These days many parents choose not to teach their children their native language. Maybe living in a society where the native language is not the national language discourages parents. However, for people not knowing their native language, is it really possible for them to maintain their cultural traditions and religion?
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I`m born and raise in Canada and my parents were born in India. When I
was little, I spoke punjabi all the time, but when I started school, I
started speaking french and english and my punjabi got pretty rusty.. I
sooooooooooo wish I could speak it the way I used to.. any tips? I mean
I know how to talk, just it sounds funny coming from me ! like I`m
saying it wrong but the words are right.. what should i do !? lol -- Neetu , n_sambhi@hotmail.com |
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waheguru ji ka khalsa waheguru ji ki fateh.this is aakarshan singh
mander from usa.in my opinion one should always stick to ones mother
tongue.i feel proud to be born in punjab.santaan rishiaan muniaa di pavittar
dharti,bhole lok,change sanskar-es dharti te paida hona v maan wali gall
aa.saare des videsh baithe punjabiaan nu apne bachiaan nu punjabi
zaroor sikhauni chahidai hai. -- A , igotanewid@gmail.com |
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Namaste, Salaam, Sat Sri Akal and Hi
I think it is important to have know your native tongue....I am English
not Indian or Pakistani but I am the `GORA` who (kaun) lol...can
understand Punjabi better then my Indian mate he is the Asian guy who is in
to Kalaa culture if you follow. Yes be surprised I am an `Apna TYPE
Gora`...hahah its good...i listen to Bhangra and catch the good films that
come out, anyone seen Salaam Namaste....know one is going to believe me
now....LOL!
Richard -- Richard , richardcregan@btinternet.com |
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I
am very much in touch with my culture and have nothing but respect for
it. However, my punjabi is not very good. This does not make me any
less a punjabi or mean that i`m not in touch with my culture. i have
been brought up with great morals and understand where i have come from.
The fact that i dont speak great punjabi does not have an effect on the
person that i have become. I know a lot of punjabis who cant put a
single sentence together and although they would like to, they are still
proud of who they are and can class themselves as Proud Punjabis. just
thought i`d share that, ;-p xxx -- Nicky , koolkitten1@boltblue.com |
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I
am Supriya Sharma from U.S. I was born in punjab,India and stayed there
all my life. I am proud of my punjabi culture and I pray to God that my
punjab remains smiling and we don`t want any tensions in our punjab .
All of us are punjabis and we must keep up the culture by staying
together. punajbis will always stand as guards of our country India
....fellow neighbor beware. -- supriya , sidsupriya@yahoo.com |
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I
think parents should talk to their childrens in Punjabi. My parents
talk to me in Punjabi and i ask them questions about our culture and
language. so everyone should take part in this because if we don`t punjabi
will only last in our generation and no new geration will understand a
word of punjabi. that is not why we came to a forgien country to forget
our mother tongue. -- Spoiled , ccchani143@sbcglobal.net |
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No matter where you are in the world, you absolutely must teach your
children their native tongue! It`s extremely important! I grew up a Hindi
Punjabi, I am still growing because I`m only 12. Anyways, I am fluent
at Punjabi and English. I can understand Hindi, but I can`t really speak
that fast. Sometimes I feel as if I`ve lost how to pronounce the word
and it saddens me, I have to hang onto it. Don`t speak English to your
child when they`re 1. Teach them when they`re around 5 or 6, but keep
speaking Punjabi at home, English is outside of home. When they`re odler,
you can teach them how to write in Punjabi. I still don`t know how to,
just English. This summer I will be learning though.
