Pashto, Southern

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A language of Afghanistan

ISO 639-3
pbt
Alternate Names
Kandahar Pashto, Qandahar Pashto, Southwestern Pashto
Population

6,000,000 in Afghanistan (2008). Population total all countries: 7,590,100.

Location

Kandahar area; Zabul, Kandahar, Uruzgan, Helmand, Nimroz, Farah, Herat, and Badghis provinces. Also in Iran, Pakistan, Tajikistan, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom.

Language Maps
Language Status

1 (National). Statutory national language (2004, Constitution, Article 16(1)).

Classification
Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Eastern, Southeastern, Pashto
Dialects

Durani. Lexical similarity: 80% between northern and southern varieties of Pashto.

Language Use

Afghan government has worked since 1930s to standardize and publicize it. All domains. All ages. Positive attitudes. Only those who are educated or have business in Dari-speaking provinces are bilingual in Dari [prs]; some have spent time in Pakistan and are bilingual in Urdu [urd]; otherwise, speakers are monolingual.

Language Development
Pashto is one of two national languages taught in schools. Low literacy rate, especially in non-urban locations and among women. Taught in primary and secondary schools. Poetry. Magazines. Newspapers. New media. Radio programs. Films. TV. Videos. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible portions: 2011.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Pashto, Southern
Writing
Arabic script.
Other Comments

Muslim (Sunni).

Also spoken in:

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