Balti

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A language of Pakistan

ISO 639-3
bft
Alternate Names
Baltistani, Bhotia of Baltistan, Sbalti
Population

270,000 in Pakistan (1992). Population total all countries: 290,000.

Location

Primarily northeast Pakistan, Baltistan district, Skardu, Rondu, Shigar, Khapalu, Kharmang, and Gultari valleys.

Language Maps
Language Status

5 (Developing).

Classification
Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Western Tibeto-Burman, Bodish, Central Bodish, Western
Dialects

Chorbat is most divergent dialect. Lexical similarity: 87%–100% among dialects, 78%–85% with Purik [prx].

Language Use

Also use Shina [scl], Urdu [urd].

Language Development
Literacy rate in L2: 3%–5% in Urdu. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible portions: 1903–1940.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Balti
Writing

Arabic script [Arab], used since the 17th century. Balti script [Qaab], no longer in use. Devanagari script [Deva], used since the 1970s. Tibetan script [Tibt], used between 8th and 17th century, recent efforts to revive usage.

Other Comments

Muslim (Shi’a).

Also spoken in:

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