Bakhtyaar Shahzad

Nagar Parker, an ancient city known as “परासकर टेश” or “Parasker desh” in Acharya Panini’s Ashtadhyayi, holds a unique linguistic heritage within the Karoonjhar Mountains of district Tharparker, Sindh. This region is not only blessed with the pure and refreshing waters of Luni and Sardharo streams but also resonates with the melodic sounds of Parkari, the local language. While initially unfamiliar to Sindhi speakers, Parkari surprises with its comprehensibility to Sindhis. Its distinctive linguistic features and historical ties make Parkari a linguistic treasure worth preserving and exploring. While being classified as a dialect of Gujarati language, it surprises us that it serves as the first language of Parkaris who have Pakistani nationality and territory with their Identity Cards in Sindhi!

The linguistic landscape of Nagar Parker reveals fascinating connections and influences. One such connection is the presence of Jainism, which dates back to ancient times when the 22nd Tirthankar, Neminath, achieved Moksha at Mount Girnar in Junagadh. Jain monks, hailing from Girnar, likely carried their teachings and preached in nearby areas until reaching Nagar Parker. Their influence spread beyond religious circles, as the Jain community served as advisors to Rajputs, the Gujarat Sultanate, and the Mughals. This interaction fostered significant cultural and linguistic exchange, contributing to the development and preservation of the Parkari language. The local Parkari speaking community has enrolled itself with Sindhi speakers in the National Database & Registration Authority (NADRA) records and national census as the language was not given an option to choose form which has paralyzed the language from reaching official recognition. What added to its suffering was the illiteracy among its speakers who did not concern themselves with what harms it could bring to the speech community. Not until recent since when some members have become educated this issue was raised on platforms.

The local Parkari speaking community has enrolled itself with Sindhi speakers in NADRA records and National Census

The exact historical details of how Jainism reached Sindh are not extensively documented. However, it is believed that Jain monks from the region of Girnar in present-day Gujarat played a crucial role in the dissemination of Jainism in Sindh. Girnar, a sacred site for Jains, is home to several Jain temples and is considered a significant center of Jain pilgrimage. Jain monks from Girnar likely traveled extensively across the Indian subcontinent, including Sindh, spreading the teachings of Jainism and establishing Jain communities in various regions. They would have engaged in spiritual discourse, delivered sermons, and guided individuals on the path of righteousness in their local languages. Their presence and influence likely grew over time, leading to the establishment of Jain communities in places like Nagar Parker, where a strong Jain presence can still be observed today. As an outsider, I conversed with them in Gujarati language for my interviews and found that they could understand what I said except for a few words. When they replied in Parkari, I was able to understand due to its intelligibility with Gujarati and Sindhi. ‘The education was offered in Gujarati in Nagar Parkar until it got replaced with Sindhi’ (Old Parkar). This way, the Jain monks must not have encountered a problem in communication with these people.

The linguistic ties between Parkari and Gujarati are also noteworthy. In the 5th century BC, a Jain council held in Vallabhi, Gujarat, witnessed the composition of Jain scriptures in Jaina Shurseni and Ardhmagadhi, two distinct Prakrit dialects. Interestingly, Shurseni Prakrit, one of the dialects used in the Jain scriptures, played a role in the evolution of several languages, including Punjabi, Sindhi, and Gujarati. According to Bherumal Advani, the Prakrit dialects spoken during that time gave birth to these modern languages, further emphasizing the linguistic connections between Parkari and Gujarati. The influence of Gujarati extends beyond economic reasons, as evidenced by the usage of Gujarati in religious texts, indicating its liturgical significance in the Parkari Jain community.

The linguistic ties between Parkari and Gujarati are also noteworthy

During the partition of India in 1947, when the subcontinent was divided into India and Pakistan, the Jains residing in Nagar Parker and other parts of Sindh faced significant challenges and uncertainties. As a result of the migration, the Jain community in Nagar Parker and other parts of Sindh experienced a significant demographic shift, with a considerable number of Jains relocating to Gujarat and other parts of India. This migration not only led to a dispersal of the community but also resulted in the loss of their ancestral homes, businesses, and cultural ties to Sindh. The migration of Jains from Sindh to Gujarat during the partition was driven by various factors, including concerns about safety and security, the desire to reunite with their fellow Jains in Gujarat, and the search for better opportunities and a stable environment for their families. It is important to note that while many Jains from Sindh chose to migrate to India during the partition, some Jains decided to stay in Sindh and continue their lives in the newly formed country of Pakistan but got assimilated into Hinduism over time.

