Thalochi dialect
Thalochi, or Thalli, is a Punjabi dialect spoken in Pakistani Punjab throughout a widespread area, starting from Tank to Muzzafargarh on eastern end of Indus River and from Bannu runs down to D I khan at western end of Indus River. Its name is derived from Thal Desert in province of Punjab.
Classification
It had been historically classified as dialect of Punjabi. In 1920’s Garrison in his Linguist Survey of India classified Thalli in to Southern cluster of Lahnda (Western Punjabi) but recently Southern Lahnda has been standardized as a separate language Siraiki.
Today Thalochi is clearly a distinct Hybrid dialect from Multani (Saraiki), because not only it always had slight Shahpuri influence which is the main dialect of the region (Sargodha Division) but also because the Thal Desert is in a state of demo graphical changes as the process of Land cultivation has brought in Majhi (Standard Punjabi) speakers in great numbers. Resultantly This dialect is becoming a more hybrid in nature over the time as gap between Majhi and Thalochi is closing down. This all has resulted in rejection by Mianwali and Bhakkar people of inclusion in Proposed Saraiki Province.[1][2]
Local people consider Thalochi to be a conglomerate of Hinko, Saraiki and Punjabi, and the Pakistan National Census shows a confused response to the language they speak. According to 1998 census,In Mianwali 74% of the population reported their language as Punjabi while only 12% reported Seraiki.[3] Similarly, in Bhakkar and Layyah districts 40% selected Punjabi and 50% for Seraiki.
Dialect Speaking Areas
following districts of Punjab Province of Pakistan and districts of Kyber Pakhtunkha Province Pakistan
Differences in Punjabi Dialects Standard (Majhi), and Western (Thalochi)
| English | Majhi or Standard Punjabi. | Thalochi.
(Western parts of Punjab Province) |
|---|---|---|
| What, This | Ki, Ae | Kay, Ay |
| How much, This much, That much | Kinna, Inna, Unna | Kitna, Itnna, Utnna |
| My, Your, His, Our, Yours, Their, Of | Mayre, Tayra, Oda, Saada, Tuhada, Onaanda, Da | Mayda, Tayda, Usda, Asaada, Tusada, Uninda, Da |
| Me, To you , Him, To it, Us, To you, Them, To | Maynoo, Taynoo, Onoo, Aynoo, Saanoo, Tuhaanoo, Onaannoo, Noo | Maynoo, Taynoo, Usnoo, isnhoo, asaanoo, Tusaanoo, Uneennoo, Noo |
| I am, You are, He is, We are, You are, They are (going) | Mae aan, Tu ayn, O ay, Assee aan, Tussi O, O nay (Jaa nda/day (plu) ) | Mae haan, Tu hayn, Oo hay, Asaan haan, Tussaan ho, Oo hin (Ve aynada/ay (plu) pya/ay ) |
| I was, You were, He was, We were, You were, They were | Mae saan, Tu saen, O si, Assee saan, Tussi so, O sn | Mae hami, Tu haanwyn, Oo haa, Assaan haassay, Tussaan haay, Oo haaen |
| I shall take, You will take, He will take, We shall take, You will take, They will take | Mae lae aan ga, Tu lae ayn ga, O lae i ga, Assee lae aan gay, Tussi lae o gay, O lae aan gay | Mae ghin ays aan, Tu ghin ays ayn, Oo ghin ays i, Assaan ghin ays aan, Tussaan ghin ays o, Oo ghinays n |
| Go, Come, Happen, Take away, See | Ja, Aa, Ho, Le Ja, Vekh | Vnj, Aa, Thee, Ghinivnj, Dekh |
| Boy, Girl , Women, Man | Munda, Kuri, Znaani, Aadmi | Ningur, Ningir, Zaal, Dahrdee |
| From, A lot | Toon, Bot | Toon, Baon |
| One, Two, Nine, Ten | Aek, Do, No, Das | Hikk, Doo, Naon,Daah |
Sub-dialects of Thalochi
- Dera wali (In khyber PK districts)
- Standard Thalli
- Rohi (Mianwali District)