HSC Punjabi Continuers key terms

The name of the language and the people of Punjab, written in Gurmukhi script in India and Shahmukhi in Pakistan; exam texts use it for self-identification, cultural references and language names.

The script used to write Punjabi in India, with 35 main letters plus vowel signs; recognising letter shapes and sound values helps candidates read unseen passages and spell written answers correctly.

A vowel sign attached to a consonant letter to change its sound, such as the small strokes above, below or beside a letter; misreading them alters word meaning in reading tasks.

Pronunciation, the way sounds and stress are produced in speech; in listening tasks, noticing pronunciation differences helps identify words, names and regional accents in recordings.

Accent or manner of speaking linked to a region or social group; recognising shifts in accent helps candidates understand who is speaking and where they come from in dialogues.

A spoken language or dialect; Punjabi has regional varieties such as Majhi, Malwai and Doabi, and recognising dialect words helps in listening comprehension of informal speech.

A dialogue or conversation between two or more speakers; listening texts are often dialogues, so tracking who says what, turn by turn, is essential for answering questions.

An informal talk or chat, often casual and unscripted; exam recordings may include everyday chat where the main idea is implied rather than stated directly.

To listen; the listening skill tested when recordings are played, requiring candidates to catch key details, tone and purpose while taking brief notes.

The main idea or central point of a text or recording; identifying it quickly prevents candidates from being distracted by minor details or examples.

A summary or gist that condenses a longer text into its essential points; writing a short summary tests whether the reader has understood the overall message.

Brief or concise, and also the act of shortening; questions may ask for a short answer or condensed version of a passage rather than a full retelling.

Detail, expansion or elaboration; some questions ask candidates to expand a point or explain a statement in more depth using information from the text.

Explanation or interpretation of a word, line or idea; reading tasks may require clarifying the meaning of a phrase in the candidate's own words.

Meaning or sense of a word or passage; vocabulary questions often ask for the meaning of a term as used in a specific sentence, not its general dictionary sense.

Vocabulary, the stock of words a learner knows; a wide vocabulary supports both reading comprehension and accurate, varied expression in writing tasks.

An idiom, a fixed phrase whose meaning is not literal, such as expressions involving body parts or everyday objects; recognising idioms is essential in reading and listening.

A proverb or saying that carries folk wisdom, often short and rhythmic; exam passages may quote proverbs, and candidates should explain their figurative meaning.

A folktale passed down orally, often featuring familiar characters and moral lessons; such stories appear in reading texts and may be used as stimulus for writing.

Culture, the customs, values, festivals and arts of a community; many Punjabi texts discuss cultural traditions, so this term frames comprehension and composition topics.

Customs and traditions, the accepted practices of a community such as wedding or birth rituals; texts describing ceremonies often test understanding of these practices.

A festival or celebration, such as Baisakhi, Lohri or Diwali; festival descriptions are common in listening and reading texts and in informal letter writing.

A letter, either formal or informal; writing tasks often require composing a letter with correct greeting, body, closing and appropriate register.

A formal application or written request, for example for a job or a place at college; it follows set conventions such as subject line, salutation and formal closing.

A piece of writing or the written form of something; instructions may ask candidates to produce a written text of a set type, length and purpose.

Composition or creative writing, where a candidate produces an original piece such as a story, article or speech on a given topic.

An essay, a structured piece of writing with introduction, body paragraphs and conclusion; it is assessed for content, organisation and language accuracy.

A paragraph, a group of sentences developing one idea; clear paragraphing signals organisation and helps markers follow the argument in longer written responses.

Formal, following polite conventions; identifying whether a text is formal or informal determines the correct pronouns, verb forms and vocabulary in writing.

Informal, relaxed in tone and suitable for friends and family; informal letters and messages use everyday vocabulary and a warmer, more personal style.

Grammar, the rules governing word forms and sentence structure; accuracy in grammar is assessed directly in writing and supports comprehension in reading.

Grammatical gender; Punjabi nouns are masculine or feminine, and this affects verb agreement and adjective endings, so errors here reduce writing marks.

Grammatical number, singular or plural; matching nouns, pronouns and verbs in number is a common accuracy point in written responses.

Tense, the time reference of a verb; narratives need consistent past tense, while plans and predictions use future forms, and shifting tense inaccurately costs marks.

A verb, the word that expresses an action or state; verb forms must agree with subject in person, number and gender across Punjabi sentence structures.

A form of address or greeting used when speaking or writing to someone; choosing the right address term shows awareness of age, status and relationship.

Information or a notice; reading tasks may present notices, announcements or brochures where candidates must locate specific facts quickly and accurately.

An advertisement, a promotional text designed to persuade; candidates may be asked to identify purpose, audience and persuasive techniques used in such material.

Purpose or intention, the reason a text was written or a speaker is talking; identifying purpose guides answers about audience, tone and register.

A number or numeral; listening and reading texts often include times, prices, dates and quantities, and candidates must record them accurately in answers.