In the current times, despite the linguistic presence of Sindhi in recent institutions, the Parkari language remains deeply embedded in the daily lives of the Parkari community. Its significance is exemplified by the efforts of Christian missionaries, who recognized the community’s limited proficiency in other languages and introduced the New Testament in Parkari Koli. This acknowledgment highlights the need for linguistic inclusivity and ensures that community members have access to religious texts in their native language. Moreover, UNESCO’s ongoing educational programs in Parkari emphasize the language’s importance as a medium for knowledge transmission, further validating the need for its preservation.

Despite the linguistic presence of Sindhi in recent institutions, the Parkari language remains deeply embedded in the daily lives of the Parkari community

However, the increasing influence of Sindhi in offices and educational institutions poses challenges to the preservation of Parkari. The younger generation, exposed to Sindhi through schooling and media, is gradually shifting away from the distinct phonemes and sounds specific to Parkari. Acoustic analysis of voice samples collected during research visits and participant observations confirms the diminishing ability of Parkari youth to produce these unique sounds. The prevalence of language shift is particularly noticeable among students attending Sindhi medium schools, where exposure to Urdu, Hindi, and English further accelerates the process. Urbanization and migration also pose threats to the survival of Parkari, as the language faces increasing pressures in an evolving sociocultural landscape.

Addressing the complexities of preserving Parkari and promoting multilingualism necessitates a multidisciplinary approach that goes beyond the expertise of traditional linguists and sociolinguists. Linguistic Anthropologists, with their specialized knowledge acquired through in-depth studies of culture and language, play a vital role in developing a culturally relative approach suited for the shifting language dynamics of Nagar Parker. By applying a cultural-relativist perspective, Linguistic Anthropologists can navigate the intricate sociolinguistic landscape, considering the community’s cultural practices, beliefs, and identity.

The increasing influence of Sindhi in offices and educational institutions poses challenges to the preservation of Parkari

To ensure a secure multilingual society in Nagar Parker, collaborative efforts involving linguistic anthropologists, linguists, anthropologists, educators, policymakers, and community members are essential. Raising awareness about the significance of linguistic diversity and cultural heritage among students and the general public is crucial. Meaningful discussions, workshops, and educational programs can serve as platforms for promoting dialogue, understanding, and appreciation for linguistic diversity. Recently, there has been formed a ‘Sindhi Adabi Sangat’  unit in Nagar Parker, like other cities in Sindh, which hold festivities and days which are mostly conducted in Sindhi but Parkari is given a place in music when people demand for it. This group also facilitates as an agency in ‘Sindhianizing’ Parkaris.

Partnerships with local communities and institutions are instrumental in the preservation of the Parkari language. Establishing language revitalization programs can aid in its preservation and revitalization. Creating Parkari language materials, such as books, dictionaries, and digital resources, can provide accessible resources for learning and promoting the language. Integrating Parkari into educational curricula at various levels, from primary schools to universities, can foster a sense of pride and identity among Parkari speakers, ensuring the intergenerational transmission of the language.

Valuing and safeguarding the linguistic diversity of Nagar Parker requires a comprehensive approach that respects the community’s cultural practices and linguistic heritage. By recognizing the importance of preserving Parkari, the community can secure a vibrant future for the language and its speakers. This entails celebrating linguistic diversity and encouraging the active involvement of community members in language preservation initiatives. The Parkari language, deeply rooted in the historical and cultural fabric of Nagar Parker, faces challenges posed by language shift and urbanization. However, its linguistic connection to Gujarati and the community’s profound attachment to Parkari contribute to its resilience. Efforts to preserve the language require a collaborative approach, drawing upon the expertise of linguistic anthropologists, linguists, educators, policymakers, and the active involvement of the community. By recognizing the importance of preserving linguistic diversity and cultural heritage, Nagar Parker can secure a vibrant future for the Parkari language and its speakers.

Valuing and safeguarding the linguistic diversity of Nagar Parker requires a comprehensive approach that respects the community’s cultural practices and linguistic heritage

In conclusion, Parkari’s linguistic heritage in Nagar Parker is a precious asset that requires urgent attention and preservation efforts. The contributions of Linguistic Anthropologists, in conjunction with other stakeholders, are essential to develop comprehensive strategies that respect the cultural and linguistic diversity of the region. By fostering awareness, promoting dialogue, and engaging in collaborative initiatives, the Parkari language can be safeguarded for future generations, ensuring a vibrant and inclusive linguistic landscape in Nagar Parker.

