Sindhi language refers to a major and official language of the Sindh province in Pakistan. With roots in the ancient Indus Valley civilization, Sindhi is primarily spoken by the Sindhi people, a significant ethnic group living in Pakistan, India, and other diaspora communities around the globe. It is recognized as one of the oldest languages in South Asia, dating back over 2,500 years.
The Sindhi language is classified as an Indo-Aryan language and belongs to the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European language family. It shares similarities with other Indo-Aryan languages, such as Hindi, Punjabi, and Bengali, but also exhibits influences from other languages, including Persian, Arabic, and English.
Sindhi is written in a modified version of the Arabic script, known as the Perso-Arabic script. However, there have been efforts to promote the use of the Devanagari script (used for Hindi and other Indian languages) for writing Sindhi.
Sindhi language has a rich literary history, with influential works in poetry, prose, and folklore. It encompasses various dialects based on different regions, but the urban dialect of Hyderabad-Sindh is widely considered the standard Sindhi. Additionally, it has gained recognition through radio, television, and cinema, promoting its usage and preserving its cultural heritage.
Overall, the Sindhi language plays a vital role in the identity, communication, and cultural expression of the Sindhi community, fostering connections among speakers and contributing to their sense of belonging.
