Indic language (7) - Crossword Clue
Answer: PUNJABI
Understanding the Crossword Clue: Indic Language (7)
- Indic language (7) crossword clue points directly to PUNJABI, which perfectly fits the seven-letter requirement.
- This clue appears frequently in major crossword puzzles including the New York Times, LA Times, and Daily Telegraph.
- The term "Indic language" refers to languages belonging to the Indo-Aryan language family, which evolved from Sanskrit and are primarily spoken across the Indian subcontinent.
- Punjabi stands out among Indic languages due to its unique tonal nature and rich cultural heritage.
- When you encounter this crossword clue, PUNJABI is the most common answer, though constructors may occasionally use it to reference other seven-letter Indic languages in themed puzzles.
Why PUNJABI is the Perfect Answer
- PUNJABI fits the crossword criteria for several compelling reasons. First, it contains exactly seven letters, matching the standard clue format.
- Second, it's classified as an Indic language within the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European language family.
- Third, it's widely recognized internationally, making it an ideal crossword answer that most solvers can verify.
- The language is primarily spoken in the Punjab region, which spans across northern India and eastern Pakistan.
- In India, Punjabi is the official language of Punjab state and is written in the Gurmukhi script. In Pakistan, it's written using the Shahmukhi script, which is based on the Persian-Arabic alphabet.
- This dual-script characteristic makes Punjabi linguistically fascinating and culturally significant.
Tips for Solving Language-Based Crossword Clues
- Master language clues by building foundational knowledge of major world languages and their characteristics.
- Create mental categories: Romance languages (Spanish, French, Italian), Germanic languages (German, Dutch, Swedish), Slavic languages (Russian, Polish, Czech), and Asian language families.
- Pay attention to geographical references in clues. "Language of [city/region]" often narrows possibilities significantly.
- Cross-referencing with intersecting letters helps confirm answers. If you have P_N_A_I with these patterns, PUNJABI becomes the logical solution.
Indic language (7) - 7 Little Words - FAQs
Q:What does "Indic language" mean in crosswords?
Indic language refers to languages from the Indo-Aryan family spoken primarily in the Indian subcontinent, derived from Sanskrit.
Q:Are there other 7-letter Indic languages?
Yes, Bengali is another seven-letter Indic language, though Punjabi appears more frequently in crosswords.
Q:How many people speak Punjabi?
Over 100 million people worldwide speak Punjabi, making it the 10th-11th most spoken language globally.
Q:What script is Punjabi written in?
Punjabi uses Gurmukhi script in India and Shahmukhi (Persian-Arabic) script in Pakistan.
Q:Why is Punjabi considered tonal?
Punjabi uses three distinct tones (high falling, low rising, level) that change word meanings, unlike most other Indo-Aryan languages.
