Sindhi

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A language of Pakistan

ISO 639-3
snd
Population

18,500,000 in Pakistan (Johnstone and Mandryk 2001). 1,200,000 Hindu Sindhi (1986). Population total all countries: 20,271,010.

Location

Sindh. Possibly also United Arab Emirates. Also in Belize, Canada, India, Philippines, Singapore, United Kingdom, United States.

Language Maps
Language Status

2 (Provincial). De facto provincial language in Sindh.

Classification
Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Northwestern zone, Sindhi
Dialects

Dukslinu (Hindu Sindhi), Kachchi, Katiawari Kachi, Lari, Lasi, Macharia, Shikari Bhil, Sindhi Musalmani (Muslim Sindhi), Thareli, Vicholo (Central Sindhi, Viccholi, Vicholi). Some southern Bhil groups speak dialects of Sindhi. 100,000 in rural Sindh originally from Kathiawar Peninsula in India are Muslims, exhibit widespread bilingualism in Sindh, and are almost completely assimilated with the Sindhi people.

Language Use

Some Hindus are L1 speakers, most are L2 speakers.

Language Development
Radio programs. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible: 1954.
Writing
Arabic script, Nastaliq style. Devanagari script. Gurmukhi script, used in India.
Other Comments

Shikari (hunter) Bhils are a nomadic group of 2,000 to 3,000 who live in south Sindh Province, centered around Badin, and have adopted the Sindhi language. Muslim, Hindu, Christian.

Also spoken in:

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