Shekhani dialect

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Shekhani is a name for the Nuristani language spoken in Broghil Pass in Chitral. Not much is known about the language, but it is presumed to be a Kata-vari language variety.[3] It is one of the Languages of Chitral.[4] Around 1,500 people speak the language.[5]Currently there is a Latin script and Arabic script being developed for Shekhani.·[6] The Khowar name for it is ‘’Sheikhwar’’[7] which means “Language of the Sheikhs or converts”. It is currently endangered due to it’s isolation from other Nuristani languages and close proximity to Dardic and Iranian languages.[8] The Kamviri variety of Shekhani is called Shekhaniwar.[9]

Shekhani
شیخانی
Shekhani.svg
Native toPakistan
RegionBroghil Pak (Gobor, Shekhandeh, Rumbur, Badogar, and Urstsun), Chitral District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
EthnicityShekhan
Native speakers1,500[1]  (date missing)[2]
Language family
Language codes
ISO 639-3bsh

Usage

The name "Shekhani" is used for the Eastern Kata-vari dialect. But because Kamviri in Chitral is borrowing many words from Shekhani, it is also called Kamviri and is now very close.[10] Shekhani is known as "Sheikhwar" in Khowar while Kamviri is known as "Shekhaniwar".[11] Some sources site Shekhani as a term used for the Nuristani dialects and languages, but some just use it for the Eastern Kata-vari dialect.

Alphabet

Abdurrahman L. Rundi along with FLI created a alphabet and writing system in the Nastaliq Arabic script since 26 June, 2022.[12]

References

Template:Nuristani languages