Pahari, Mahasu

A language of India

Mahasui, Mahasuvi

User Population

1,000,000 (2002).

Location

Himachal Pradesh state: Shimla and Solan districts.

Language Status

6a (Vigorous).

Classification

Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Western, Pahari, Western Pahari

Dialects

Lower Mahasu Pahari (Baghati, Baghliani, Kiunthali), Upper Mahasu Pahari (Barari, Bishshau, Rampuri, Rohruri, Shadochi, Sharachali, Shimla Siraji). The Kiunthali variety appears to be understood by others, and their attitude toward it is favorable. Rampuri is also called Bushahri. Intelligibility among dialects above 85%. Lexical similarity: 74%–82% with upper dialects, 74%–95% with lower dialects.

Typology

SOV; postpositions; genitives after noun heads; nontonal.

Language Use

Home, religion. Used by all. Also use English [eng]. Also use Hindi [hin], with more proficiency among educated people.

Language Development

Literacy rate in L2: 80% for Shimla District, 82% for Solan (2001 census). Newspapers. Periodicals. Radio. NT: 2017.

Language Resources

OLAC resources in and about Pahari, Mahasu

Writing

Devanagari script [Deva].

Other Comments

Hindu.