Torwali

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A language of Pakistan

ISO 639-3
trw
Alternate Names
Kohistani, Torwalak, Torwalik, Turvali
Autonym
توروالی‎ (Torwali)
User Population

114,000 (2018). Ethnic population: 120,000 (2021 FLI), with an additional 10,000 more living and working abroad.

Location

Khyber Pakhtunkwa province: Swat district; upper Swat district, both sides of Swat river, north of Madyan up to Asret (Bahrain dialect); 2 villages in Chail valley (Chail dialect).

Language Maps
Language Status

6b (Threatened).

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

Bahrain, Chail. Lexical similarity: 44% with Kalkoti [xka] and Gawri [gwc], 89% with Bahrain and Chail dialects.

Language Use

Nearly half the speakers have migrated to the largest urban areas of Pakistan, where their language is being replaced by Urdu [urd] or Pashto [pbu] (2020 Z. Torwali). Home, community. Some of all ages. Positive attitudes. Most also use Northern Pashto [pbu]. Most also use Urdu [urd]. Used as L2 by Badeshi [bdz], Ushojo [ush].

Language Development

Taught as subject in primary schools in grades 1 and 2, as a 2-year multilingual education program that bridges children from Torwali to Urdu [urd] and also to English [eng] in 3 different locations. Literature. Dictionary. Agency: Idara Baraye Taleem-o-Taraqi (Institute for Education and Development) (IBT).

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Torwali
Writing

Arabic script, Naskh variant [Arab]. Arabic script, Nastaliq variant [Aran], primary usage.

Other Comments

Muslim.