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

85,900 (2016), increasing.

Location

Khyber Pakhtunkwa province: Swat district, Biar, Lamuti, Rajkot, and Thal villages in Dir Kohistan; upper Swat Kohistan, between Peshmal and Kalam north to Kalam area upper valleys.

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], but uneducated people have low proficiency in it. Used as L2 by Kalkoti [xka], Khowar [khw].

Language Development

Texts.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Kalami
Writing

Arabic script, Naskh variant [Arab]. 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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