Kalasha

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A language of Pakistan

ISO 639-3
kls
Alternate Names
Kalash, Kalashamon, Kelash
Population

5,000 (Heegård Petersen 2006).

Location

South Chitral district, Rumbur valley, Balanguru village. Southern Kalasha dialect: Urtsun valley; Northern Kalasha: Rumbur, Bumboret, and Birir valleys.

Language Maps
Language Status

6a (Vigorous).

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

Northern Kalasha (Birir, Bumboret, Rumbur), Southern Kalasha (Urtsun). An eastern dialect may be on the east side of Chitral River, south of Drosh. Related to Khowar [khw]. Little contact between Northern and Southern dialects. Lexical similarity: 75% southern dialect with northern dialects.

Typology

SOV

Language Use

Home, in-group communication in the north. Speakers have low proficiency in Khowar [khw]; in Birir, some men do not speak Khowar. Women are learning Khowar and some Urdu [urd]. In the south Khowar or Kati [bsh] sometimes used in the home for in-group communication.

Language Development
Dictionary.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Kalasha
Writing
Arabic script.
Other Comments

Traditional religion, Muslim.