Kashmiri

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A language of India

ISO 639-3
kas
Alternate Names
Cashmeeree, Cashmiri, Kacmiri, Kaschemiri, Keshur, Koshur
Population

5,360,000 in India (2001 census). Population total all countries: 5,580,830.

Location

Jammu and Kashmir; Punjab; Uttar Pradesh; Delhi; Kashmir valley. Also in Pakistan, United Kingdom, United States.

Language Maps
Language Status

4 (Educational). Statutory language of provincial identity in Jammu and Kashmir (1950, Constitution, Articles 345–347).

Classification
Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Northwestern zone, Dardic, Kashmiri
Dialects

Bakawali, Bunjwali, Kishtwari (Kashtawari, Kashtwari, Kathiawari, Kistwali), Miraski, Poguli, Rambani, Riasi, Shah-Mansuri, Siraji of Doda, Siraji-Kashmiri, Standard Kashmiri, Zayoli, Zirak-Boli. Transitional dialects to Panjabi [pan]. Kashtawari dialect is standard, other dialects are influenced by Dogri [dgo].

Typology

SVO

Language Use

Most also use Urdu [urd] (Koul and Schmidt 1983). Some also use English [eng] or Hindi [hin].

Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: 88% male; 12% female over 35 years of age (Koul and Schmidt 1983). Literacy rate in L2: 55% for Jammu and Kashmir (2001 census). 83% would prefer use of Kashmiri rather than Urdu as medium in primary school, 48% in middle school (Koul and Schmidt 1983). Newspapers. Radio programs. Films. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible: 1899–2005.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Kashmiri
Writing
Arabic script, Nastaliq style. Devanagari script. Latin script. Sharada script, no longer in use.
Other Comments

Muslim, Hindu, Sikh.

Also spoken in:

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