PUNJABI ALLOPHONES: A CORPUS-BASED STUDY OF URDU LOANS IN PUNJABI

Abstract

This paper explores the adaptation of Urdu loanwords into Punjabi mainly as equivalent allophonic variants. It is a study of allophonic variation in Punjabi language that has resulted from Urdu phonology with respect to orthographic and perceptual roles. To examine the Punjabi allophones, a corpus was developed. The data was taken from Punjabi theatre and movies, a Punjabi bulletin and actual life conversations. A corpus of 75 words was carefully chosen for the present study which exhibited Urdu loanwords used as Punjabi allophonic equivalent. This study explicates that allophonic variation in Punjabi is a systematic phenomenon and borrowings from Urdu to Punjabi are still possible.