Ashkun

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A language of Afghanistan

ISO 639-3
ask
Alternate Names
Ashkund, Ashkuni, Wamais, Wamayi
Population

40,000 (2011), increasing. 4,000 monolinguals. Ethnic population: 40,000.

Location

Nurestan Province, Pech Valley in Wama District, eastern side of the Lower Alingar Valley in Nurgaram and Duab districts, Malil wa Mushfa, Titin, Kolatan and Bajagal valleys; into Konar Province, Chapa Dara district.

Language Maps
Language Status

6a (Vigorous).

Classification
Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Nuristani
Dialects

Ashuruviri (Kolata, Titin Bajaygul), Gramsukraviri, Suruviri (Wamai). Not intelligible with the other Nuristani languages.

Language Use

All domains. All ages. Positive attitudes. 36,000 also use Northern Pashto [pbu].

Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: 0%. Literacy rate in L2: 5%–15%.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Ashkun
Writing

Unwritten [Qaax].

Other Comments

Spoken in the central and western Nuristan valleys, which also divide divergent dialects. Muslim (Sunni).