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Bakhtyaar Shahzad Panwhar Linguistic Anthropologist. He is fluent in Sindhi, English, Urdu, Siraiki, Punjabi, Gujarati, Kutchi, Marathi, Bangla, Persian, Arabic, Hindi, Dhatki, Kohli Parkari (semi fluent in Spanish and Hebrew). He did BS Anthropology- Dec, 2022 from University of Sindh. His areas of interest are Anthropology, Sociolinguistics, Phonology, Historical and Comparative Linguistics, Culture. He can be accessed at Email: bakhtyaarshahzad@gmail.com

The post Parkari in Peril – A Call for Linguistic Anthropologists! first appeared on Sindh Courier.

By Noor Ahmed Janjhi

Man with his power of knowledge…reason, study, experience, observance and love…. has made wonderful advancement and it is worth to be appreciated. Still much more lies ahead. This is only a glimpse of human potential in shape of his achievements, inventions and discoveries. Many a structural formation, invention and discovery came to the fore that has been mind boggling. By focusing on these advancements, man is going to think beyond being a man. However, he has to be a human yet. Somewhere he seems behind animals. As human intellectual growth is limited to few and far between so it takes time to reach to a wide circle of people. As a new concept makes its way to the masses, another new idea replaces it. Thus human intellectual development and its transformation take place and travels further. The travelling of minority of ideas advances towards majority of thinking. Man is consistent in his doings in future direction and his untiring attitude leads him further. It revolves around his aspiration and inspiration. As the aspiration shifts into greed and ambition it gathers negative potential. It distorts his real image and the things become worse. All of the intellectual achievement or development is shared mostly through a language. A language is a wonderful cognitive bestowal which enables human being to be distinct from the other animals. Allah has created human being and taught him how to express, speak or narrate.

There are many proposed definitions of language. Henry Sweet, an English phonetician and language scholar, said: “Language is the expression of ideas by means of speech-sounds combined into words. Words are combined into sentences, this combination answering to that of ideas into thoughts.” The American linguists Bernard Bloch and George L. Trager formulated this definition: “A language is a system of arbitrary vocal symbols by means of which a social group cooperates.”  Such definitions of language make a number of presuppositions and beg a number of questions. The language remains complicated yet. Some others tag a language as “the principal method of human communication, consisting of words used in a structured and conventional way and conveyed by speech, writing, or gesture.” Some call it “a system of communication used by a particular country or community.”

Language is a beautiful phenomenon of human life because it is means of the expression human self, human communication and the cultural identity.  In this way language has three major roles. They are; to express inner self, to communicate with the people knowing the same language and to observe cultural identity through language. A language is a verbatim of human concepts and ideas. It becomes easy in documentation when it gets a writing system. The writing system attempts to transform the images of concepts and ideas in set symbols. The writing system has a long historical journey too. People preserve their languages in their thinking process and cultural mosaic. In this way they transfer their linguistic heritage through verbal heritage until the development of its script or writing system. All the languages are spoken items firstly and then they move ahead towards documentation in black and white after development of writing system. Some languages get official patronage and flourish than the other contemporary languages. It is another point that the language greased by the market suppresses other languages and its speakers pose as superior to others. Such influx of power inculcates feelings of inferiority and superiority among people. Resultantly people abandon their own languages. It concludes in the death of any language and strengthens de-culturing process. Aware societies strive for their survival.

History of the grammar development is very much old in language process. People have tried to study the language, the rules of language, the derivative system of language, the progression, refinement, forgetting, and destruction of language. From the ancient grammar of Panini to the universal grammar of Noam Chomsky, there is vast history of language studies. The study has been reached to the scientific study of language called linguistics. It is studied the sound system of the language, writing symbols for the sounds, grammatical structures and study of meaning system of words through the linguistics. The linguist, by using the scientific methods, try to teach the processes of phonemes, morphemes, words, sentences, structural dynamics and internal potential or meaning of words. All the process takes place in the complicated domain of life. None takes place beyond to reason in this process. Different concepts and ideas are passed through experimental process as the same may be tested. The whole process starts with the phoneme. “A phoneme is an indivisible unit of sound in a given language. It is a unit of sound that distinguishes one word from another in a particular language.” The language is a systematic and dynamic combination of sounds. There is a great importance of linguistics in daily life. People observe their behavior when they express or narrate anything. They joke and show inner feelings. They keep names according to their thinking process and social context. They express abuse and curse the people. Through all of the processes there emerge many a linguistic points. Besides, there is a great human history in the background of words and sayings formations. The history reveals the pearls of cultures, faiths and the history itself. Through that linguistic process, it is known that how a human being is a human being .How the language is used? How a language functions? How a language emerges, develops during the process and how it becomes obsolete. The linguistics is a diversified, interactive and dynamic study of language. Therefore there is wide range of issues and problems pertaining to the study of linguistics. Further it is divided into different branches as phonology, phonetics, morphology, syntax, semantics and pragmatics. Interdisciplinary of linguistic studies involve two or more academic disciplines which are considered distinct. The most common interdisciplinary branches of linguistics are: Historical Linguistics, Sociolinguistics, Psycholinguistics, Ethnolinguistic or Anthropological Linguistics, Computational Linguistics, and Neurolinguistics.

