Saraiki is a Language, Not a Dialect
The famous aphorism, often attributed to sociolinguist Max Weinreich, declares that “A language is a dialect with an army and a navy.” This witticism accentuates the sociopolitical nature of linguistic classification: what counts as a “language” is rarely determined by purely linguistic criteria but by historical, political, and social power. In Pakistan, this distinction has significant implications for Saraiki, a rich and ancient language spoken by millions in southern Punjab. Despite its literary traditions, distinct grammar, and cultural heritage, Saraiki is often labeled a “dialect” of Punjabi, a classification that obscures its unique linguistic identity and undermines its speakers’ cultural visibility.
Saraiki’s Linguistic Distinctiveness
Saraiki is not merely a regional accent or a variety of Punjabi; it possesses its own phonology, morphology, syntax, and lexicon. Linguists have documented systematic differences in vowel systems, tonal patterns, and verb conjugations that set Saraiki apart from Punjabi and other neighboring languages. For example, Saraiki maintains implosive consonants and nasalized vowels absent in standard Punjabi, while its verb system exhibits distinctive markers of tense and aspect.
Moreover, Saraiki has its own rich oral and literary traditions, including poetry, folktales, and Sufi devotional works. The writings of Khawaja Ghulam Farid, one of the most celebrated Saraiki poets, demonstrate a sophisticated linguistic and literary style that cannot be reduced to a Punjabi subvariety. From a purely structural and literary perspective, Saraiki qualifies as a fully autonomous language.
The Sociopolitical Dimension
Herein lies the relevance of Weinreich’s aphorism. Language status is rarely neutral; it is deeply intertwined with political recognition, institutional support, and state patronage. Punjabi enjoys national recognition in Pakistan, serving as the lingua franca of the Punjab province and receiving institutional support in education and media. Saraiki, despite its large speaker base, has historically lacked such political backing. It is often subsumed under Punjabi for administrative and educational purposes, reinforcing the perception that it is merely a “dialect.”
This classification is not just a semantic matter; it has real-world consequences for cultural preservation, educational access, and linguistic pride. Recognizing Saraiki as a distinct language would justify developing mother-tongue education programs, official media content, and literary promotion, helping to sustain its vitality for future generations.
Cultural Identity and Linguistic Rights
Language is inseparable from identity. Millions of Saraiki speakers define themselves culturally and socially through their language, which carries region-specific idioms, historical memory, and social norms. Treating Saraiki as a subordinate dialect diminishes this identity and perpetuates a hierarchy of prestige that privileges Urdu and standard Punjabi.
International frameworks, including UNESCO’s guidelines on endangered languages and the Universal Declaration of Linguistic Rights, emphasize that linguistic communities have the right to maintain, develop, and transmit their languages. Recognizing Saraiki as a distinct language is not only linguistically justified but also ethically imperative.
Conclusion
Saraiki exemplifies the truth behind Weinreich’s aphorism: the question of whether a speech form is a “language” or a “dialect” is less about phonemes or syntax and more about power, recognition, and institutional support. Structurally, historically, and culturally, Saraiki stands as a language in its own right. Its classification as a mere dialect reflects sociopolitical marginalization rather than linguistic reality. For the preservation of Pakistan’s rich linguistic mosaic, Saraiki must be acknowledged and nurtured as a fully autonomous language, one that deserves not only speakers but also an army of institutional support and a navy of cultural recognition.
References
Ethnologue. (n.d.). Saraiki. Retrieved from https://www.ethnologue.com/language/skr/
Ethnologue. (n.d.). Pakistan Languages, Literacy, Maps, Endangered Languages. Retrieved from https://www.ethnologue.com/country/PK/
Ethnologue. (n.d.). Western Panjabi. Retrieved from https://www.ethnologue.com/subgroup/4340/
Ethnologue. (n.d.). Indo-European. Retrieved from https://www.ethnologue.com/subgroup/3/
Ethnologue. (n.d.). Lahnda Language (LAH). Retrieved from https://www.ethnologue.com/language/lah/
UNESCO. (n.d.). Language Vitality and Endangerment. Retrieved from https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000183699
Universal Declaration of Linguistic Rights. (1996). Article 1. Retrieved from https://scholarworks.uni.edu/facpub/623/
