Pashai, Northeast

A language of Afghanistan

ISO 639: aee
Alternate Names: Northeast Pashayi, Pashai
Population: 54,400 (2000).
Location:: Kunar province: west of Asadabad, Konar and Pech rivers’ valleys; Nangarhar province: Dara-I-Nur and Kuz Konar districts.
Language Status: 6a (Vigorous). Statutory language of national identity (2004, Constitution, Article 16(2)).
Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Outer Languages, Northwestern, Dardic, Pashai
Dialects: Aret, Chalas (Chilas), Kandak, Kurangal, Kurdar. Unintelligible of other Pashai speakers. Lexical similarity: approximately 30% with Southeast Pashai [psi] and Southwest Pashai [psh].
Typology: SOV.
Language Use: Vigorous. Used by all. Many also use Northern Pashto [pbu].
Language Development: Literacy rate in L2: 5%–15%.
Language Resources: OLAC resources in and about Pashai, Northeast
Writing: Unwritten [Qaax].
Other Comments: Kandak, Shemul, Aret, Shumasht, and Kordar villages belong to the Chugani people; Chalas and Kurangal are separate. Muslim.

Location: Kunar province: west of Asadabad, Konar and Pech rivers’ valleys; Nangarhar province: Dara-I-Nur and Kuz Konar districts.