I go back again and really try to learn the language this time. Thank you once again.

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I also struggle to speak punjabi and I have found that going to india helps immensely. The whole mindset changes when you are in india. You see, hear, read, speak in punjabi and there is no English. You have to cutout the English to learn punjabi. Also read punjabi book or granths etc.

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Thank you so much guys!

My parents are both from the Majha region of Punjab. I agree, my friends who say I speak Punjabi differently are from the Doab region.

I have only been to India three times. I have not gone in over 7 years. I may go towards the end of this year. College is always getting in the way. I want to go really badly. I miss it. Thank you so much once again guys.

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  • 4 weeks later...

I've been learning to read and write Gurmukhi. I know a lot of it so far. I have been reading a section the Punjabi newspaper everyday. So far my Punjabi is improving. Thanks guys! Anything else I should do?

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I've been learning to read and write Gurmukhi. I know a lot of it so far. I have been reading a section the Punjabi newspaper everyday. So far my Punjabi is improving. Thanks guys! Anything else I should do?

Put it into practice verbally too. I:e: family members, shopping when u go to get the atta, anywhere you see an elderly person grab them and say you are doing a project and are practising for college etc. maybe don't grab them , but seriously verbally will improve it more and increase your confidence. ( just don't get the newspaper out n stArt reading to strangers in the street "aj dia khabraa" Lolz ).

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Force urself to speak punjabi as much as possible. Make it a rule that if the other person can understand punjabi u will only speak punjabi. So at home with friends at gurudwara:only punjabi! Dont be shy otherwise u will not learn. If they speak in english u still have to use punjabi. If u dont know a word,describe it in punjabi.

Also they say to really be fluent in a language it has to become ur first language. So if a language is all around u: on TV , music, house,school,friends then its ur first language. If u only use it sometimes its ur second language. So listen to punjabu music watch punjabi movies( i recommend vismaad animation movies cuz punjabi movies can be a bit toxic so watch just a little. N no bollywood) read punjabi books as well! Not just newspapers as that doesnt have normal punjabi. There are many online books(just google) i suggest bhai raghbir singh bir's books ( he uses normal punjabi) then afterwards u can try bhai veer singh but he is higher level.

Also have a real conversation with elders. Especially with grandparents. Ask him about the old days, his life when he was a boy, his political views. This helps the most cuz u will pick up grammer n pronunciation. Ask him lots of questions n tell him to correct u and ur grandmother too.

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