Punjab
The major language spoken in the Punjab is Punjabi. In the Indian Punjab this is written in the Gurmukhi script. Pakistan uses the Shahmukhi script, that is closer to Urdu script. Hindi, written in the Devanagri script, is used widely in the Indian states of Himanchal Pradesh and Haryana. Several dialects of Punjabi are spoken in the different regions. The Majhi dialect is considered to be textbook Punjabi and is shared by both countries.
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.