Kalami

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A language of Pakistan

ISO 639-3
gwc
Alternate Names
Bashgharik, Bashkarik, Baskarik, Dir Kohistani, Diri, Dirwali, Gaawro, Garwa, Garwi, Gawri, Gowri, Kalami Kohistani, Kohistana, Kohistani
Population

100,000 (Baart and Sagar 2004), increasing.

Location

North-West Frontier Province, Swat district; upper Swat Kohistan, between Peshmal and Kalam north to Kalam area upper valleys, Dir Kohistan in Thal, Lamuti, Biar, and Rajkot villages.

Language Maps
Language Status

6b (Threatened).

Classification
Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Outer Languages, Northwestern , Dardic, Kohistani
Dialects

Kalam, Ushu, Thal, Lamuti (Lamti), Rajkoti (Patrak), Dashwa. Dialect differences do not hinder communication, except speakers of other dialects have difficulty with Rajkot. Lexical similarity: 90%–93% among main dialects; Rajkoti has 75% with Kalami; Dashwa has 77% with Kalami [gwc], and 74% with Rajkoti.

Language Use

Apparently few remaining speakers of Dashwa dialect. Also use Urdu [urd]. Used as L2 by Kalkoti [xka], Khowar [khw].

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Kalami
Writing

Arabic script, Naskh variant [Arab], Naskh style. Arabic script, Nastaliq variant [Aran], primary usage.

Other Comments

Most widely understood indigenous language in north Swat and Dir Kohistan. Muslim.

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