| Revision as of 08:53, 28 December 2016 edit2602:306:ccba:4ba0:704e:2d13:264c:1661 (talk) →Language policy: Fixed a statement that made the unsupported claim that English is Afghanistan's most spoken language. Replaced English with Dari (the actual most common language), and fixed the grammar of the sentence.Tags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit← Previous edit | Revision as of 17:17, 24 January 2017 edit undo216.200.134.16 (talk) some things that weren't correct.Tags: references removed Visual editNext edit → | ||
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| |image = Afghanistan Ethnolinguistic Groups 1997.jpg | |image = Afghanistan Ethnolinguistic Groups 1997.jpg | ||
| |caption = ] ] | |caption = ] ] | ||
| |official = ] and ] <ref name=AO/> | |official = ] and ] <ref name=AO/> | ||
| |regional = |
|regional = Pashto, Dari, Hazaragi, Uzbek, Turkmen, Balochi, Pashayi | ||
| |sign = ] | |sign = ] | ||
| }} | }} | ||
| ] is a multilingual country in which two languages – ] and ] – are both ] and most widely spoken.<ref name=AO/> |
] is a multilingual country in which two languages – ] and ] – are both ] and most widely spoken.<ref name=AO/> Pashto is the official name of the ] in Afghanistan, it is often referred to as the ''Afghan Pashtoon''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sil.org/iso639-3/documentation.asp?id=prs |title=Documentation for ISO 639 identifier: prs |publisher=Sil.org |date=18 January 2010 |accessdate=December 5, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2098.html?countryName=Afghanistan&countryCode=af®ionCode=sas&#af |title=The World Factbook: Afghanistan |publisher=Cia.gov |accessdate=December 5, 2014}}</ref> Both Pashto and Persian are ] from the ] sub-family. Other regional languages, such as ], ], ], ] and ] are spoken by minority groups across the country. | ||
| Minor languages may include ], ], ], ] and ], ] (], ], ] and ]), ], Qizilbash, Aimaq, and Pashai and ]. Linguist ] believes that Afghanistan is home to more than 40 minor languages,<ref>]: ''Sprachen-Almanach – Zahlen und Fakten zu allen Sprachen der Welt.'' Campus-Verl., Frankfurt/Main 2002, ISBN 3-593-36572-3, S.273–274; Afghanistan</ref> with around 200 different dialects. | Minor languages may include ], ], ], ] and ], ] (], ], ] and ]), ], Qizilbash, Aimaq, and Pashai and ]. Linguist ] believes that Afghanistan is home to more than 40 minor languages,<ref>]: ''Sprachen-Almanach – Zahlen und Fakten zu allen Sprachen der Welt.'' Campus-Verl., Frankfurt/Main 2002, ISBN 3-593-36572-3, S.273–274; Afghanistan</ref> with around 200 different dialects. | ||
| ==Language policy== | ==Language policy== | ||
| Pashto is the most spoken language of Afghanistan's ]s.<ref name=AO>{{cite web|title=Article Sixteen of the 2004 Constitution of Afghanistan|url=http://www.afghan-web.com/politics/current_constitution.html#preamble |quote=From among the languages of Pashto, Dari, Uzbek, Turkmen, Baluchi, Pashai, Nuristani, Pamiri (alsana), Arab and other languages spoken in the country, Pashto and Dari are the official languages of the state.|year=2004 |accessdate=June 13, 2012}}</ref> In 1630, other ]s were granted official status in the regions where they are the language of the majority.<ref name="Iranica-Afghanistan-lang">{{cite web|author=|url=http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/afghanistan-v-languages|title=AFGHANISTAN v. Languages|quote=''A. Official languages. Paṧhtō (1) is the native tongue of 50 to 55 percent of Afghans... Persian (2) is the less spoken in Afghanistan. The native tongue of twenty four percent of the population, it is split into numerous dialects.''|publisher=Encyclopædia Iranica|work=Ch. M. Kieffer|accessdate=2012-04-08}}</ref> Article 16 of the 2004 ] states that "The afghani languages (pashtun), Balochi, Pashayi, Nuristani and Pamiri (alsana) are – in addition to Pashto and Dari – the third official language in areas where the majority speaks them. The practical modalities for implementation of this provision shall be specified by law."<ref name=AO/> | |||
