QCAA Punjabi (SEE) key terms

The script used to write Punjabi, especially in India. Its letters hang from a continuous top line, and vowel sounds are shown by marks placed around consonants rather than as separate full letters.

The Perso-Arabic script used to write Punjabi, chiefly in Pakistan. It runs from right to left and is the script of most classical Punjabi Sufi poetry.

A vowel sign attached to a consonant letter in Gurmukhi. Each sign changes the vowel sound of the letter it follows, and a consonant with no sign carries the inherent short 'a' sound.

The state of a Gurmukhi consonant that carries no vowel sign at all. Such a letter is read with the inherent short 'a' vowel unless a special mark silences it.

A small mark placed beneath a Gurmukhi consonant to cancel its inherent vowel, so the consonant is pronounced alone. It commonly appears in clusters and in words borrowed from other languages.

A joined consonant cluster in Gurmukhi, written by combining two or more consonant shapes or by stacking them. Clusters often change the pronunciation and length of the surrounding vowels.

A dot written above a Gurmukhi letter to show nasalisation of the preceding vowel. It is one of the common nasal marks and changes meaning in otherwise similar words.

A dot placed above a Gurmukhi letter, usually marking nasalisation or a slight nasal release. Its position and context help a reader tell it apart from similar marks.

A single written character of the Punjabi script. Letters are grouped into rows in the traditional order, and each has a name, a shape and a usual sound value.

The ordered set of letters of a script, used for teaching, dictionary order and spelling. Punjabi's traditional order arranges letters by place and manner of articulation.

The way a word is spoken, including its sounds, stress and vowel length. Accurate pronunciation matters in Punjabi because small sound differences can signal different meanings.

A speaker's accent or manner of pronunciation, shaped by region, community or first language. Listening tasks may require you to identify a speaker's background from such features.

A spoken variety or dialect of a language, distinguished by vocabulary, pronunciation and idiom. Punjabi has several regional varieties whose speakers generally understand one another.

Organised sound used for artistic expression, including melody, rhythm and instrumentation. Punjabi listening texts often discuss song genres, instruments and performances.

A short sung composition with words and melody. Punjabi culture has many recognised song types tied to work, weddings, seasons and devotion.

The traditional stories, songs, sayings and customs passed down within a community. It is a frequent topic in Punjabi texts and a source of idioms and cultural references.

A fixed expression whose overall meaning cannot be worked out from its individual words. Recognising such phrases is essential for reading Punjabi accurately and naturally.

A short traditional saying that expresses a general truth or piece of folk wisdom. Sayings often use imagery from farming and village life and appear in persuasive and reflective texts.

A narrative text presenting characters, setting and a sequence of events, usually with a complication and resolution. It may be short or long and may be told orally or in writing.

A literary text composed in verse, using line, rhythm, sound and imagery rather than ordinary sentence flow. Punjabi poetry ranges from classical forms to free verse.

A person, being or figure who acts within a story, poem or drama. Analysing a character means examining their words, actions, motives and development.

The central subject or topic that a text deals with. Identifying it helps a reader summarise a text and judge whether details are relevant.

The most important point a text or passage conveys, stated or implied. It is broader than a single detail and is often tested in comprehension questions.

A brief restatement of a text's main points in one's own words. A good summary keeps the essential meaning and leaves out minor illustration.

The circumstances surrounding a word, sentence or event that help explain its meaning. In comprehension, context often reveals the sense of an unfamiliar expression.

The grammatical gender of a noun, which in Punjabi is masculine or feminine. Gender affects the form of adjectives, verbs and pronouns that agree with the noun.

The grammatical number of a word, singular or plural. Punjabi nouns and verbs change form to show number, and agreement errors are common in writing.

The grammatical role a noun phrase plays in a sentence, such as doer, object, instrument or place. Punjabi marks these roles with postpositions and case endings.

A word placed after a noun phrase to show its relation to other elements, such as 'in', 'to', 'from' or 'with'. Punjabi uses postpositions where English uses prepositions.

The word in a sentence that expresses an action, event or state. Punjabi verbs carry information about tense, person, number and gender.

The grammatical expression of time in a verb, such as present, past or future. Punjabi also distinguishes completed and ongoing aspects within these times.

A complete unit of meaning containing at least a subject and a predicate. Punjabi word order is typically subject, object and verb, unlike English.

The stock of words a speaker or text uses, or the words associated with a particular field. Building topic-specific vocabulary improves both comprehension and expression.

The practice of gathering and presenting news through reporting, interviews and commentary. News reports and editorials are common analytical texts in Punjabi media.

An article expressing a publication's or writer's opinion on a current issue. It argues a position and uses evidence, so it is useful for persuasive-language analysis.

A structured account of facts about an event, issue or investigation. Reports usually present information objectively, with headings, sources and a clear sequence.

The act of urging an audience toward a belief or action through language. Persuasive Punjabi texts use appeals, repetition, emotive words and rhetorical questions.

The effect a text has on its audience, such as informing, convincing, amusing or moving them. Analysing effect means linking language choices to audience response.

A custom, practice or belief handed down across generations within a community. Understanding traditions helps interpret references in Punjabi literature and media.

A festival or special day celebrated by a community with particular customs, food, music or religious practice. Punjabi texts often describe such occasions and their meanings.