Page Type: languageTorwali | Ethnologue

TRW ISO 639-3

Torwali

توروالی‎ (Torwali) Autonym

A language of Pakistan

ISO 639
trw
Alternate Names
Kohistani, Torwalak, Torwalik, Turvali
Autonym
توروالی‎ (Torwali)
Population
114,000 (2018). Ethnic population: 120,000 (2021 FLI). , with an additional 10,000 more living and working abroad.
Location:
Khyber Pakhtunkwa province: Swat district; upper Swat district, both sides of Swat river, north of Madyan up to Asret (Bahrain dialect); 2 villages in Chail valley (Chail dialect).
Language Status
6b (Threatened).
Classification
Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Outer Languages, Northwestern, Dardic, Kohistani
Dialects
Bahrain, Chail. Lexical similarity: 44% with Kalkoti [xka] and Gawri [gwc], 89% with Bahrain and Chail dialects.
Language Use
Nearly half the speakers have migrated to the largest urban areas of Pakistan, where their language is being replaced by Urdu [urd] or Pashto [pbu] (2020 Z. Torwali). Home, community. Some of all ages. Positive attitudes. Most also use Northern Pashto [pbu]. Most also use Urdu [urd]. Used as L2 by Badeshi [bdz], Ushojo [ush].
Language Development
Curriculum was developed for a 2-year multilingual education program that bridges children from Torwali to Urdu [urd]. Taught in primary schools, but only to a limited extent. Literature. Dictionary. Agency: Idara Baraye Taleem-o-Taraqi (Institute for Education and Development) (IBT).
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Torwali
Writing
Arabic script, Naskh variant [Arab]. Arabic script, Nastaliq variant [Aran], primary usage.
Other Comments
Muslim.

Also Spoken in

Map

Location: Khyber Pakhtunkwa province: Swat district; upper Swat district, both sides of Swat river, north of Madyan up to Asret (Bahrain dialect); 2 villages in Chail valley (Chail dialect).