Nuristani languages

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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

  • Nuristani languages (Kafiri) 6 languages, altogether 30,000 speakers
    • 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
    • Prasun (Wasi-Weri, Veron, Wiron, Paruni) 1–2 thousand.
      • in Afghanistan: Prasun Valley
    • Ashkun (Wamai) 1–7 thousand, dialects Ashuruviri (Kolata), Gramsukraviri, Sruviri (Wamai)
      • in Afghanistan: Pech Valley near Wama, northwest. Asadabad in Kunar Province
    • 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
    • Gambiri (Tregami) 1,000
      • in Afghanistan: Tregam Valley.
    • 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;

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 .