Languages and literatures of Pakistan

(pakistan.gov.pk)
Updated: 2009-08-18 12:54

Languages of Pakistan

Evolution and development of any language is dependent on the evolution and development of a society where that language is spoken.

Various invasions and conquests on a place affect the development of its language. Pakistan is a land that attracted many foreign races and empires during the course of its long history.

Such was the sponge like quality of the sub-continent of India that under every invasion it readily absorbed foreign traits yet, maintaining their own distinct individuality as well. Language was one such trait.

The inhabitants of Indian subcontinent were the speakers of Sanskrit and eventually, words and dialects of the languages of each successive intruder intermingled with Sanskrit and gave birth to various dialects and languages.

Most of the languages spoken in Pakistan are part of the Indo-European family of languages. The main language families in Pakistan are Indo-Aryan, Iranian, Dravidian and Dardic.

Following are some of the major languages spoken in Pakistan:

Urdu-The National Language of Pakistan, English, Punjab Languages, Pashto Languages, Sindh Languages, Baloch Languages, and Languages of Northern Areas of Pakistan.

Literature of Pakistan

The literary heritage of Pakistan can be traced back to the Muslim period, originating with the advent of the Arabs in this region as early as in the 8th century AD.

The literary heritage of Pakistan has been enriched by three classical languages: Arabic, Persian and Urdu.

Parallel with these three literatures, there is the wealth of folk classics in various regional languages of Sindhi, Punjabi, Pashto, Baluchi, Brahui, Kashmiri and the more localized dialects.

Pakistani literature can be classified into the following categories: Urdu Literature, Pashto Literature, Sindhi Literature, Baluchi Literature, Folklores of Punjab, Folklores of Pashtun, Folklores from Sindh, and Folklores from Balochistan.