Balochi, Western

A language of Pakistan

ISO 639-3

bgn

Alternate Names

Baloci, Baluchi, Baluci

Population

1,116,000 in Pakistan (1998). Population total all countries: 1,799,840.

Location

Northwest Baluchistan Province. Also in Afghanistan, Iran, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan.

Language Maps

Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan

Afghanistan

Southern Pakistan

Language Status

4 (Educational).

Classification

Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Northwestern, Balochi

Dialects

Lashari, Rakhshani (Raxshani), Sarawani. Strongly influenced by Farsi, but not intelligible with Farsi [prs].

Language Development

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

Language Resources

OLAC resources in and about Balochi, Western

Writing

Arabic script, Nastaliq style, used in Afghanistan.

Other Comments

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

Also spoken in:

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Afghanistan

Language nameBalochi, Western

Population

200,000 in Afghanistan (1979).

Location

Southwest Desert region, along Helmand river and Zaranj area.

Alternate Names

Baloci, Baluchi, Baluci

Dialects

Rakhshani (Raxshani).

Status

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

Language Use

Home, community. All ages. Much bilingualism with Brahui [brh], a language also belonging to the Baloch ethnic population. Otherwise a high degree of bilingualism with Pashto and Dari [prs].

Language Development

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

Other Comments

Largely nomadic. Muslim (Sunni).

View other languages of Afghanistan

Iran

Language nameBalochi, Western

Population

451,000 in Iran (1986).

Location

North Sistan and Baluchistan Province. Half in cities and villages, half nomadic.

Alternate Names

Baloci, Baluchi, Baluci

Dialects

Rakhshani (Raxshani), Sarawani.

Status

4 (Educational).

Language Use

Few speak Farsi [pes].

Other Comments

Distinct from Eastern Balochi [bgp] and Southern Balochi [bcc]. Ethnic group: Yarahmadza. Muslim (Shi’a), Muslim (Sunni).

View other languages of Iran

Turkmenistan

Language nameBalochi, Western

Population

28,000 in Turkmenistan (1993).

Alternate Names

Baloci, Baluchi, Baluci

Status

6a (Vigorous).

Language Use

Turkmen [tuk] is the literary language in Turkmenistan.

Other Comments

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

View other languages of Turkmenistan

Ethnologue

Balochi, Western

A language of Pakistan

Also spoken in:

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Balochi, Western

A language of Pakistan

Also spoken in: