Page Type: languageKati | Ethnologue

BSH ISO 639-3

Kati

A language of Afghanistan

ISO 639
bsh
Alternate Names
Bashgali, Kata viri, Kativiri, Kâtʹa-vari, Nuristani
Population
128,000 in Afghanistan (2017), increasing. Ethnic population: 128,000 (2017). Total users in all countries: 135,800.
Location:
Badakhshan, Kunar, and Nuristan provinces: smaller areas in Laghman and Panjsher provinces; Eastern Kativiri dialect: upper Bashgal valley (Barg-e-Matal); Mumviri dialect: Gabalgrom, Mangul, and Sasku villages in Bashgal valley; Western Kativiri dialect: Duab and Mondul districts, Ktivi (Kantiwo), Kulam, Paruk (Papruk), and Ramgal valleys.
Language Status
5 (Developing). Statutory language of provincial identity in Nuristan Province (2004, Constitution, Article 16(2)).
Classification
Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Nuristani
Dialects
Eastern Kativiri, Western Kativiri (Jadidi, Ramgulviri), Mumviri. Mumviri may be a separate language. Eastern and Western Kataviri are very similar dialects and almost completely mutually intelligible.
Typology
Agglutinative suffixes; CVC, CCVC, CV, CCCVC, CCVCC, CCCVCC.
Language Use
Outside of language area, shifting towards Dari [prs]. All domains. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Also use Dari [prs], especially in the west. Also use Southern Pashto [pbt], especially in the east.
Language Development
Literacy rate in L2: 1%–3%. The Afghanistan Ministry of Education plans to produce Eastern Kati language textbooks for first through twelfth grades; the first grade textbook is in progress (2010). TV. Dictionary. Grammar. Texts.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Kati
Writing
Arabic script, Naskh variant [Arab], limited usage, in development. Arabic script, Nastaliq variant [Aran], used in handwriting and for book titles.
Other Comments
Kati is different from Kamviri [xvi], but the two are significantly mutually intelligible and speakers may refer to them as the same language. Muslim.

Also Spoken in

Language Name
Kati
User Population
7,800 in Pakistan (2018).
Location
Khyber Pakhtunkwa province: Chitral district (eastern Kativiri dialect), Bumboret, Lutkuh, Rumbur, and Urtsun valleys.
Dialects
Eastern Kativiri (Shekhani), Western Kativiri, Mumviri.
Language Status
6a (Vigorous)
Other Comments
Eastern Kativiri dialect often called Shekhani in Pakistan, but different from Kamviri [xvi] dialect also called Shekhani in Southern Chitral.
View other languages of Pakistan

Map

Location: Badakhshan, Kunar, and Nuristan provinces: smaller areas in Laghman and Panjsher provinces; Eastern Kativiri dialect: upper Bashgal valley (Barg-e-Matal); Mumviri dialect: Gabalgrom, Mangul, and Sasku villages in Bashgal valley; Western Kativiri dialect: Duab and Mondul districts, Ktivi (Kantiwo), Kulam, Paruk (Papruk), and Ramgal valleys.