Nuristani languages

The Nuristani languages ​​- formerly called Kafiri languages ​​(that is, "Languages ​​of the infidels" ) - form a small separate branch of the Indo -Iranian. This includes 6 languages ​​with a total of about 30,000 speakers. They are mainly in Afghanistan ( 25 thousand), but also in some remote valleys in the far west of Pakistan ( about 5-6 thousand) spoken by the ethnic group of the Nuristani.

Spoken in

  • Indo-European languages Indo-Iranian languages Nuristani

Position of the Nuristani languages

Linguistically represent the Nuristani languages ​​is a link between the Iranian and Indo-Aryan languages ​​, which probably has a little more accessible to the Indo-Aryan languages.

Previously, the Nuristani languages ​​have been assigned to the Indo-Aryan branch of the dardischen, which still leads to confusion of the terms " Nuristani " and " Dardisch ". However, all Nuristani languages ​​have been both lexically grammatically more or less affected by neighboring dardischen languages.

Nuristani languages: numbers of speakers, dialects, geographical location

  • Nuristani languages ​​( Kafiri ) 6 languages ​​, together 30 thousand speakers Kati ( Bashgali ) 20 thousand, dialects Kamviri (or Lamertviri ) Mumviri, East Kataviri (or Shekhani ), Western Kataviri in Afghanistan ( 15 thousand): Ramgal, Kulam, Ktivi, Paruk, Bashgal Valley; in Pakistan (5 thousand): Chitral and Lutkuh Valley
  • Afghanistan: Prasun Valley
  • Afghanistan: Pech Valley in Wama, NW. Asadabad in Kunar province of
  • Afghanistan: Southeast Nuristan, N. Pech River in central Kunar, Waigal and Veligal Valley
  • Afghanistan: Tregam Valley
  • Afghanistan: enclave south of the Pech River, all of dardischen languages ​​surrounded;

Waigali, Gambiri and Zemiaki are obviously closely related and could form a genetic subunit.

Language family Dardic languages Nicholas Sims-Williams
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