Khowar (Khowari, Khowar, Khawar, Chitrali, Citrali, Chitrari, Arniya, Patu, Qashqari, Kashkari)

222,800 (1992). Chitral; Shandur Pass to Gupis in Ghizr Valley, Yasin and Ishkhoman valleys in Gilgit Agency, Ushu in northern Swat Valley, and large communities in Peshawar and Rawalpindi. Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Northwestern zone, Dardic, Chitral. Dialects: NORTH KHOWAR, SOUTH KHOWAR, EAST KHOWAR, SWAT KHOWAR. 86% to 98% lexical similarity among dialects. The northern dialect is considered to be more �pure�. The most important language of Chitral. Related to Kalasha, but distinct. Urdu schools; some girls go through fifth grade or higher. Different second languages used in different areas: Pashto in the south, Shina and Burushaski in the Gilgit Agency, Kalami and some Pashto in Swat, Urdu and English among the educated. �Kho� means �people�, �war� means �language�. Radio broadcasts. Monthly journal in Khowar. Literacy rate: 15% to 20% men, 1% women. Trade language. Typology: SOV. Mountain valleys. Sunni and Ismaili Muslim.

Source: www.ethnologue.com

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© 2002 Muhammad Zaman Sagar All Rights Reserved Last updated September 13, 2002

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