Ethnologue 14 report for language code:PBU

PASHTO, NORTHERN: a language of Pakistan

The following is the entry for this language as it appeared in the 14th edition (2000).
It was superseded by the corresponding entry in the 15th edition (2005). See also the corresponding entry in the current edition of Ethnologue.

SIL code: PBU

ISO 639-1: ps

ISO 639-2: pus

Population

9,585,000 in Pakistan or 8.47% of population, including Southern Pashto (1993 estimate). Population total all countries 9,685,000.

Region

Along Afghanistan border, most of NWFP, Yusufzai and Peshawar. Also spoken in Afghanistan, India, UAE, United Kingdom.

Alternate names

PAKHTO, PUSHTO

Dialects

NINGRAHARIAN PASHTO, NORTHEASTERN PASHTO.

Classification

Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Eastern, Southeastern, Pashto.

Comments

A good deal of similarity with Northwestern Pashto in Afghanistan. Subdialects of Northeastern Pashto are Kohat (Khatak), Yusufzai (Peshawar), Afridi, Shinwari, Mohmand, Shilmani. There is generally an 80% lexical similarity between Northeastern and Southwestern Pashto. Rich literary tradition. The Powinda are a nomadic Pashto-speaking group. Dictionary. Literacy rate in second language: Low. Modified Perso-Arabic script used. Used in schools and media in NWFP and adjacent tribal territories. Newspapers, radio programs, films, TV. Sunni Muslim, some Shi'a. Bible 1895.

Also spoken in:

Afghanistan

Language name	PASHTO, NORTHERN
Alternate names	PAKTU, PAKHTU, PAKHTOO, AFGHAN
Dialects	NORTHWESTERN PAKHTO, GHILZAI, DURANI.
Comments	Bilingualism in Farsi. Since the early 1930s the Afghan government has been exerting considerable effort to standardize and publicize the language. One of the two official languages taught in schools. The Ghilzai speakers are nomadic and 24% of the national population. The Durani, 16%, live in permanent settlements. The people are called 'Pakhtoon' in the north, 'Pashtoon' in the south. Pashto clans are: Mohmandi, Ghilzai, Durani, Yusufzai, Afridi, Kandahari (Qandahari), Waziri, Chinwari (Shinwari), Mangal, Wenetsi. National language. Literacy rate in first language: 5% to 10% (?) Literacy rate in second language: 15% to 25%. Radio programs. Mainly Hanafi Sunni Muslim. Bible 1895. See main entry under Pakistan.

United Arab Emirates

Language name	PASHTO, NORTHERN
Population	100,000 in UAE (1986).
Alternate names	PUSTO, PASHTU, PASSTOO, PAKHTOO, PUSHTO
Comments	People called Pathans. Speakers have come from Pakistan. Modified Urdu script used. Unskilled laborers, drivers. Muslim. Bible 1895. See main entry under Pakistan.