Balti | Ethnologue

A language of Pakistan

ISO 639: bft
Alternate Names: Baltistani, Bhotia of Baltistan, Byltae, Sbalti
Autonym: بلتی‎ (Baltī)
Population: 425,000 in Pakistan (2018). Total users in all countries: 438,800.
Location:: Gilgit Baltistan province: Hunza-Nagar district; Baltistan region, Gultari, Khapalu, Kharmang, Rondu, Shigar, and Skardu valleys.
Language Status: 5* (Developing).
Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Western Tibeto-Burman, Bodish, Central Bodish, Western
Dialects: Chorbat is most divergent dialect. Lexical similarity: 87%–100% among dialects, 78%–85% with Purik [prx].
Language Use: Also use Shina [scl]. Also use Urdu [urd].
Language Development: Literacy rate in L2: 3%–5% in Urdu [urd]. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible portions: 1903–1940.
Language Resources: OLAC resources in and about Balti
Writing: Arabic script, Naskh variant [Arab], used since the 17th century. Arabic script, Nastaliq variant [Aran], used since the 17th century, primary usage. Balti script [Qaab], no longer in use. Tibetan script [Tibt], used between 8th and 17th century, recent efforts to revive usage.
Other Comments: Muslim.