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Wakhi

A language of Pakistan

ISO 639-3: wbl

Population	9,100 in Pakistan. 4,500–6,000 Gojal, 2,000 Ishkoman, 200 Yasin, 900 Yarkhun (1992), plus refugees. Population total all countries: 31,670.
Region	Northeasternmost part of Chitral, called Baroghil area; in glacier neighborhood. Gojal in upper Hunza valley, Gulmit to the Chinese and Afghanistan borders, and Shimshal and Chupursan valleys, upper Yarkhun valley of Chitral, and upper Ishkoman valley. Also in Afghanistan, China, Tajikistan.
Language map	Northern Pakistan, reference number 5
Alternate names	Vakhan, Wakhani, Wakhigi
Dialects	Gojal, Ishkoman, Yasin, Yarkhun. Dialect intelligibility reportedly not a problem even with those in other countries. Lexical similarity: 84% between Ishkoman and Gojal dialects, 89% between Yasin and Gojal, 91% between Ishkoman and Yasin.
Classification	Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Eastern, Southeastern, Pamir
Language use	Positive attitude. Also use Urdu [urd]. Speakers who live in mixed villages in Gojal also use Burushaski [bsk].
Writing system	Cyrillic script. Latin script.
Comments	SOV. Pastoralists: sheep, goats, cattle, yak, camels; agriculturalists: barley. Ismaili Muslim.

Also spoken in:

Afghanistan

Language name	Wakhi
Population	9,570 in Afghanistan (2000). Ethnic population: 18,000 in Afghanistan (A. Kibrik 1990).
Region	Pamir Mountains, east of Ishkashim, Panj River left bank in Wakhan Corridor, as far as Sarhad village. 64 villages. Center is Khandud.
Language map	Afghanistan
Alternate names	Guhjali, Khik, Vakhan, Wakhani, Wakhigi
Language development	Literacy rate in L1: Below 1%.
Comments	People called ‘Guhjali’. Muslim.

China

Language name	Wakhi
Population	6,000 in China. Ethnic population: 41,028 in Tajik nationality (2000 census).
Region	Xinjiang Ughur Autonomous Region, Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County (especially Daftar); mountains south of Pishan.
Language map	China
Alternate names	Khik, Vakhan, Wakhani, Wakhigi
Dialects	Eastern Wakhi.
Language use	Also use Mandarin Chinese [cmn].
Language development	Literacy rate in L2: 87%.
Comments	Classified as Tajik nationality. Pastoralists: sheep, cattle; agriculturalists: barley, wheat, peas. Ismaili Muslim.

Tajikistan

Language name	Wakhi
Population	7,000 in Tajikistan (1993 UBS). Ethnic population: 20,000 in Tajikistan (1990 A. Kibrik).
Region	Gorno-Badakhshan, Pamir Mountains.
Language map	Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan
Alternate names	Guhjali, Khik, Vakhan, Wakhani, Wakhigi
Dialects	Western Wakhi, Central Wakhi, Eastern Wakhi.
Language use	Not a written language. Some domains. All ages. Positive attitude. Also use Tajiki [tgk] as literary language.
Comments	Called ‘Guhjali’. Ismaili Muslim.

Entries from the SIL Bibliography about this language:

Academic Publications

ABBESS, Elisabeth; MÜLLER, Katja; TIESSEN, Calvin; TIESSEN, Gabriela, authors. 2008. "Language vitality and development among the Wakhi people of Tajikistan."  

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

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