Applied linguistics has a great importance in linguistics.  According to Corder, “Applied Linguistics is the utilization of the knowledge about the nature of language achieved by linguistic research for the improvement of the efficiency of some practical task in which language is a central component.” According to Schmitt & Celce-Murcia, “Applied Linguistics is using what we know about (a) language, (b) how it is learned, and (c) how it is used, in order to achieve some purpose or solve some problem in the real world”.

In Sindhi linguistics, there is dearth of research work. The work which is being projected and presented in the name of linguistics focuses on historical and social aspects of the language. Other disciplines of the linguistics are also important and need to be researched. There should be study of fundamentals of the linguistics in the universities and there should be development of the text books in Sindhi for linguistics. These definitions should be purely from the sound system and culture of Sindhi language rather than blind following of the matter written in English. It would enable students, researchers, scholars and common men to use pertinent, exact and better language. The language is a training as well because it is a complicated process to be performed by a set frame of organ performance. All the business of language in incomplete without training. To know the linguistics is very necessary for the training of language. If one will not understand the phonetic system , s/he may feel difficulty in teaching the language as well as the change and distortion in the language. This is the age of media and social media is surpassing the traditional media. There is a viewing process along with the reading and hearing process. There happen many changes and distortions in the language. The study of linguistics is necessary for its understanding. The study of linguistics should be important part of the language planning as there may be arranged properly for the study of linguistics at school, college and university level. Besides it, there is necessary to train the mothers as the infant learns early phonemes from the mother. If there will be no capacity of a primary school teacher and the mother in this regard, then there will be no expert of computer or a linguist able to save the language from its distortion. The language survives and sustains because of its speakers rather than the experts in computer and linguistics only.

Noor Ahmed Janjhi

Noor Ahmed Janjhi is a senior educationist based in Desert District Tharparkar Sindh. He is author of several books in Sindhi and English on folk literature including two poetry books.

The post Language, linguistics and Society first appeared on Sindh Courier.

In Sindhi linguistics, there is dearth of research work. The work which is being projected and presented in the name of linguistics focuses on historical and social aspects of the language. Other disciplines of the linguistics are also important and need to be researched.

By Noor Ahmed Janjhi

Man with his power of knowledge…reason, study, experience, observance and love…. has made wonderful advancement and it is very worth to be appreciated. Still much more lies ahead. This is only a glimpse of human potential in shape of his achievements, inventions and discoveries. Many a structural formation, invention and discovery came to the fore that had been mind boggling. By focusing on these advancements, man is going to think beyond to be a man. However, he has to be a human yet. Somewhere he seems behind animals. As human intellectual growth is limited to few and far between so it takes time to reach to a wide circle of people. As a new concept makes its way to the masses, another new idea replaces it. Thus human intellectual development and its transformation take place and travels further. The travelling of minority of ideas advances towards majority of thinking. Man is consistent in his doings in future direction and his untiring attitude leads him further. It revolves around his aspiration and inspiration. As the aspiration shifts into greed and ambition it gathers negative potential. It distorts his real image and the things become worse. All of the intellectual achievement or development is shared mostly through a language. A language is a wonderful cognitive bestowal which enables human being to be distinct from the other animals. Allah has created human being and taught him how to express, speak or narrate.

There are many proposed definitions of language. Henry Sweet, an English phonetician and language scholar, said: “Language is the expression of ideas by means of speech-sounds combined into words. Words are combined into sentences, this combination answering to that of ideas into thoughts.” The American linguists Bernard Bloch and George L. Trager formulated this definition: “A language is a system of arbitrary vocal symbols by means of which a social group cooperates.”  Such definitions of language make a number of presuppositions and beg a number of questions. The language remains complicated yet. Some others tag a language as “the principal method of human communication, consisting of words used in a structured and conventional way and conveyed by speech, writing, or gesture.” Some call it “a system of communication used by a particular country or community.”

