Kamkata-vari language facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kamkata-vari |
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| Kati Kâmkata-vari |
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| Native to | Afghanistan, Pakistan |
| Region | Nuristan, Kunar, Chitral |
| Native speakers | 150,000 (2011-2017)e21 |
| Language family |
Indo-European
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| Dialects |
Kata-vari
Kamviri
Mumviri
Shekhani
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| Writing system | Arabic script (Nastaliq) |
| Linguasphere | 58-ACB-a |
Kamkata-vari (Kâmkata-vari) is the largest Nuristani language. It contains the main dialects Kata-vari, Kamviri and Mumviri. Kata-vari and Kamviri are sometimes erroneously reckoned as two separate languages, but according to linguist Richard Strand they form one language.
The Kamkata-vari language is spoken by 40,000–60,000 people, from the Kata, Kom, Mumo, Kshto and some smaller Black-Robed tribes in parts of Afghanistan and Pakistan. There are dialectal differences of the Kamkata-vari speakers of Pakistan. The most used alternative names for the language are Kati or Bashgali.
Contents
Classification
It belongs to the Indo-European language family and is in the Nuristani group of the Indo-Iranian branch.
Dialects
There are four main dialects: Eastern Kata-vari, Western Kata-vari, Kamviri and Mumviri. The last two are sometimes erroneously defined as separate languages. Eastern Kata-vari and Kamviri are commonly both referred to as Shekhani in Chitral.
Status
Literacy rates are low: below 1% for people who have it as a first language and between 15% and 25% for people who have it as a second language. The Katavari dialect can be heard on radio in Afghanistan.
See also
In Spanish: Idioma kamkata-viri para niños
