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Ethnologue: Languages of the World
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Ethnologue > Web version > Country index > Asia > India > Kashmiri

Kashmiri

A language of India

ISO 639-3: kas

Population  5,420,000 in India. Population total all countries: 5,640,940.
Region  Jammu and Kashmir; Punjab; Uttar Pradesh; Delhi; Kashmir Valley. Also in Pakistan, United Kingdom, United States.
Alternate names   Cashmeeree, Cashmiri, Kacmiri, Kaschemiri, Keshur, Koshur
Dialects  Bakawali, Bunjwali, Standard Kashmiri, Kishtwari (Kashtawari, Kistwali, Kashtwari, Kathiawari), Miraski, Poguli, Rambani, Riasi, Shah-Mansuri, Siraji of Doda, Siraji-Kashmiri, Zayoli, Zirak-Boli. Transitional dialects to Panjabi [pan]. Kashtawari dialect is standard, other dialects are influenced by Dogri [dgo].
Classification  Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Northwestern zone, Dardic, Kashmiri
Language use  Official language. 83% would prefer use of Kashmiri rather than Urdu as medium in primary school, 48% in middle school (Koul and Schmidt 1983). Most also use Urdu [urd]. Some also use English or Hindi (Koul and Schmidt 1983).
Language development  Literacy rate in L1: 88% male; 12% female over 35 years of age (Koul and Schmidt 1983). Literacy rate in L2: 55% for Jammu and Kashmir. Newspapers. Radio programs. Films. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible: 1899–2005.
Writing system  Arabic script, Nastaliq style. Latin script. Sharada script, no longer in use.
Comments  SVO. Agriculturalists: rice, wheat, maize; craftsmen: weaving, carpets, carving, furniture, papier-mâché. Muslim, Hindu, Sikh.

Also spoken in:

Pakistan

Language name   Kashmiri
Population  105,000 in Pakistan (1993).
Region  Jammu and Kashmir, south of Shina.
Language map  Northern Pakistan, reference number 17
Alternate names  Cashmeeree, Cashmiri, Kacmiri, Kaschemiri, Keshuri
Language use  Poor language attitude.