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Ethnologue: Languages of the World
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Ethnologue > Web version > Country index > Asia > Pakistan > Sindhi

Sindhi

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: 21,382,120.
Region  Sindh. Possibly also United Arab Emirates. Also in Canada, India, Oman, Philippines, Singapore, United Kingdom, United States.
Language map  Southern Pakistan
Dialects  Kachchi, Lari, Lasi, Thareli, Vicholo (Vicholi, Viccholi, Central Sindhi), Macharia, Dukslinu (Hindu Sindhi), Sindhi Musalmani (Muslim Sindhi). 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. Lexical similarity: 77% with Katiavari Kachi.
Classification  Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Northwestern zone, Sindhi
Language use  Official regional language. Some Hindus are L1 speakers, most are L2 speakers.
Language development  Dictionary. Grammar. Bible: 1954.
Writing system  Arabic script, Nastaliq style. Devanagari script. Gurmukhi script, used in India.
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:

India

Language name   Sindhi
Population  2,810,000 in India (1997).
Region  Gujarat; Rajasthan; Maharashtra; Andhra Pradesh; Bihar; Delhi; Madhya Pradesh; Orissa; Tamil Nadu; Uttar Pradesh.
Dialects  Bhatia, Jadeji, Kayasthi, Lari, Lasi, Thareli, Thari, Viccholi, Visholi.
Language use  Official language. Many Sindhi do not learn their traditional ethnic language. Mainly women and older adult speakers. Also use Hindi or other state language.
Comments  Hindu, Sikh, Muslim, Christian.
 

Entries from the SIL Bibliography about this language:

Academic Publications

GLOVER, Warren W., author. 1984. "What medium of instruction for tribal minorities in Sind?."