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Struggling to learn Gurmukhi, help?

ElizabethGould

ElizabethGould

Iik Onkaar
Not sure if this is a right place to put this but given I'm trying to learn Gurmukhi to read Guru Granth Sahib-ji I don't know where else to post.

Anyway, I've been struggling for a good month now to learn even the alphabet and pronounciation. I can certainly read some words, but otherwise I'm finding it difficult to understand anything without a transliteration.

I've tried learning groups of letters, rote-learning, various methods including flash cards and the internet, video and a few different books.

I really don't know what to do, and as a result I'm quite frustrated. My gurdwara Punjabi classes aren't running for the foreseeable future, and there isn't another class.
 
Treks

Treks

Well-Known Member
Sat Sri Akal Bhenji

You've chosen something really good to study - keep at it!

Gurmukhi is the script in which Guru Granth Sahib Ji is written. The language is classical Punjabi with lots of words borrowed from other languages.

I'm slowly making my way through this book An Introduction to the Sacred Language of the Sikhs | Christopher Shackle | Academic Room which I personally find helpful but it is a slow and steady process. It's an entire language you're trying to learn so be patient with yourself. :)

For pronunciation this guy eplains it really well [youtube]USqj5jDyQ3Q[/youtube]
How to Eliminate Your English Accent in Punjabi - YouTube

I don't really know if there is any one answer except to read a bit and practice a bit every day. It's also good to have a community where you can ask questions if you get stuck.

Good luck!
 
Breathe

Breathe

Hostis humani generis
Have you tried writing it down?

For example, learning a word, and writing it down, and saying it?

Do you know what kind of learner you are? Visual, auditory, kinesthetic? You may be learning according to a way not suitable for you.

When I want to learn something down, I write it, say it, and read it.

Also, are there any night classes? You'll learn quickly in a clasroom setting. Ask at your gurdwārā; they should have something.

Take this to heart:

post-9248-I-see-and-I-forget-I-hear-and-SxYX.png


Your brother. :)
 
ElizabethGould

ElizabethGould

Iik Onkaar
Thank you to you both! I think half the problem is that I'm trying to use a few different books, all of which have different approaches. Plus I think I need to ditch the transliterations too, which I think are acting as a crutch too much for me.

Speaking of the gurdwara, I may see what books are used in their classes and either try and borrow or buy a copy. Might be worth seeing if anyone who speaks Punjabi there will be willing to also give me some pronounciation practice.
 
Breathe

Breathe

Hostis humani generis
ElizabethGould said:
Thank you to you both! I think half the problem is that I'm trying to use a few different books, all of which have different approaches. Plus I think I need to ditch the transliterations too, which I think are acting as a crutch too much for me.

Speaking of the gurdwara, I may see what books are used in their classes and either try and borrow or buy a copy. Might be worth seeing if anyone who speaks Punjabi there will be willing to also give me some pronounciation practice.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I think you need to ditch the transliterations, too, because they are a crutch after a while. Only go to the transliteration of the alphabet if you can't read a letter, and then double-check the transliteration if necessary (if you're not 100% about the letter).

Unfortunately a lot of books to learn Punjabi... aren't... great. :cover:
 
ElizabethGould

ElizabethGould

Iik Onkaar
Breathe said:
Yeah, I think you need to ditch the transliterations, too, because they are a crutch after a while. Only go to the transliteration of the alphabet if you can't read a letter, and then double-check the transliteration if necessary (if you're not 100% about the letter).

Unfortunately a lot of books to learn Punjabi... aren't... great. :cover:
Click to expand...

If I were living closer to the Sikh community, and it was bigger, I'd have preferred to just fling myself into the language and forcing myself to speak/read/listen to it and learn that way. But unfortunately this isn't the case.

I'm thinking I could actually use the SGGS as a learning tool...I know some passages to memory, and so I could combine the written text with what I know they're pronounced as to learn it that way.
 
Treks

Treks

Well-Known Member
Also keep in mind that modern Punjabi isn't quite the same as the classical Punjabi in Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji.
 
Breathe

Breathe

Hostis humani generis
ElizabethGould said:
If I were living closer to the Sikh community, and it was bigger, I'd have preferred to just fling myself into the language and forcing myself to speak/read/listen to it and learn that way. But unfortunately this isn't the case.

