Please excuse the rather blunt question... I write and draw a comic strip and have been fumbling about with various questionable word lists for the little amount of translation I have needed now my characters are in Karachi. But what I could really do with is a generous soul who can speak Urdu, or maybe Punjabi, to help give some authentication. I don't want to get things wrong.
As you'll know, Karachi is in Pakistan, but my comic takes place some time in the 1920s, when it was all India, and I am keeping away from politics and religion. I know that there is a lovely variety of languages spoken in the various regions up and down the Indus valley, but - to keep things simple - I wish to use only one language (they journey up the Indus and beyond), and I thought Urdu, purely as it is, I believe, the official language today. I would happily go with any language, but I would like it to have been common to the inhabitants of the area, so Punjabi would be fine too. In a way, I'll take what I can get, to a degree. I'd like it to have some authenticity.
So is there anyone who can help? I will need you to be kind and helpful, to be able to put up with my ignorance, and I will send, piece-meal, emails as and when I need the translation (probably a line or two at a time - there isn't a lot that is needed).
In return - you will get goodies from my comic! I will send you some stuff, probably including, at some point, some original sketches or artwork, and certainly a free copy of the book when it is published (not imminent, I should add).
If you want to check out the comic it is at
http://www.rainboworchid.co.uk
Thank you very much for reading, and thanks for any help.
All the best -
Garen.