Pashai, Northeast

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A language of Afghanistan

ISO 639-3
aee
Alternate Names
Northeast Pashayi, Pashai
User Population

54,400 (2000). Total Pashai speakers in Afghanistan: 366,000 (2020 World Factbook).

Location

Kunar province: west of Asadabad, Konar and Pech rivers’ valleys; Nangarhar province: Dara-I-Nur and Kuz Konar districts.

Language Maps
Language Status

6a (Vigorous). Statutory language of national identity (2004, Constitution, Article 16(2)).

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

Aret, Chalas (Chilas), Kandak, Kurangal, Kurdar. Unintelligible of other Pashai speakers. Lexical similarity: approximately 30% with Southeast Pashai [psi] and Southwest Pashai [psh].

Typology

SOV.

Language Use

Vigorous. Used by all. Many also use Northern Pashto [pbu].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L2: 5%–15%.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Pashai, Northeast
Writing

Unwritten [Qaax].

Other Comments

Kandak, Shemul, Aret, Shumasht, and Kordar villages belong to the Chugani people; Chalas and Kurangal are separate. Muslim.