Nuristani languages
The Nuristani languages - formerly also known as the Kafiri languages (i.e. "languages of the infidels") - form a small separate branch of Indo-Iranian . This includes 6 languages with a total of around 30,000 speakers. They are spoken by the Nuristani ethnic group mainly in Afghanistan (25,000), but also in some remote valleys in the far west of Pakistan (approx. 5–6,000) .
Nuristani languages | ||
---|---|---|
Spoken in |
Afghanistan , Pakistan | |
speaker | 30,000 | |
Linguistic classification |
Position of the Nuristani languages
Linguistically, the Nuristani languages represent a link between the Iranian and Indo-Aryan languages, which is probably somewhat closer to the Indo-Aryan languages.
In the past, the Nuristani languages were assigned to the Dardic branch of Indo-Aryan, which still leads to confusion between the terms “Nuristani” and “Dardian”. However, all Nuristani languages have been influenced to a greater or lesser extent by neighboring Dardic languages, both lexically and grammatically.
Nuristani languages: number of speakers, dialects, geographical location
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Nuristani languages (Kafiri) 6 languages, altogether 30,000 speakers
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Kati (Bashgali) 20,000, dialects Kamviri (or Lamertviri), Mumviri, East Kataviri (or Shekhani), West Kataviri
- in Afghanistan (15,000): Ramgal, Kulam, Ktivi, Paruk, Bashgal valleys; in Pakistan (5,000): Chitral and Lutkuh valleys
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Prasun (Wasi-Weri, Veron, Wiron, Paruni) 1–2 thousand.
- in Afghanistan: Prasun Valley
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Ashkun (Wamai) 1–7 thousand, dialects Ashuruviri (Kolata), Gramsukraviri, Sruviri (Wamai)
- in Afghanistan: Pech Valley near Wama, northwest. Asadabad in Kunar Province
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Waigali (Kalasha-ala, Wai-ala) 2 thousand, dialects Varjan-ala, Chima-Nishey-ala
- in Afghanistan: southeast Nuristan, north of the Pech River in central Kunar, Waigal and Veligal valleys
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Gambiri (Tregami) 1,000
- in Afghanistan: Tregam Valley.
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Zemiaki <1 thousand (identified by Grjunberg 1971/1999 as a separate Nuristani language, mostly classified as a dialect of the Dardic Nangalami / Grangali)
- in Afghanistan: enclave south of the Pech River, completely surrounded by Dardic languages;
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Kati (Bashgali) 20,000, dialects Kamviri (or Lamertviri), Mumviri, East Kataviri (or Shekhani), West Kataviri
Waigali, Gambiri and Zemiaki are obviously more closely related and could form a genetic subunit.
literature
- Almuth Degener: The Nuristani Languages. In: Nicholas Sims-Williams (Ed.): Indo-Iranian Languages and Peoples (= Proceedings of the British Academy. Volume 116). Oxford University Press, Oxford u. a. 2002, ISBN 0-19-726285-6 , pp. 103-117.
- Александр Л. Грюнберг: К диалектологии дардских языков (глангали и земиаки). In: Н. А Дворянков (Ed.): Индийская и иранская филология. Вопросы диалектологии. Наука, Москва 1971, pp. 3–29.
- Александр Л. Грюнберг: Земиаки язык // диалект. In: Д. И. Эдельман (Ed.): Языки мира. Дардские и нуристанские языки. = Languages of the World. Dardic and Nuristani Languages. Индрик, Москва 1999, ISBN 5-85759-085-X , pp. 123–125.
- George van Driem: Languages of the Himalayas. An ethnolinguistic Handbook of the greater Himalayan Region. Containing an Introduction to the Symbiotic Theory of Language (= Handbook of Oriental Studies. Section 2: India. Volume 10). 2 volumes. Brill, Leiden u. a. 2001, ISBN 90-04-12062-9 (volume 1), ISBN 90-04-12063-7 (volume 2).
- Colin P. Masica: The Indo-Aryan Languages. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge u. a. 1991, ISBN 0-521-23420-4 .