Re: Urdu is a complex language
Not necessarily. Script is just written expression of vocabulary. One language can be written in several scripts.
**
**
I suppose it has to do with Sufi influence in the language in parts of Punjab that are now in Pakistan. Also Muslims think of Arabic script as more ‘Muslim’. The script we use is not ‘Urdu’. It is a modified form of Arabic script.One can argue that since Hindi and Urdu are very similar languages, Urdu can be written in Devanagari script and Hindi can be written in ‘Urdu’ (Arabic) script.
Unfortunately, Punjabi as a language is not promoted anyways in Pakistan. We (in Punjab) do not learn it in schools, while people from other provinces learn their languages in school. We do not have an option to take examinations in Punjabi language and have to learn Urdu for that. Punjabi is not used as official language for documentation etc. You will very rarely see Punjabi hoardings, banners, advertisements etc. in central or Northern Punjab. “Modern” parents in Punjab prefer to talk to their kids in Urdu rather than Punjabi (although they talk to each other or their friends in Punjabi). If you want to depict someone uncivilized or ‘backward’ in a TV program, that character would use Punjabi language or accent.
In short, the language is somehow looked down upon in its own province. The question of script would be important if the language was widely used as a written one, rather than only a spoken language.
To be honest, I tried reading Bulleh Shah in Punjabi. Failed.