Aer

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A language of Pakistan

ISO 639-3
aeq
Population

100 (1998). Women monolingual. 330 Aer in Deh area.

Location

Lower Sindh, Jikrio Goth near Kunri, Deh area, Hyderabad, Jamesabad.

Language Maps
Language Status

6b (Threatened).

Classification
Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Central zone, Gujarati
Dialects

Jamesabad Aer, Jikrio Goth Aer. Lexical similarity: 78% with Katai Meghwar and Kachi Bhil—both dialects of Kachi Koli [gjk], 75%–77% with the Rabari dialect of Kachi Koli [gjk], 76% with Kachi Koli [gjk].

Language Use

All ages. Also use Sindhi [snd] (adult men for common topics), Western Panjabi [pnb] (adult men of Jikrio Goth only for common topics), or Gujarati [guj]. 100% of boys and 25% of girls attend Sindhi [snd] medium schools.

Language Development
Literacy rate in L2: 15% in Sindhi.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Aer
Writing
Arabic script.
Other Comments

Unusual interrogative word suggests possible historical connection with Western Rajasthani group. Speakers in Pakistan running out of marriage possibilities and may have to move to India. The Indian group is most influential. Other Aer people in Nawabshah, Sindh reportedly speak a different language, dress differently, and do not intermarry with this group. Hindu.