Pashayi languages
Template:Short description Script error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".<templatestyles src="Template:Infobox/styles-images.css" />Script error: No such module "Check for conflicting parameters".
Pashayi or Pashai (Persian: زبان پشه ای; Pashto: پشه اې ژبه) is a group of Indo-Aryan languages spoken by the Pashai people in parts of Kapisa, Laghman, Nangarhar, Nuristan, Kunar and Kabul (Surobi District) provinces in Northeastern Afghanistan.[1]
The Pashayi languages had no known written form prior to 2003.[2] There are four mutually unintelligible varieties, with only about a 30% lexical similarity:[3]
- Northeastern: Aret, Chalas (Chilas), Kandak, Korangal, Kurdar dialects
- Northwestern: Alasai, Bolaghain, Gulbahar, Kohnadeh, Laurowan, Najil, Nangarach, Pachagan, Pandau, Parazhghan, Pashagar, Sanjan, Shamakot, Shutul, Uzbin, Wadau dialects
- Southeastern: Damench, Laghmani, Sum, Upper and Lower Darai Nur, Wegali dialects
- Southwestern: Ishpi, Isken, Tagau dialects
A grammar of the language was written as a doctoral dissertation in 2014.[4]
Phonology
Consonants
- [h] is only phonemic in the Amla dialect.
- Sounds [f] and [q] can also occur, but only in loanwords and among Dari speakers.
- [ʂ] is more commonly heard among older speakers, but is lost among younger speakers, and is heard as a postalveolar [ʃ].
- [ʐ] is more commonly heard among older speakers, but is lost among younger speakers, and is heard as a postalveolar [ʒ].
- /ʋ/ is heard before front vowels /i e/. When occurring before or after central or back vowels /a u o/, it is heard as [w].
- According to Masica (1991) some dialects have a /Template:IPAlink/.
Vowels
| Front | Central | Back | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High | Template:IPAlink | Template:IPAlink | |
| Mid | Template:IPAlink Template:IPAlink | Template:IPAlink Template:IPAlink | |
| Low | Template:IPAlink Template:IPAlink |
- Only mid or low vowels have lengthened equivalents.
- /e/ can be heard as [ɛ] and /a/ can be heard as [ə] or [æ], in certain environments.[4]
Further reading
References
<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Template:Languages of Afghanistan Template:Dardic languages Template:Languages of Hindu Kush Template:Authority control