Urdu, Punjabi & Pothwari: Striking Similarities & Uniqueness of the Three Indo-Aryan Languages

Urdu, Punjabi and Pothwari are the three most widely spoken languages in Pakistan and India. Historical invasions and colonization resulted in the dispersal of the local population, causing numerous dialects of each language. There are different theories and myths about the historical connection of these languages. One such theory says that Pothwari is a variant of the Punjabi language. This might be due to the perception that Pothwari has so far been unable to claim the status of an independent language and thus, has a subordinated, relegated or inferior social status. The main reason behind this might be the folk linguistic perceptions that connect this great Oriental language with the uneducated and the unrefined. Though Urdu, Punjabi and Pothwari have sprung from the same ancestral source, they have developed uniquely over centuries. This article explores how the shared features between these three languages have diverged over time, causing great linguistic diversification