Aimaq

A language of Afghanistan

Barbari, Berberi, Chahar-Aimaq, Char Aimaq

User Population

1,400,000 in Afghanistan (2017 J. Leclerc). Total users in all countries: 1,886,900.

Location

Badghis, Ghor, and Herat provinces; Farah and Faryab provinces: smaller border areas; west of Hazara.

Language Maps

Afghanistan

Language Status

6a (Vigorous).

Classification

Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Southwestern, Persian

Dialects

Taimuri (Taimouri, Teimuri, Timuri), Taimani, Zohri (Zuri), Jamshidi (Djamchidi, Dzhemshid, Jamshedi, Yemchidi), Firozkohi, Maliki, Mizmast, Chinghizi, Zainal. Dialect names could well be ethnic names, probably dialect of Dari [prs], at least Jamshidi is not much different from the Herati dialect of Dari.

Language Use

Vigorous. Used by all. Some also use Dari [prs].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L2: 5%–15%.

Language Resources

OLAC resources in and about Aimaq

Writing

Arabic script, Naskh variant [Arab].

Other Comments

Muslim.