Shina

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A language of Pakistan

ISO 639-3
scl
Alternate Names
Brokpa, Shinaki, Sina
Population

337,000 in Pakistan (1998 census), increasing. Population total all countries: 371,400.

Location

North, Gilgit District, scattered villages in Yasin and Ishkoman valleys, Punial, Gilgit, Haramosh, lower Hunza Valley; Diamer district, Chilas area, Darel and Tangir valleys, Astor Valley; scattered in Baltistan district, Satpara, Kharmang, Kachura, and other small valleys; NWFP, east Kohistan district, Sazin, Harban. Also in India.

Language Maps
Language Status

6a (Vigorous).

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

Astori (Astor, Dras, Gurezi, Kharmangi, Satpara), Chilasi Kohistani (Chilas, Darel, Harban, Sazin, Tangir), Gilgiti (Bagrote, Bunji, Gilgit, Haramosh, Hunza-Nagar, Punial, Rondu). Gilgit functions as the language standard. Shina is the primary language in Gilgit and Diamer districts. Lexical similarity: 79%–99% within Gilgiti (Northern) dialect subgroup, 81%–96% with Astori (Eastern) subgroup, 84%–98% with Chilas (Diamer) subgroup.

Language Use

Vigorous. All domains. All ages. Positive attitudes.

Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: 0%. Bible portions: 1929.
Writing
Arabic script.
Other Comments

Ethnonym: Brokpa in Baltistan and Ladakh. Glossonym: Brokskat, name also used semiofficially in India to refer to a highly divergent variety of Shina spoken by Buddhists. Muslim (Sunni), Muslim (Shi’a).

Also spoken in:

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