I just found that Google has a Google Pakistan site, and it offers English, Urdu and Punjabi language. The Urdu portion works properly and uses the correct arabic script/fonts but the Punjabi script is actually incorrect. I suppose this is a bit of a cultural faux pas on Googles part, although I can't really blame them for the honest mistake. It's not easy to understand the intricacies of other cultures and languages, especially in this case. The problem is that Google.com.pk displays Punjabi in the Gurmukhi script, when it should actually be in the Arabic script. Gurmukhi is the script used for the Punjabi language in India, but Arabic script is used in Pakistan. The difference is quite severe, I can read arabic script but can't read a single thing in Gurmukhi. Anyways, the point is, Google.com.pk needs to change the script for Punjabi over to arabic. Incidentally, almost 60% of the Pakistani population is Punjabi speaking.
Sunday, November 4, 2007
Google Pakistan, fix your Punjabi
ObHistoryLesson> The image to the left shows a sufi saints tomb in Jalalpur Sharif, Punjab, Pakistan. Jalalpur Sharif is also the location where Alexander fought with the leader of the area, Porus. Alexandars famous horse, Bucephalus is also buried nearby. [more historial info] Oh, and they use arabic script for Punjabi in Jalalpur Sharif. ;)
Source: Moazam Raja