Page Type: languageShina | Ethnologue

SCL ISO 639-3

Shina

شینا‎ (Shina) Autonym

A language of Pakistan

ISO 639
scl
Alternate Names
Brokpa, Shinaki, Sina
Autonym
شینا‎ (Shina)
Population
688,000 in Pakistan (2018), increasing. Total users in all countries: 720,200.
Location:
Azad Kashmir province: east Neelum district; Gilgit Baltistan province: Baltistan, Diamer, and Gilgit districts, Chilas area, Darel, Gilgit, Haramosh, lower Hunza Valley, Punial, and Tangir valleys, Astor, Kharmang, Kachura, Satpara, and other small valleys, scattered villages in Ishkoman and Yasin valleys; Khyber Pakhtunkwa province: east Kohistan district, Harban and Sazin.
Language Status
6a (Vigorous).
Classification
Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Outer Languages, Northwestern, Dardic, Shina
Dialects
Gilgiti (Bagrote, Bunji, Gilgit, Haramosh, Hunza-Nagar, Punial, Rondu), Astori (Astor, Dras, Gurezi, Kharmangi, Satpara), Chilasi Kohistani (Chilas, Darel, Harban, Sazin, Tangir). Gilgit functions as the language standard. Shina is the primary language in Gilgit and Diamer districts. Lexical similarity: 79%–99% within Gilgiti (Northern) dialect subgroup, 81%–96% with Astori (Eastern) subgroup, 84%–98% with Chilas (Diamer) subgroup.
Language Use
Vigorous. All domains. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Also use Urdu [urd]. Used as L2 by Balti [bft], Domaaki [dmk], Khowar [khw].
Language Development
Literature. Grammar. Bible portions: 1929.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Shina
Writing
Arabic script, Naskh variant [Arab]. Arabic script, Nastaliq variant [Aran], primary usage.
Other Comments
Muslim.

Also Spoken in

Language Name
Shina
User Population
32,200 in India (2011 census).
Location
Jammu and Kashmir state: Bandipore and Kargil districts, Dras and Kishenganga valleys, Gurais area.
Dialects
Drasi, Gurezi.
Language Status
6a (Vigorous)
Other Comments
Open to education and jobs outside the area. Distinct from Brokskat [bkk], but Brokskat is also used semiofficially to refer to a highly divergent variety of Shina spoken by Buddhists. Buddhist, Muslim, traditional religion.
View other languages of India

Map

Location: Azad Kashmir province: east Neelum district; Gilgit Baltistan province: Baltistan, Diamer, and Gilgit districts, Chilas area, Darel, Gilgit, Haramosh, lower Hunza Valley, Punial, and Tangir valleys, Astor, Kharmang, Kachura, Satpara, and other small valleys, scattered villages in Ishkoman and Yasin valleys; Khyber Pakhtunkwa province: east Kohistan district, Harban and Sazin.