Shekhani dialect

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Shekhani
شیخانی
Native toPakistan
Region(Valleys of Gobor, Shekhandeh, Rumbur, Badogar, and Urtsun), Chitral District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
EthnicityNuristanis
Native speakers
12,000 (2019)[1][2]
Language codes
ISO 639-3bsh

Shekhani (شیخانی) is a name for the Nuristani language spoken in Chitral District of northwestern Pakistan. Sheikhani is presumed to be a variety of Kata-vari language.[3] It is one of the many Languages of Chitral.[4] Around 12,000 people speak the language.[5][6] Currently there is a Latin script and Arabic script being developed for Shekhani.·[7] The Khowar name for it is ‘’Sheikhwar’’[8] which means “Language of the Sheikhs or converts”. It is currently endangered due to its isolation from other Nuristani languages and close proximity to Dardic and Iranian languages.[9]

Usage[change | change source]

The name "Shekhani" is used for the Eastern Kata-vari dialect. But because Kamviri in Chitral is borrowing many words from Shekhani, it is also called Kamviri and is now very close.[10] Shekhani is known as "Sheikhwar" in Khowar while Kamviri is known as "Shekhaniwar".[11] Some sources site Shekhani as a term used for the Nuristani dialects and languages, but some just use it for the Eastern Kata-vari dialect.

Alphabet[change | change source]

Abdurrahman L. Rundi along with FLI created a alphabet and writing system in Nastaliq since 26 June, 2022.[12]

References[change | change source]

  1. "Survey Conducted On Identity, Literacy Of Kativiri Language". Chitral Today. Retrieved 24 Nov 2023.
  2. "Writing System for Shekhani Language being developed". 15 April 2021.
  3. "Kamviri". Ethnologue.
  4. "Welcome | Khowarchitral". www.khowarchitral.com. February 2, 2016.
  5. Frawley, William J. (May 2003). International Encyclopedia of Linguistics. ISBN 978-0-19-977178-3.
  6. admin (2019-10-25). "Survey conducted on identity, literacy of Kataviri language". Chitral Today. Retrieved 2023-11-24.
  7. "Writing System for Shekhani Language being developed". April 15, 2021.
  8. "MyTrip - Chitral Valley". MyTrip.pk.
  9. http://www.elpublishing.org/docs/1/17/ldd17_03.pdf[bare URL PDF]
  10. "Shekhani Language (Documentation) (1).PDF".
  11. "OLAC resources in and about the Kamviri language". Archived from the original on 2022-06-30. Retrieved 2022-06-16.
  12. "Shekhani Language (Documentation).PDF".