Balochi, Western

Lashari, Rakhshani (Raxshani), Sarawani. Strongly influenced by Farsi, but not intelligible with Farsi [prs]. A member of macrolanguage Baluchi [bal].

Language Use

Used as L2 by Brahui [brh].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 1%–5%. Literacy rate in L2: 5%–15%. Newspapers. Radio. Dictionary. Grammar. Texts. Bible portions: 1984–2005.

Language Resources

OLAC resources in and about Balochi, Western

Writing

Arabic script, Naskh variant [Arab]. Arabic script, Nastaliq variant [Aran], primary usage. Cyrillic script [Cyrl], used in Turkmenistan.

Other Comments

Balochi is the official spelling in Pakistan. A small body of literature. Muslim.

Also spoken in:

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Afghanistan

Language nameBalochi, Western

Population Full

415,000 in Afghanistan (2017 J. Leclerc).

Location

Helmand, Kandahar, and Nimroz, provinces: Zaranj city and Helmand river areas.

Alternate Names

Baloci, Baluchi, Baluci

Dialects

Rakhshani (Raxshani).

Status

5 (Developing). Statutory language of provincial identity in Southwest Desert Region (2004, Constitution, Article 16(2)).

Language Use

Home, community. Used by all. Also use Brahui [brh], with a high degree of bilingualism. Also use Dari [prs], with a high degree of bilingualism.

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 5%–10%. Literacy rate in L2: 15%–25%. Literacy in Pashto and Dari.

Other Comments

Largely nomadic. Muslim.

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Iran

Language nameBalochi, Western

Population Full

704,000 in Iran (2014 J. Leclerc). All Balochi in Iran: 1,920,000 (2016).

Location

Kerman province: Rigan and Fahraj counties; Sistan and Baluchestan province: north; South Khorasan province: northeast.

Alternate Names

Baloci, Baluchi, Baluci, Yarahmadza

Dialects

Rakhshani (Raxshani), Sarawani.

Status

5* (Developing).

Language Use

Also use Iranian Persian [pes]. Used as L2 by Brahui [brh].

Other Comments

Distinct from Eastern Balochi [bgp] and Southern Balochi [bcc]. Muslim.

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Turkmenistan

Language nameBalochi, Western

Population Full

35,700 in Turkmenistan (2002 J. Leclerc).

Location

Mary province: 2 areas, one northeast of capital, the other on Murgap river upstream from Mary city.

Alternate Names

Baloci, Baluchi, Baluci

Status

6a* (Vigorous).

Language Use

Also use Turkmen [tuk], as a literary language.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Distinct from Eastern [bgp] and Southern Balochi [bcc]. Muslim.

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Ethnologue

Balochi, Western

Primary tabs

A language of Pakistan

Also spoken in:

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