Aer

A language of Pakistan

ISO 639: aeq
Population: 100 (1998). Women monolingual. Ethnic population: 330 Aer in Deh area.
Location:: Sindh province: Jikrio Goth near Kunri; Deh area, Hyderabad, Jamesabad.
Language Status: 6b (Threatened).
Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Western, Gujarati
Dialects: Jikrio Goth Aer, Jamesabad Aer. Lexical similarity: 78% with Katai Meghwar and Kachi Bhil—both dialects of Kachi Koli [gjk], 75%–77% with the Rabari dialect of Kachi Koli [gjk], 76% with Kachi Koli [gjk].
Language Use: Some young people, all adults. Also use Gujarati [guj]. Also use Saraiki [skr]. Also use Sindhi [snd], especially adult men for common topics. 100% of boys and 25% of girls attend Sindhi medium schools. Also use Western Punjabi [pnb], especially adult men of Jikrio Goth, but only for common topics.
Language Development: Literacy rate in L2: 15% in Sindhi [snd].
Language Resources: OLAC resources in and about Aer
Writing: Unwritten [Qaax].
Other Comments: Unusual interrogative word suggests possible historical connection with Western Rajasthani group. Speakers in Pakistan running out of marriage possibilities and may have to move to India. The Indian group is most influential. Other Aer people in Nawabshah, Sindh reportedly speak a different language, dress differently, and do not intermarry with this group. Hindu.

Location: Sindh province: Jikrio Goth near Kunri; Deh area, Hyderabad, Jamesabad.