Torwali

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A language of Pakistan

ISO 639-3
trw
Alternate Names
Torwalak, Torwali Kohistani, Turvali
Population

80,000 (Lunsford 2001).

Location

Bahrain dialect: Upper Swat district, both sides of Swat river, from just north of Madyan up to Asret (located between Mankjal and Peshmal); Chail dialect: Primarily 2 villages in the Chail valley, 5–8 km east of Madyan.

Language Maps
Language Status

6a (Vigorous).

Classification
Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Northwestern zone, Dardic, Kohistani
Dialects

Bahrain, Chail. Lexical similarity: 44% with Kalkoti [xka] and Kalami [gwc], 89% with Bahrain and Chail dialects.

Language Use

Home, community. All ages. Very positive attitudes. Also use Southern Pashto [pbt], Urdu [urd]. Used as L2 by Ushojo [ush].

Language Development
Curriculum was developed for a 2-year multilingual education program that bridges children from Torwali to Urdu [urd]. Taught in primary schools, but only to a limited extent. Poetry. Dictionary.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Torwali
Writing

Arabic script [Arab].

Other Comments

Muslim (Sunni).