This is from my experience, from something that my parents might have
made a mistake of. So don`t let them forget their ma bohlee. -- Sonia , xprecious_princess92x@yahoo.com |
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My name is Jason Petersen, formerly Jaspreect singh. My dad moved to
California twenty years ago, while he was there, he had my brothers,
sisters, and me. when i was 5 yrs old, my mom left my dad and moved to
minnesota, where i was committed to foster care. i am now 17, and i found
my dad. i am trying to learn punjabi, i am planning on moving in with
him soon, and i feel it is important to go back to my roots and learn
Punjabi, gurumukhi, and hindi. also i need to rediscover my sikh roots
by wearing a turban. i feel this is the most important thing anyone
can do
Jaspreect singh
(Jason Petersen) -- jespreect , baseballfann13@aol.com |
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Wuddup
I love learning different languages... currently know how to speak
english, urdu, punjabi, arabic, and spanish. Each language is like a door
to another world. The power of communication.. whoaness. I think it is
important for people to learn languages in order to communicate with
other people, learn, and advance for the betterment of society (is
betterment a word?). If I didn`t know urdu, I wouldn`t be able to communicate
with some of my relatives in Pakistan. If I didn`t know punjabi, I
wouldn`t be able to speak with my grandmother and learn so much about her
and her history, which is a part of my history. English allows me to
communicate in America and many other places around the world, and Spanish
helps a lot since I live in so.Cal, with its growing latino population.
And arabic, that is the most important language to me, because it is
the language that the Holy book Quran, of Islam, is written in, and for
me to be able to read the Quran and understand it is very important to
me. Languages are intriguing, and one can learn much about a people... I
am thankful that my parents taught me the languages I know, and
encouraged me to learn the ones they themselves do not know. To parents who
think twice about teaching their kids their native language: just do it.
Your kids won`t regret it, unless they grow up to me relaly
narrow-minded people that are ashamed of having an accent. Salaamz (Peace) -Nida- -- Nida , neederish@hotmail.com |
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To know your own mother tongue is very crucial. My analogy toward this
topic as follows: Consider a tree. If a tree doesn`t have strong roots,
the tree isn`t going to be strong either. This reflects your own native
language. If you don`t know your own language, you have lost your own
roots and culture.
DaUdS -- Mandeep , mandeep_d85@hotmail.com |
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I
think it is a shame not knowing who you are or where you are from.
People who don`t know their "ma bohlee" (mother language) are lost souls.
People migrated to America, not to lose everything, but to keep their
freedom (their religion, their language, and traditions) alive.
And for all of you "Americanized/Westernized" people who try to act all "thugged out" because you think it`s cool to act like you don`t know (or don`t want to learn) your ma bohlee (mother`s language/Gurus` language), then you are only fooling yourself. You are not impressing anybody and you are just disrespecting the father of our religon, Guru Gobind Singh and all of the Gurus (especially Guru Nanak).
I`d like to thank the creator and maintainer of this website. It`s easy
and fun to use. |
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My name is Savraj and i live in New Orleans. Punjabi was my first
language, but my father chose not to speak with me as a child because he
thought i would get a nasty accent. In my early teens I was upset with his
choice. I relearned punjabi beacuse i think it essential - because no
matter what- that is my culture and my opinion is just that i wanted to
know it for my own interests -- Savraj , sranshi5803@aol.com |
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If you have been migrated completety with your family in another country
forever and the language of that country is different language then
this new language is your native language. -- Aslam , a_rasoolpuri@yahoo.co.in |
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Being a polynesian is very hard not knowing your native culture,
traditionz and tongue but here i am being married to a punjabi man for almost
5 years i could speak punjabi, hindi and very little spanish most of
all english but my mother tongue language is Rarotonga, many find it
amazing but i find learning punjabi is a great experience for me and
basically it teaches you to be aware of what others say to you behind your
back....lol i had to learn punjabi for the sake of my husband, and
because i love him, i am also glad that learnt it all on my own so that the
credit dont go to no but me and God...:-) but hey i respect all your
thoughts i think you guys are very strong minded people but there are
times that yes people should learn there own native language and culture
before there very own (polynesians).. -- polynesian , sindel_feva4eva@msn.com |
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we as indians(punjabis) shall be proud of our culture...i belive that it
is possible for the parents to teach their children about the moral
value and culture of punjab even tough their children dont know punjabi by
teaching them in english.......first of all it is the parents fault
that why didnt they teach their children their own native mother
language......secondly, if their own parents tries to be accepted as punjabis ,i
think they dont have the privilege to be called fellow punjabis because
they didnt teach their children how to learn punjabi or speak it....it
is totally wrong if u are settled in a society where punjabi is not the
major language or it is not the language of the country and coz of that
u wont teach ur children about it.....
