Punjabis
The main language of the Punjabi people is Punjabi and its associated dialects, which differ depending on the region of Punjab the speaker is from; there are notable differences in the Lahnda languages, spoken in the Pakistani Punjab. In the Pakistani Punjab, the vast majority still speak Punjabi, even though the language has no governmental support. In the Indian Punjab, most people speak Punjabi. English is sometimes used, and older people who lived in the undivided Punjab may be able to speak and write in Urdu. The Punjabi languages have always absorbed numerous loanwords from surrounding areas and provinces (and from English).
History of the Punjabi language
Punjabi is an Indo-Aryan Language developed from Old Indo-Aryan Languages, which were closely related to Vedic Sanskrit and Classical Sanskrit. By 300 BC Old Aryan Languages developed into many local dialects known as Middle Indo-Aryan dialects. Literary from these dialects was known as Prakrit. Shauraseni used in Eastern Punjab and Kaikeyi used in Western Punjab were among the famous Prakrits of ancient Indian Subcontinent. By 500 AD these Middle Indo-Aryan dialects had been developed many local features and lost many inflectional morphemes. Literary form of these dialects is known as Apabhramsha (ਅਪਭ੍ਰੰਸ਼,اپبھرنش). Principle Apabhramshas are Takka Apabhramsha in Central Punjab and Vrachada Apabhramsha in Southern Punjab. By 1200 AD these Apabhramshas or 'corrupt dialects' had few inflectional morphemes left. During Middle Ages Takka Apabhramsha developed into Lahori dialect and Vrachada Apabhramsha developed into Multani dialect.