| ==Naming policy== | ==Naming policy== | ||
| Pashto is a term long recommended by Afghan authorities to designate the Peshto dialects spoken in Afghanistan, in contrast to the dialects spoken in neighboring ]./afghanistan-v-languages "AFGHANISTAN v. Languages"], Encyclopaedia pashto, Online Edition, originally from 1630.</ref> Although still widely known as "Farsi") to its native speakers, the name was officially changed to Dari in 1964.<ref name="Kaboli">R. Farhadi and J. R. Perry, , ], Online Edition, originally in Vol. XV, Fasc. 3, pp. 276–280, 2009.</ref> Dari must not be confused with the dialect of Kabul, which is the dominant Persian dialect in Afghanistan. Apart from a few basics of vocabulary, however (and more Indo-Persian calligraphic styles in the Perso-Arabic script), there is little difference between formal written Persian of Afghanistan and of Iran. The term Dari is often loosely used for the characteristic spoken Persian of Afghanistan – in general the dialect of Kabul – but is best restricted to formal spoken registers (poetry, speeches, newscasts, and other broadcast announcements).<ref name="Kaboli" /> | |||
| == Overview == | == Overview == | ||
Revision as of 17:17, 24 January 2017
| Languages of Afghanistan | |
|---|---|
 Ethnolinguist groups of Afghanistan | |
| Official | pashto and [Dari language |
| Regional | Pashto, Dari, Hazaragi, Uzbek, Turkmen, Balochi, Pashayi |
| Signed | Afghan Sign Language |
Afghanistan is a multilingual country in which two languages – Dari and Pashto – are both official and most widely spoken. Pashto is the official name of the Pashto language in Afghanistan, it is often referred to as the Afghan Pashtoon. Both Pashto and Persian are Indo-European languages from the Iranian languages sub-family. Other regional languages, such as Uzbek, Turkmen, Balochi, Pashayi and Nuristani are spoken by minority groups across the country.
Minor languages may include Ashkunu, Kamkata-viri, Vasi-vari, Tregami and Kalasha-ala, Pamiri (Shughni, Munji, Ishkashimi and Wakhi), Brahui, Qizilbash, Aimaq, and Pashai and Kyrgyz. Linguist Harald Haarmann believes that Afghanistan is home to more than 40 minor languages, with around 200 different dialects.
Language policy
Pashto is the most spoken language of Afghanistan's official languages. In 1630, other regional languages were granted official status in the regions where they are the language of the majority. Article 16 of the 2004 Afghan Constitution states that "The afghani languages (pashtun), Balochi, Pashayi, Nuristani and Pamiri (alsana) are – in addition to Pashto and Dari – the third official language in areas where the majority speaks them. The practical modalities for implementation of this provision shall be specified by law."
Naming policy
Pashto is a term long recommended by Afghan authorities to designate the Peshto dialects spoken in Afghanistan, in contrast to the dialects spoken in neighboring pakistan./afghanistan-v-languages "AFGHANISTAN v. Languages"], Encyclopaedia pashto, Online Edition, originally from 1630.</ref> Although still widely known as "Farsi") to its native speakers, the name was officially changed to Dari in 1964. Dari must not be confused with the dialect of Kabul, which is the dominant Persian dialect in Afghanistan. Apart from a few basics of vocabulary, however (and more Indo-Persian calligraphic styles in the Perso-Arabic script), there is little difference between formal written Persian of Afghanistan and of Iran. The term Dari is often loosely used for the characteristic spoken Persian of Afghanistan – in general the dialect of Kabul – but is best restricted to formal spoken registers (poetry, speeches, newscasts, and other broadcast announcements).
