Kinnauri

A language of India

Kanauri, Kanaury Anuskad, Kanawari, Kanawi, Kanoreunu Skad, Kanorin Skad, Kanorug Skadd, Kinnaura Yanuskad, Kinner, Kinori, Koonawure, Kunawari, Kunawur, Lower Kinnauri, Malhesti, Milchan, Milchanang, Milchang, Tibas Skad

Autonym

किन्नौरी‎ (Kinnauri)

User Population

98,600, all users. L1 users: 83,600 (2011 census). L2 users: 15,000.

Location

Himachal Pradesh state: Kinnaur and Lahaul Spiti districts, Chauhra to Sangla and north along Satluj river to Morang, upper Ropa river valley villages; Rampur and Shimla area; Kashmir, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh states.

Language Status

6b (Threatened).

Classification

Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Western Tibeto-Burman, Bodish, West Himalayish, Kinauri

Dialects

Dialect at Nichar has 79% inherent intelligibility of Sangla. Other varieties have functional intelligibility of each other. Related languages: Kanashi [xns], Chitkuli Kinnauri [cik], and Jangshung Tukpa [jna]. Lexical similarity: 76%–90% among varieties.

Typology

SOV.

Language Use

Home. Some young people, all adults. Positive attitudes. Most also use Hindi [hin] (Negi 2012). Used as L2 by Chitkuli Kinnauri [cik].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L2: 37%: men 52%, women 22%. Dictionary. Grammar. NT: 2017.

Language Resources

OLAC resources in and about Kinnauri

Writing

Devanagari script [Deva]. Takri (Tankri, Takari) script [Takr], no longer in use.

Other Comments

Hindu, Buddhist, traditional religion.