Palula

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A language of Pakistan

ISO 639-3
phl
Alternate Names
Biyori, Dangarikwar, Palola, Phalulo, Phalura
Population

10,000 (Liljegren 2008). Population of Ashret and Biori Valleys is almost completely monolingual (Liljegren 2008).

Location

Lower east Chitral river, Ashret and Biori, 12 villages; some in main valley, Kalkatak, and Shishi Koh valley, Purigal; reportedly some in Dir Kohistan. Ashreti dialect: Ashret Valley; Northern Palula dialect: Biori Valley, Kalkatak, and Purigal.

Language Maps
Language Status

6a (Vigorous).

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

Ashreti, Northern Palula. No, or limited, intelligibility of Kalkoti [xka] and Savi [sdg]. Lexical similarity: 92% with Ashreti and Northern Palula dialects, 56%–58% with Savi [sdg] in Afghanistan, 38%–42% with Kohistani Shina [plk]. Palula, Kalkoti [xka] (spoken in Dir Kohistan) and Savi [sdg] (spoken in Afghanistan) form a cluster of closely related varieties within the Shina group (Liljegren 2008).

Language Use

Vigorous within Ashret and Biori valleys. Reluctant to use Palula when speakers of other languages are present. Home, community. All ages. Positive attitudes. Also use Khowar [khw] and Pashto [pbu].

Language Development
2-year mother-tongue multilingual education program (bridging from Palula to Urdu) now tested in two locations (2012). Taught in primary schools, but limited. Poetry. Dictionary.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Palula
Writing
Arabic script.
Other Comments

Muslim (Sunni).