bsh ISO 639
Kati
Visualizations
A language of Afghanistan
- ISO 639
- bsh
- Alternate Names
- Bashgali, Kata viri, Kativiri, Kâtʹa-vari, Nuristani
- Population
- 128,000 in Afghanistan (2017), increasing. Ethnic population: 128,000 (2017). Total users in all countries: 135,800.
- Location
- Badakhshan, Kunar, and Nuristan provinces: smaller areas in Laghman and Panjsher provinces; Eastern Kativiri dialect: upper Bashgal valley (Barg-e-Matal); Mumviri dialect: Gabalgrom, Mangul, and Sasku villages in Bashgal valley; Western Kativiri dialect: Duab and Mondul districts, Ktivi (Kantiwo), Kulam, Paruk (Papruk), and Ramgal valleys.
- Language Maps
- Afghanistan, Northern Pakistan
- Language Status
- 5 (Developing). Statutory language of provincial identity in Nuristan Province (2004, Constitution, Article 16(2)).
- Classification
- Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Nuristani
- Dialects
- Eastern Kativiri, Western Kativiri (Jadidi, Ramgulviri), Mumviri. Mumviri may be a separate language. Eastern and Western Kataviri are very similar dialects and almost completely mutually intelligible.
- Typology
- Agglutinative suffixes; CVC, CCVC, CV, CCCVC, CCVCC, CCCVCC.
- Language Use
- Outside of language area, shifting towards Dari [prs]. All domains. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Also use Dari [prs], especially in the west. Also use Southern Pashto [pbt], especially in the east.
- Language Development
- Literacy rate in L2: 1%–3%. The Afghanistan Ministry of Education has produced Eastern Kati language textbooks for first through twelfth grades. But as of November 2021, these books had not yet been distributed to schools. TV. Dictionary. Grammar. Texts.
- Writing
- Arabic script, Naskh variant [Arab], limited usage, in development. Arabic script, Nastaliq variant [Aran], used in handwriting and for book titles.
- Other Comments
- Kati is different from Kamviri [xvi], but the two are significantly mutually intelligible and speakers may refer to them as the same language. Muslim.
- Language Resources
- OLAC resources in and about Kati
Also Spoken in
- Location
- Khyber Pakhtunkwa province: Chitral district (eastern Kativiri dialect), Bumboret, Lutkuh, Rumbur, and Urtsun valleys.
- Dialects
- Eastern Kativiri (Shekhani), Western Kativiri, Mumviri. Eastern Kativiri dialect is extremely endangered (2021 S. Zubair).
- Language Status
- 6a (Vigorous)
- Language Use
- Most also use Khowar [khw]. Many also use Northern Pashto [pbu]. Many also use Urdu [urd], especially young people and educated. Some also use Kalasha [kls]. Used as L2 by Kalasha [kls].
- Other Comments
- Eastern Kativiri dialect often called Shekhani in Pakistan, but different from Kamviri [xvi] dialect also called Shekhani in Southern Chitral. View other languages of Pakistan
Language Name
Kati
User Population
7,800 in Pakistan (2018).