-- rick gill -- rick , JattDesiRomeo@aol.com |
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Punjabi is the mother of all punjabis or it should be, because we spoke
it when we were babies, we spoke it when we were kids and we still speak
it no matter where we stand today. Punjabi was always there for us, so
we should all get together and try to spread out what punjabi is all
about. And we should respect our GURUS who gave their lives just so we
can stand up one day and say, "Yes, i am a proud punjabi, we only teach
other how to love not to hate."
I hope all u guys think i am right on this. -- Jaspreet , jaskgill@hotmail.com |
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kiddan! i`m jassa from Lahore Pakistan thats right Pakistan. why do many
Sikh brothers have the impression that there is no Singhs in Pakistan?
In lahore there is a small community of Approximatelry 5000+ sikhs and
the muslley usually give us good izzat.My family remained here after
Partition it is the most beautiful part of Punjab is the pakistani side.
Long may the Pakistanis supply the Khalsa movement for a maha punjab i
pray raj karega khalsa -- jaspinder , jassahota@hotmail.com |
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I
believe that everyone should understand punjabi because we should not
and we have no right to leave our morals or ethnicity, our religion, our
culture out of our lives -- Jaswinder , sohnapunjabi143@yahoo.com |
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I think it is vital to learn your native language because so you don`t forget your roots and your ancestors who had spoken it. Many indians have changed themselves and aren`t proud of their own culture. We shouldn`t forget about our ancestors and how they sacraficed lives for their religion therefore I think it is important to learn about our religion and culture and speak your language alot!!! -- Sapna , sapna_ks@hotmail.com |
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You should 100% know you native language. It a must, as some other things.. -- Rose , blackrose@rocketmail.com |
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Language? HUH... To me it is very important to preserve our culture. If you are Punjabi, Than you should speak punjabi at home(people who speak english with knowing punjabi are Bashing people). If you are punjabi and you are speaking hindi is not very good. WHY? Cause to me they look ridiclious. WHY? Cause they are not proud of their culture. Speaking native language is the way to keep your close contacted with Gurbani. If you are going far away from your language than you guess That you are too going far from your culture, tradition, Religion. Gurfateh, Vicky singh Pls: If my writings hurts other persons` feeling than i feel sorry for them. If not than "Raj Karega Khalsa" -- Vicky , vickysingh@sikhfoundation.com |
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I think it`s really really crucial to learn your native language because it`s easier way to communicate with your parents, grandparents..and family in india. -- Deepi , jatti7@hotmail.com |
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We need to speak and know our native language to preserve our culture and identity. Our native language is our mother tongue. If we forget or do not learn Panjabi or our native language we will dilute into the Western People (GORE). With our native language we can learn and practise our religion easier and we will be able to visit India or Pakistan able to talk to your family! -- Manvir Singh Dhesi , manvirdhesi@hotmail.com |
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Ok now couple of things they brought up that they were interested for my views..one they(kids) thinking about its wrong of parents telling them what to do and what not to.. seriously this is tough one for me too, I have been in those places too..As far as this topic is concerned knowing your language and culture I think there is nothing wrong with it but they way some parents are trying to enforce it. I mean we all know that you cannot enforce a learning, that has to come from within as a quest. Our culture, our language is very very beautiful, interesting and moreover probably most linent(i hope i spelled it right) and broadminded. Once you know it, it`ll be ..you`ll just feel wonderful..and all you could say would be "WOW"...one of the reasons I just thought up why parents and children cannot communicate is cause of language and cultural barrier itself, anyone who is a parent or will be in future should realise that learning experience should always be pleasant for the pupil or they`ll just resent it later...do things that will interest them, like tell them stories, we all know stories will make even wildest kids sit still, show them things that our culture is proud about...I mean just of the head how many of you reading this Know of Harri singh Nalua(I don`t know if I spelled it right) How many of you know, who this great person was(email me if you don`t cause telling it right now will take me off topic, which i am anyway :) ) Teenagers listen to punjabis songs..i mean you listen to these songs and whenever some classical song is playing ask em if they understand it...if they dont` tell em what it means...I am sorry I have to bring something up which i am personally against..cause I believe all sikhs are equal ...what I am gonna point out is "Putt Jatt Da", "Meh Gabroo Jatt" are lines used in many songs..now we all probably know these too but Why are they proud, what makes them proud....and no "Just being Tough" doesn`t qualify, aside from being tough, once jatts became sikhs they also became impartial and respected everyone..they were as famous for loving thier fellow mates as they were for fighting in the battlefield...