Also Known As:
Ashkund, Ashkuni, Wamayi, Wamai, Askun
Dialects & Varieties
- Suruviri
- Ashuruveri
- Gramsukraviri
Dardestān ii. Language
D.I. Edel'man. 1994. "Dardestān Ii. Language." In Encyclopedia Iranica, Online: http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/dardestan-#i.
Speakers
Native or fluent speakers:
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Semi-speakers or rememberers
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Children:
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Young adults
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Older adults
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Elders
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Ethnic or community population
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Year information was gathered
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Comments on speakers
The Nūrestānī languages (also known traditionally as Kafiri languages) are sometimes included as a western subgroup of the Dardic group of languages (see Shaw, 1876, pp. 146-47; Grierson; Morgenstierne, 1945; idem, 1974). They are the languages of Afghan Nūrestān, known as Kafiristan until the people adopted Islam on the eve of the 20th century. This subgroup includes Kati (including the eastern dialect Bashgali), Waigali (or Wai, Wai-alā), and related Tregami (or Gambiri) and Zemiaki; Ashkun and the closely related language or dialect Wamai; and Prasun (or Paruni, Wasin-veri, Veron). These languages have much in common with the Dardic languages and are spoken in close geographical proximity to them, but their origin is not the same (see below). The attribution of the Dameli language, which exhibits both Nūrestānī and Dardic features, is not clear. Some authors also include in the Dardic group the Ḍumaki language, spoken by a people scattered in groups in Hunza and Nagar. Genetically, however, it belongs to the Central Indo-Aryan languages (being close to Gypsy), rather than to the Dardic group.
Location and Context
Countries
Pakistan; Afghanistan; India
Location Description
Part of Nūrestān and adjacent areas along the Kabul river and its tributaries in the mountain region that encompasses northeastern Afghanistan, northern Pakistan, and northwestern India
Government Support
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Other Languages Used By The Community
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Number of Other Language Speakers:
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Domains of Other Languages:
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Writing Systems
Standard orthography:
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Recent Resources
R. L. Turner (1932). Review of G.
Voegelin, C. F., & Voegelin, F. M.. (1965).
Biblical Clip narrated in Ashkuni