Language is a beautiful phenomenon of human life because it is means of the expression human self, human communication and the cultural identity.  In this way language has three major roles. They are; to express inner self, to communicate with the people knowing the same language and to observe cultural identity through language. A language is a verbatim of human concepts and ideas. It becomes easy in documentation when it gets a writing system. The writing system attempts to transform the images of concepts and ideas in set symbols. The writing system has a long historical journey too. People preserve their languages in their thinking process and cultural mosaic. In this way they transfer their linguistic heritage through verbal heritage until the development of its script or writing system. All the languages are spoken items firstly and then they move ahead towards documentation in black and white after development of writing system. Some languages get official patronage and flourish than the other contemporary languages. It is another point that the language greased by the market suppresses other languages and its speakers pose as superior to others. Such influx of power inculcates feelings of inferiority and superiority among people. Resultantly people abandon their own languages. It concludes in the death of any language and strengthens deculturization process. Aware societies strive for their survival.

History of the grammar development is very much old in language process. People have tried to study the language, the rules of language, the derivative system of language, the progression, refinement, forgetting, and destruction of language. From the ancient grammar of Panini to the universal grammar of Noam Chomsky, there is vast history of language studies. The study has reached to the scientific study of language called linguistics. It is studied the sound system of the language, writing symbols for the sounds, grammatical structures and study of meaning system of words through the linguistics. The linguist, by using the scientific methods, try to teach the processes of phonemes, morphemes, words, sentences, structural dynamics and internal potential or meaning of words. All the process takes place in the complicated domain of life. None takes place beyond to reason in this process. Different concepts and ideas are passed through experimental process as the same may be tested. The whole process starts with the phoneme. “A phoneme is an indivisible unit of sound in a given language. It is a unit of sound that distinguishes one word from another in a particular language.” The language is a systematic and dynamic combination of sounds. There is a great importance of linguistics in daily life. People observe their behaviour when they express or narrate anything. They joke and show inner feelings. They keep names according to their thinking process and social context. They express abuse and curse the people. Through all of the processes there emerge many a linguistic points. Besides, there is a great human history in the background of words and sayings formations. The history reveals the pearls of cultures, faiths and the history itself. Through that linguistic process, it is known that how a human being is a human being .How the language is used? How a language functions? How a language emerges, develops during the process and how it becomes obsolete. The linguistics is a diversified, interactive and dynamic study of language. Therefore there is wide range of issues and problems pertaining to the study of linguistics. Further it is divided into different branches as phonology, phonetics, morphology, syntax, semantics and pragmatics. Interdisciplinary of linguistic studies involve two or more academic disciplines which are considered distinct. The most common interdisciplinary branches of linguistics are: Historical Linguistics, Sociolinguistics, Psycholinguistics, Ethnolinguistics or Anthropological Linguistics, Computational Linguistics, and Neurolinguistics.

Applied linguistics has a great importance in linguistics.  According to Corder,  “Applied Linguistics is the utilization of the knowledge about the nature of language achieved by linguistic research for the improvement of the efficiency of some practical task in which language is a central component.” According to Schmitt & Celce-Murcia, “Applied Linguistics is using what we know about (a) language, (b) how it is learned, and (c) how it is used, in order to achieve some purpose or solve some problem in the real world”.

In Sindhi linguistics, there is dearth of research work. The work which is being projected and presented in the name of linguistics focuses on historical and social aspects of the language. Other disciplines of the linguistics are also important and need to be researched. There should be study of fundamentals of the linguistics in the universities and there should be development of the text books in Sindhi for linguistics. These definitions should be purely from the sound system and culture of Sindhi language rather than blind following of the matter written in English. It would enable students, researchers, scholars and common men to use pertinent, exact and better language. The language is training as well because it is a complicated process to be performed by a set frame of organ performance. All the business of language is incomplete without training. To know the linguistics is very necessary for the training of language. If one will not understand the phonetic system, one may feel difficulty in teaching the language as well as the change and distortion in the language. This is the age of media and social media is surpassing the traditional media. There is a viewing process along with the reading and hearing process. There happen many changes and distortions in the language. The study of linguistics is necessary for its understanding. The study of linguistics should be important part of the language planning as there may be arranged properly for the study of linguistics at school, college and university level. Besides it, there is necessary to train the mothers as the infant learns early phonemes from the mother. If there will be no capacity of a primary school teacher and the mother in this regard, then there will be no expert of computer or a linguist able to save the language from its distortion. The language survives and sustains because of its speakers rather than the experts in computer and linguistics only.

________________________

About the Author

Noor Ahmed Janjhi is a senior educationist based in Desert District Tharparkar of Sindh province. He is author of several books in Sindhi and English on folk literature including two poetry books.

The post Language, linguistics and Society first appeared on Sindh Courier.