(there goes the myth that jatts are farmers only) remember, rather than dissecting you culture learn more about it first and then question it, cause you`ll most likely find your answer ..on other hand though if you start questioning it, you`ll be lost...also keep in mind punjab is also sorrounded with other cultures and many have converted to sikhs too, but over time things do get mixed up.. but somehow now, it seems we are gaining back our real identity, on who we are and what we are...remember life is too short to spend time on arguing and fighting ...love it live it...know your culture know you langage..not cause your friends and parents want you to, but to know yourself, on who you are and why you should be proud. ok now you all know the drill -- Gurpreet Singh Bhamra , gsbhamra@hotmail.com |
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I think it`s very important to learn your native language. I`m still learning this language and hopefully I`ll know it by the end of this millennium (just a year haha!). Well, I`m learning it so I can play basketball with my friends and we can speak Punjabi, and the other team won`t know what we`re talking about. Well, here`s a joke for everyone: What do you get when you don`t teach your child his native language? A child who can never really truly speak. Like Mike Tyson! -- Ravi Mann , Poopjabi@aol.com |
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I think it is very important to know your native mother tongue because I know from experience. I do not really know Punjabi that much. I know it is important because I do not understand the Hukamnama and other things in the Gurdwara (though I am religious and know the prayers and their meanings). I also went to India and knew that it was very difficult to communicate with some of the taxi drivers or shop keepers. Communication is not the only problem but it also affects your culture in a way. Also Happy Vaisakhi and Khalsa Tercentenary! -- Arjan Singh , ArjanSingh4sikhs@hotmail.com |
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I think that it is very important, for a person to know their native language. In my case my first language was Punjabi, and then English. It allows you to be more involved with your culture. And when you go back to India/Punjab you won`t have any difficulties in communicating. Unlike the asian people who have a very limited native vocabulary (Sat-Sri-Akal, Hanji...) and the rest of the vocabulary is just a fusion of Punjabi/English that no one understands! (Helloji..tuhada name is em...em..vhat?).. (Gotta get back to work!) Long live our Punjabi Culture!!!!!!!!!!!!! -- B.S.Khinda , Baz.Khinda@northeast-online.co.uk |
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Every individual should be well-versed in their native language. This is one way of connecting to your own roots, thus forming your own individuality. All literature if not understood in its original language, actually losses alot of its meaning, the same way a person not aware of their own native launguage, will not be complete. -- Preet Sidhu , PreetiSidhu@worldnet.att.net |
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Knowing your native language is important for staying in touch with your culture BUT is it fair to expect this sort of cultural PERFECTION from your kids? If you are fanatic about them BEHAVING, SPEAKING, and THINKING how you want, maybe the best thing is to go back where you came from. This is the only way they will live up to your (parents`) expectations. Otherwise just accept that kids won’t know the language perfectly but lots of involvement with your native people and in cultural events never goes astray. The important thing is that people connect to culture in a way that is interesting, fun and (more importantly) has relevance to their current lives. This provides the motivation to understand and see the value of language in order to experience culture. Culture is about being INVOLVED not just someone telling you about it. -- Jeeti , jeetiji@yahoo.com |
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I believe you have to know your native language. Especially if you live out of India. Because without the knowledge of your native language you feel and become like a foreigner, whenever you travel back to the motherland. This is true for many people living abroad. Please e-mail me with your comments. -- Ajay Datt , adatt@hotmail.com |
