Brahui language facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Brahui |
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|---|---|
| براوی Bráhuí |
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| Region | Balochistan |
| Native speakers | 2.2 million (1998) |
| Language family | |
| Writing system | Perso-Arabic, Latin |
| Official status | |
| Regulated by | Brahui Language Board (Pakistan) |
The Dravidian languages
Brahui (at far upper left) is far from the other Dravidian languages |
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The Brahui language (also called Bravi) is spoken by the Brahui people. It is a unique language because it's the only Dravidian language mainly found in Pakistan. You can also find Brahui speakers in Afghanistan and Iran.
About 2.2 million people speak Brahui. Most of them (around 90%) live in Pakistan. In Pakistan, it is mostly spoken in the Kalat region of Balochistan.
Contents
What is the Brahui Language?
Brahui is part of the Dravidian language family. This family includes languages like Tamil and Telugu, which are mostly spoken in southern India. What makes Brahui special is that it's spoken very far away from the other Dravidian languages.
How Brahui is Different
Even though Brahui is a Dravidian language, it has been greatly influenced by other languages nearby. These are mainly Iranian languages, like Balochi. This means Brahui has borrowed many words and sounds from these languages.
Where Did Brahui Come From?
Scientists and historians have different ideas about how Brahui ended up in Balochistan.
Ancient Connections
One idea is that Brahui is a leftover from a time when Dravidian languages were spoken across a much larger area. This might have been before people speaking Indo-Aryan languages moved into the region.
Some even think Brahui could be directly linked to the ancient Indus Valley Civilization. This was a very old civilization that existed thousands of years ago in what is now Pakistan and India.
A Later Arrival
Another idea suggests that the Brahui people moved to Balochistan much later. This migration might have happened around the 13th or 14th century, or even after the year 1000 CE. This view suggests they arrived long after the Indus Valley Civilization.
Scientists continue to study Brahui to learn more about its history and connections.
See also
In Spanish: Idioma brahui para niños
