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 a language spoken in parts of Afghanistan and Pakistan. It is the largest of the Nuristani languages. About 40,000 to 60,000 people speak Kamkata-vari.
This language is used by several groups of people. These include the Kata, Kom, and Mumo tribes. You might also hear it called Kati or Bashgali.
What Kind of Language Is It?
Kamkata-vari belongs to a big group of languages. This group is called the Indo-European language family. It is part of the Nuristani group. This group is a branch of the larger Indo-Iranian family.
Different Ways of Speaking
Kamkata-vari has four main ways of speaking, called dialects. These are Eastern Kata-vari, Western Kata-vari, Kamviri, and Mumviri. Sometimes, people mistakenly think Kamviri and Mumviri are separate languages. However, they are actually dialects of Kamkata-vari.
In a place called Chitral, Eastern Kata-vari and Kamviri are often both known as Shekhani.
How Many People Can Read and Write It?
Not many people who speak Kamkata-vari can read or write it. For those who learn it as their first language, less than 1% can read and write. For people who learn it as a second language, about 15% to 25% can read and write.
You can sometimes hear the Katavari dialect on the radio in Afghanistan.