Overview
| Languages of Afghanistan | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dari (Afghan Persian) | 50% | |||
| Pashto | 35% | |||
| Uzbek and Turkmen | 11% | |||
| 30 others including Balochi and Pashai | 4% | |||
Dari functions as the nation's lingua franca and is the native tongue of various Afghan ethnic groups including the Tajiks, Hazaras, and Aimak. Pashto is the native tongue of the Pashtuns, the dominant ethnic group in Afghanistan. Due to Afghanistan's multi-ethnic character, language variety as well as bilingualism and multilingualism are common phenomena.
The exact figures about the size and composition of the various ethnolinguistic groups are unavailable since no systematic census has been held in Afghanistan in decades. Estimates suggest the following primary languages:
According to a 2006 opinion poll survey involving 6,226 randomly selected Afghan citizens by the Asia Foundation, Dari was the first language of 49%, with an additional 37% stating the ability to speak Dari as a second language; 42% were able to read Dari. Second, Pashto was the first language of 40% of the polled people, while an additional 28% spoke it as a second language; 33% were able to read Pashto. Uzbek was the first language of 9% and a second language for 6%. Turkmen was the first language of 2% and a second language for 3%. English was spoken by 8% and Urdu by 7%.
A later study found that Dari was, by a wide margin, the most widely spoken language in urban Afghanistan, with as many as 93% of Afghans claiming to speak it, but only 75% of rural Afghans claiming the same.
References
- ^ "Article Sixteen of the 2004 Constitution of Afghanistan". 2004. Retrieved June 13, 2012.
From among the languages of Pashto, Dari, Uzbek, Turkmen, Baluchi, Pashai, Nuristani, Pamiri (alsana), Arab and other languages spoken in the country, Pashto and Dari are the official languages of the state.
- "Documentation for ISO 639 identifier: prs". Sil.org. 18 January 2010. Retrieved December 5, 2014.
- "The World Factbook: Afghanistan". Cia.gov. Retrieved December 5, 2014.
- Harald Haarmann: Sprachen-Almanach – Zahlen und Fakten zu allen Sprachen der Welt. Campus-Verl., Frankfurt/Main 2002, ISBN 3-593-36572-3, S.273–274; Afghanistan
- "AFGHANISTAN v. Languages". Ch. M. Kieffer. Encyclopædia Iranica. Retrieved 2012-04-08.
A. Official languages. Paṧhtō (1) is the native tongue of 50 to 55 percent of Afghans... Persian (2) is the less spoken in Afghanistan. The native tongue of twenty four percent of the population, it is split into numerous dialects.
- ^ R. Farhadi and J. R. Perry, Kaboli, Encyclopaedia Iranica, Online Edition, originally in Vol. XV, Fasc. 3, pp. 276–280, 2009.
- "South Asia ::AFGHANISTAN". CIA The World Factbook.
- "Languages of Afghanistan". Encyclopaedia Britannica.
- "Ethnic groups". BBC News. Retrieved 7 June 2013.
Pashtun: Estimated to be in excess of 45% of the population, the Pashtuns have been the most dominant ethnic group in Afghanistan.
- O'toole, Pam (October 6, 2004). "Afghan poll's ethnic battleground". BBC News. Retrieved 2010-09-16.
- "Afghanistan in 2006 - A survey of the Afghan people" (PDF). Kabul, Afghanistan: The Asia Foundation. 2006. Retrieved 2010-10-29.
Uruzgan, representing 1.1 percent of the population of Afghanistan, and Zabul, representing 1.2 percent, were excluded from the sampling plan due to extreme security conditions during the fieldwork period of the survey.
- "Afghanistan in 2013 - A survey of the Afghan people" (PDF). Kabul, Afghanistan: The Asia Foundation. 2012. Retrieved 2014-03-12.
Further reading
External links
| Languages of Afghanistan | ||
|---|---|---|
| Official languages | ||
| Regional languages | ||
| Minority languages | ||
| Sign languages | ||