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How important is it to know your native Language? Ans. Rather simple, its not important at all!! Astounded? Well, it is so if you don`t care who you are, where your roots are and blunty, "You are ashamed of your own culture". On the other hand, if you do care about you identity, and have self respect, Language is the first Step towards knowing yourself. Heck, everything starts from language, If you want to understand your culture, yourself, you`ll have to know it, because if you don`t all you are doing is reading someone else`s interpretation of everything you read/listen/hear in another language. The fact stays, "You won`t know it, unless you experience it." Don`t know how everyone else feels about it, but maybe because I am punjabi, born and rasied in punjab, I can say I know a little bit about who I am, what I am even though now I am in Canada, practically on the otherside of the world from my homeland. I`ve always been proud of myself and my culture, though when I came here I had my share of difficuties, but thats not a fair excuse for me to start ignoring my own representation. Now after only about five years here, I have friends who were born and raised here, never spoke thier own language, now speak and talk in punjabi... I am not saying I did a great deal or something, just that I thought it would be so cool having these guys talking in punjabi and knowing what they really...I mean its no doubt that all these punjabi guys knew how to fight, argue, love, care like punjabis...but the essense was still missing, "THE LANGUAGE". It is so cause just to learn punjabi, (ITS NOT HARD AT ALL) you learn so many other things, that you all of a sudden feel like, "Hey I was in dark all this time". My friends never knew about the famous love stories like Heer Ranjha, Sussi Punno, Sohni Mahiwal etc. originated from Punjab. Nor they were so informed about heroes of Punjab like, Maharaja Ranjit Singh, Jassa Singh Ramgarhia, Jassa Singh Ahluwalia, Bhagat Singh, Udam Singh, Hari Singh Nalua... I mean these are people who have made thier place in history by doing something that noone else has done. Yea, they read about all this in English, (someone else`s interpretation), but trying telling them what these people said in PUNJABI...the way the originally said....and I can bet on it there will be a totally different response. -- Gurpreet Singh Bhamra , gsbhamra@hotmail.com |
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I think that Native Language plays a big role in learning one`s own culture. I think if a person doesnt understand his/her native language, its harder for them to learn culture. Our holy book is in punjabi, to read it one has to know punjabi. I`m punjabi, and i know about Heer-Ranjha, Mirza-sahiban, Shahid Bhagat Singh, and other stories because my parents tell me about them. And i understand how my culture was in history and how is it now. -- Jimmy Singh , Majnu6@aol.com |
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I do think that knowing one`s native language is essential, ESPECIALLY for ppl of Indian descent. A language is not just a bunch of words used to communicate, if that were the case then is one form is just as effective as another from of language in communicating thoughts there would be no reason to hold on to a native language. However, a language is SO much more, in it lies the essence of a culture that is rich and full of more life than some of us can imagine. Poems, songs, religious texts all evoke so much more emotion when read in their indigenous tongue than when they are translated into some other language simply because each language has its own idioms and quirks that will never wholly translate. I guess the point I`m trying to make is that YES knowing one`s language is important, but actually using the language to explore one`s culture and history is where the true value of language lies. -- Redwan Ahmed , ra33@cornell.edu |
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I believe knowing one`s native language is helpful in communicating with own`s people. However, the desire to learn one`s native language is completely up to the individual based on the surroundings and society he lives in. For example, an Indian living in America such that his native language is not essential for him to communicate with those around him. -- Rhidoi Krishnakumar , rdk10@cornell.edu |
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Cultural traditions and religion implies knowledge of one`s inherent native language, however it does not imply that if the native tongue is not spoken that the child will be raised without cultural and religious value. Cultural and religious belief extend far beyond language. Language enhances one`s culture because it is in essence yours...it belongs to you and you belong to it. There is a strong attachment between culture and langauge, they go hand in hand, even though it is also safe to say that without langauge a child can maintain a strong and proud cultural and religious traditions and morals. -- Shadman Ommatmohammadi , shadommat@hotmail.com |
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I believe it is not that important to know your native language. As long as you are in touch with your culture some way or the other, you will be able to practice your cultural traditions. -- Manoj Notani , mgn2@cornell.edu |
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To keep your own cultural traditions, you MUST know your native language. Not having a knowledge of your language makes it very difficult to understand, participate, and gain knowledge about your own culture. I don`t think it is really possible to be attached to your roots without knowing your language. -- Raj Khosla , raj@stanford.edu |