I'm thinking I could actually use the SGGS as a learning tool...I know some passages to memory, and so I could combine the written text with what I know they're pronounced as to learn it that way.
Click to expand...
As Treks ji mentioned, it isn't quite the same. Not to mention there are multiple languages in SGGS (covered under "Sant Bhāṣā").

I'd suggest you phone up a few colleges in the local area, or gurdwārās and ask if they can give you any advice or put you in contact with any locals.

Alternatively, try going into a local South Asian community centre. :D
 
GURSIKH

GURSIKH

chardi kla
ElizabethGould said:
.

I'm thinking I could actually use the SGGS as a learning tool...I know some passages to memory, and so I could combine the written text with what I know they're pronounced as to learn it that way.
Click to expand...

i feel Sukhmani Sahib is simplest of All baani , you should start with it :)
 
Satnaam

Satnaam

Conquer your mind
Gurmukhi and Punjabi are not necessarily linked. This in the sense that Gurbani includes many different languages, dialects. Shabads of Guru Nanak Sahib are even in Persian (for example). So your first priority should be mastering your Gurmukhi reading skills. Do you have problems with that?

Secondly, if you want to improve you spoken Punjabi then I'd suggest you to watch/listen something in Punjabi, either Katha or even Punjabi movies (both Katha and movies are available on youtube). I managed to learn pretty decent Hindi/Urdu only by watching movies/TV, but yes.

And combining written text with what you already have memorised is a real good step, I also used that in the beginning.
 
ElizabethGould

ElizabethGould

Iik Onkaar
Satnaam said:
Gurmukhi and Punjabi are not necessarily linked. This in the sense that Gurbani includes many different languages, dialects. Shabads of Guru Nanak Sahib are even in Persian (for example). So your first priority should be mastering your Gurmukhi reading skills. Do you have problems with that?

Secondly, if you want to improve you spoken Punjabi then I'd suggest you to watch/listen something in Punjabi, either Katha or even Punjabi movies (both Katha and movies are available on youtube). I managed to learn pretty decent Hindi/Urdu only by watching movies/TV, but yes.

And combining written text with what you already have memorised is a real good step, I also used that in the beginning.
Click to expand...

Well my first and immediate priority is to be able to read the SGGS and the Nitnem. Conversational Punjabi would be helpful, but it's secondary.
 
Satnaam

Satnaam

Conquer your mind
How well can you read gurmukhi as of now? Like can you read a Punjabi newspaper fluently (not mind understanding it)?
 
ElizabethGould

ElizabethGould

Iik Onkaar
Satnaam said:
How well can you read gurmukhi as of now? Like can you read a Punjabi newspaper fluently (not mind understanding it)?
Click to expand...

I know probably half the alphabet, and can pick out odd words in a text, and even read a sentence if lucky. But my vocabulary is limited.
 
Satnaam

Satnaam

Conquer your mind
The Guru Granth Sahib vocabulary will come with time, alot of it is old Punjabi or not even Punjabi as said earlier. I'd suggest you to go to searchgurbani. The website offers audio gurbani with every page of Gurbani, so you could put it on and try to follow?

You mean half alphabet chronologically or you just know half of the letters?
 
ElizabethGould

ElizabethGould

Iik Onkaar
Satnaam said:
The Guru Granth Sahib vocabulary will come with time, alot of it is old Punjabi or not even Punjabi as said earlier. I'd suggest you to go to searchgurbani. The website offers audio gurbani with every page of Gurbani, so you could put it on and try to follow?

You mean half alphabet chronologically or you just know half of the letters?
Click to expand...

I recognise half the letters. I love the searchgurbani site too....got it bookmarked somewhere.
 
ElizabethGould

ElizabethGould

Iik Onkaar
I'm subscribed to the 'basics of Sikhi' channel, and I find it incredibly good for the fact it's really simple content, well-presented and is mostly in English.

Looks a good video so thank you for bringing attention to it. :D
 
Satnaam

Satnaam

Conquer your mind
Yes its a fine channel with simple explanations in english, good for any beginner. Please note that there is not just one video but many in the 'series' to learn Gurmukhi. :)
 
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