Page Type: languageKashmiri | Ethnologue

KAS ISO 639-3

Kashmiri

کٲشُر‎ (Koshur), कॉशुर‎ (Koshur) Autonym

A language of India

ISO 639
kas
Alternate Names
Cashmeeree, Cashmiri, Kacmiri, Kaschemiri, Keshur, Koshur
Autonym
کٲشُر‎ (Koshur), कॉशुर‎ (Koshur)
Population
6,770,000 in India (2011 census). 6,610,000 Kashmiri, 39,700 Kishtwari, and 125,000 Siraji (2011 census). Total users in all countries: 7,132,780.
Location:
Himachal Pradesh state: Chamba and Lahul Spiti districts in Kashmir valley; Jammu and Kashmir state: Anantag, Badgam, Bandipore, eastern Baramula and Kupwara, Doda, Ganderbal, Kargil, Kishtwar, Kulgam, west Leh, Ramban, and Shupian districts.
Language Status
4 (Educational). Statutory language of provincial identity in Jammu and Kashmir (1950, Constitution, Articles 345–347).
Classification
Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Outer Languages, Northwestern, Dardic, Kashmiri
Dialects
Bakawali, Bunjwali, Standard Kashmiri, Kishtwari (Kashtawari, Kashtwari, Kathiawari, Kistwali), Miraski, Rambani, Riasi, Shah-Mansuri, Siraji of Doda, Siraji-Kashmiri, Zayoli, Zirak-Boli, Poguli (Pogali, Pogli). Transitional dialects to Punjabi [pan]. Kashtawari dialect is standard, other dialects are influenced by Dogri [dgo].
Typology
SVO; gender (masculine/feminine); case-marking (5 cases); verb affixes mark person, number, object; ergativity; tense and aspect; 23 consonant and 8 vowel phonemes.
Language Use
Most also use Urdu [urd] (Koul and Schmidt 1983). Some also use English [eng]. Also use Hindi [hin]. Used as L2 by Bhadrawahi [bhd], Changthang [cna], Gujari [gju], Khah [hkh], Uyghur [uig].
Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: 88% male; 12% female over 35 years of age (Koul and Schmidt 1983). Literacy rate in L2: 55% for Jammu and Kashmir (2001 census). 83% would prefer use of Kashmiri rather than Urdu as medium in primary school, 48% in middle school (Koul and Schmidt 1983). Literature. Newspapers. Radio. Videos. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible: 1899–2005.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Kashmiri
Writing
Arabic script, Naskh variant [Arab]. Arabic script, Nastaliq variant [Aran], primary usage. Devanagari script [Deva]. Latin script [Latn]. Sharada script [Shrd], no longer in use.
Other Comments
Muslim, Hindu, Sikh.

Also Spoken in

Language Name
Kashmiri
User Population
361,000 in Pakistan (2017 census).
Location
Azad Kashmir province: south of Shina.
Language Status
5 (Dispersed)
View other languages of Pakistan

Map

Location: Himachal Pradesh state: Chamba and Lahul Spiti districts in Kashmir valley; Jammu and Kashmir state: Anantag, Badgam, Bandipore, eastern Baramula and Kupwara, Doda, Ganderbal, Kargil, Kishtwar, Kulgam, west Leh, Ramban, and Shupian districts.