16th edition

US$ 100.00

Ethnologue > Web version > Country index > Asia > Pakistan > Balti

Balti

A language of Pakistan

ISO 639-3: bft

Population	270,000 in Pakistan (1992). Population total all countries: 308,800.
Region	Primarily northeast Pakistan, Baltistan District, Skardu, Rondu, Shigar, Khapalu, Kharmang, and Gultari valleys. Also in India.
Language map	Northern Pakistan, reference number 7
Alternate names	Baltistani, Bhotia of Baltistan, Sbalti
Dialects	Chorbat is most divergent dialect. Lexical similarity: 87%–100% among dialects, 78%–85% with Purik [prx].
Classification	Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Tibeto-Kanauri, Tibetic, Tibetan, Western
Language use	Some also use Shina [scl] or Urdu [urd].
Language development	Literacy rate in L2: 3%–5% in Urdu. Bible portions: 1903–1940.
Writing system	Arabic script. Balti script, no longer in use. Devanagari script.
Comments	Muslim (Shi’a).

Also spoken in:

India

Language name	Balti
Population	38,800 in India (2001 census).
Region	Jammu and Kashmir.
Alternate names	Baltistani, Bhoti of Baltistan, Sbalt
Language use	Some also use Shina [scl] or Urdu [urd]. Many Purik have shifted to Balti.
Language development	Literacy rate in L2: 62%.
Comments	A Scheduled Tribe. Muslim.

Entries from the SIL Bibliography about this language:

Academic Publications

BACKSTROM, Peter C., author. 1992. "Balti."

BACKSTROM, Peter C.; RADLOFF, Carla F., authors. 1992. Languages of northern areas.  

SINDHI, Ghulam Hyder, author. 2003. "Baltistan: society and language."