Penn Language Center

Panjabi, the language of the land of five rivers, is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by over 105 million people - mainly Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims in both India and Pakistan.  Panjabi is one of the most widely used languages of South Asian communities in the UK, USA, Canada and many other Asian and African countries.  The Panjabi language has many different dialects, spoken in different sub-regions.  In India, Panjabi is written with the Gurmukhl script, while in Pakistan it is written with the Persian script known as Shahmukhl.  Panjabi is a major language of the Sikhs, in which much religious literature is written.  It is the usual language of Bhangra music, which has recently gained wide popularity both in South Asia and abroad.

The Panjabi courses in PLC are designed to introduce students to Punjab's rich cultural heritage, social and economic achievements as they develop their language skills.