Part of: Punjab Gk set 13

The most common script used for writing Punjabiis .....

Category: Punjab Gk

Hint: Consider the script associated with the Sikh religious texts.

Correct Answer: C) Gurmukhi

Exam Relevance: UPSC, SSC, State PSC

Difficulty: Easy

Explanations:

The Punjabi language is primarily written in the Gurmukhi script, which is the correct answer to this question. Gurmukhi is an abugida script that evolved from the Laṇḍā script and is closely associated with the Sikh religion. The term "Gurmukhi" literally means "from the mouth of the Guru," referring to the fact that the script was standardized by the Sikh Gurus, particularly Guru Angad, the second Sikh Guru.

The Gurmukhi script is used extensively in Punjab, India, and is the official script for the Punjabi language in the state of Punjab. It is also used in the neighboring state of Haryana and in parts of Himachal Pradesh. The script consists of 35 consonants and 10 vowels, along with several additional characters that are used to modify the sounds of the basic characters. Gurmukhi is written from left to right and is a phonetic script, meaning that each character represents a specific sound.

It is important to distinguish Gurmukhi from other Indian scripts such as Devanagari, which is used for writing Hindi and other languages. While Devanagari is widely recognized and used in India, it is not the script used for Punjabi in Punjab, India. Similarly, Bengali and Oriya scripts are used for their respective languages and are not used for writing Punjabi.

The use of Gurmukhi for Punjabi is deeply rooted in the cultural and religious history of Punjab. The script was developed to make the teachings of the Sikh Gurus accessible to the common people, who were often illiterate in the more complex scripts of the time. Today, Gurmukhi is not only a means of written communication but also a symbol of cultural identity for many Punjabis.

Understanding the script used for a particular language is crucial for anyone studying the language or its cultural context. In the case of Punjabi, Gurmukhi is the script that learners should focus on, as it is the most widely used and recognized script for the language in Punjab, India.

Option Analysis:
  • Option A: Bengali is incorrect. Bengali is the script used for the Bengali language, not Punjabi.
  • Option B: Oriya is incorrect. Oriya is the script used for the Oriya language, not Punjabi.
  • Option C: Gurmukhi is correct. Gurmukhi is the primary script used for writing Punjabi, especially in Punjab, India.
  • Option D: Devanagari is incorrect. Devanagari is used for writing Hindi and other languages, but not for Punjabi in Punjab, India.

Mnemonic: Gurmukhi: Guru's mouth, the script used by the Sikh Gurus.

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