khw ISO 639
کھووار (Khowar) Autonyms
Khowar
Visualizations
A language of Pakistan
- ISO 639
- khw
- Alternate Names
- Arniya, Chitrali, Chitrari, Citrali, Kashkari, Khawar, Patu, Qashqari
- Autonym
- کھووار (Khowar)
- Population
- 351,000 in Pakistan (2018). Total users in all countries: 379,100.
- Location
- Gilgit Baltistan province: Gilgit district, Ghizr valley, Shandur pass to Gupis; Khyber Pakhtunkwa province: Chitral and Peshawar districts; Ishkhoman and Yasin valleys, north Swat valley, Ushu; probably in Rawalpindi and other northern cities.
- Language Maps
- Northern Pakistan
- Language Status
- 3 (Wider communication). Lingua franca in Chitral and adjacent areas of Gilgit and Swat districts since the 17th century. Also spoken in Peshawar and Rawalpindi. Used at home and in literature.
- Classification
- Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Outer Languages, Northwestern, Dardic, Chitral
- Dialects
- North Khowar, South Khowar, East Khowar, Swat Khowar. Northern dialect considered more pure. Related to Kalasha [kls] but different. Lexical similarity: 86%–98% among dialects.
- Typology
- SOV.
- Language Use
- The most important language of Chitral. Most also use Urdu [urd], especially among the educated, and in schools. Some also use Burushaski [bsk], especially in the Gilgit District. Some also use English [eng], especially among the educated. Some also use Gawri [gwc]. Some also use Northern Pashto [pbu]. Some also use Shina [scl], especially in the Gilgit District. Used as L2 by Burushaski [bsk], Dari [prs], Gawar-Bati [gwt], Kalasha [kls], Kamviri [xvi], Kati [bsh], Palula [phl], Wakhi [wbl], Yadgha [ydg].
- Language Development
- Literacy rate in L2: 15%–20% men, 1% women. Taught as subject in some primary schools. Newspapers. Radio. Dictionary.
- Writing
- Arabic script, Naskh variant [Arab]. Arabic script, Nastaliq variant [Aran], primary usage.
- Other Comments
- Muslim.
- Language Resources
- OLAC resources in and about Khowar
Also Spoken in
- Location
- Badakhshan province.
- Language Status
- 5 (Dispersed)
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of Afghanistan
Language Name
Khowar
User Population
8,900 in Afghanistan (2017 J. Leclerc).
- Location
- Jammu and Kashmir state.
- Language Status
- 5 (Dispersed)
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. Muslim. View other languages of India
Language Name
Khowar
User Population
19,200 in India (2000).
