Burushaski language facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Burushaski |
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| Native to | Pakistan |
| Region | Gilgit–Baltistan |
| Ethnicity | Burusho people |
| Native speakers | 87,000 in Pakistan (2000) |
| Language family | |
| Dialects |
Hunza–Nagar
Yasin (Werchikwar)
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Area of Burushaski speakers
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Burushaski is a very special language spoken by about 87,000 people. These people are called the Burusho people. They live mostly in the northern parts of Pakistan, in an area called Gilgit-Baltistan. A small group of about 300 speakers also lives in Srinagar, which is in Indian-administered Kashmir.
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What Makes Burushaski Special?
Burushaski is known as a language isolate. This means it's a language that doesn't seem to be related to any other language family in the world. Imagine a tree with many branches, where each branch is a language family. Burushaski would be a tree all by itself!
Where is Burushaski Spoken?
Most Burushaski speakers live in the beautiful valleys of Hunza, Nagar, Yasin, and parts of Gilgit in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. The map in the infobox shows you where these areas are.
Words from Other Languages
Like many languages, Burushaski has borrowed words from its neighbors. It has many words from Urdu, which is a main language in Pakistan. Some English words have also come into Burushaski through Urdu.
Burushaski also shares words with Dardic languages like Khowar and Shina. These are languages spoken nearby. There are also a few words from Turkic languages and from Balti, another language spoken in the region. Even though it borrows words, most of Burushaski's original words are still used. Interestingly, Dardic languages have also borrowed many words from Burushaski!
Different Ways of Speaking: Dialects
Burushaski has three main ways of speaking, called dialects. These dialects are named after the valleys where they are spoken:
- The Hunza dialect
- The Nagar dialect
- The Yasin dialect (also called Werchikwār)
Even though they are different, people who speak one dialect can usually understand people who speak another. The Yasin dialect is thought to be the most unique. It has been less changed by contact with other languages compared to the Hunza and Nagar dialects.
