Jump to content

Kashmiri language: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
No edit summary
Line 64: Line 64:


The 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica stated that "''The language spoken in Kashmir is akin to that of the Punjab, though marked by many peculiarities. It possesses an ancient literature, which is written in a special character.''"<ref>[http://encyclopedia.jrank.org/JUN_KHA/KASHMIR_or_CASHMERE.html Reference of inclusion here; not from this source though..]</ref>
The 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica stated that "''The language spoken in Kashmir is akin to that of the Punjab, though marked by many peculiarities. It possesses an ancient literature, which is written in a special character.''"<ref>[http://encyclopedia.jrank.org/JUN_KHA/KASHMIR_or_CASHMERE.html Reference of inclusion here; not from this source though..]</ref>
'''Note must be taken of the fact: The Kashmiri language is an Aryan language. By large close to Rig-vedic Sanskrit. There are however minor differences between the language spoken by Hindus and the Muslims. After the arrival of Islam it picked up some Arabic words which Muslims tend to use more often than Hindus. Example a Muslim refers to fire as Nar, while a traditional Hindu refers to it as Agun. the Muslim uses the word Safar for travel again a traditional Hindu uses the word Yatra. Some commonly used words in Kashmiri language; nov-new, nas-nose,and-end, lot-light, pod-footstep, nangu-naked, achh-eye, dand-tooth,domb-womb, zut-cut, shurt-short, etc. Thus very pure Aryan in origin

'''
==Writing system==
==Writing system==
There are three [[orthography|orthographical systems]] used to write the Kashmiri language—these are the Sharada script, the Devanagari script and the Perso-Arabic script; additionally, due to internet technology, the Roman script is sometimes used to write Kashmiri, especially online.<ref name="Mouton de Gruyter"/> The Kashmiri language was traditionally written in the [[Sharada script]] after the 8th Century A.D.<ref name="Sharada">{{cite web|url = http://www.ancientscripts.com/sarada.html|title = Sarada|publisher = Lawrence|accessdate = 2007-06-02}}</ref> This script however, is not in common use today, except for religious ceremonies of the [[Kashmiri Pandit]]s.<ref name="KOA-Sharada">{{cite web|url = http://www.koausa.org/Languages/Sharda.html|title = The Sharada Script: Origin and Development|publisher = Kashmiri Overseas Association|accessdate = 2009-07-07}}</ref> However, today, it is written in [[Devanagari script]] and [[Perso-Arabic script]] (with some modifications).<ref name="Omniglot-Kashmiri">{{cite web|url = http://www.omniglot.com/writing/kashmiri.htm|title=Kashmiri (कॉशुर / كٲشُر)|publisher = Omniglot|accessdate = 2009-07-07}}</ref> Among languages written in the Perso-Arabic script, Kashmiri is one of the [[Perso-Arabic script|very few]] which regularly indicates all vowel sounds.<ref>{{cite book | title=The World's Writing Systems | date=1996 | last=Daniels & Bright |pages=753–754 }}</ref> This script has been in vogue since the [[Muslim conquest in the Indian subcontinent|Muslim conquest in India]] and has been used by the people for centuries, in the Kashmir Valley.<ref name="Indian Express-Perso-Arabic">{{cite web|url = http://www.indianexpress.com/news/valley-divide-impacts-kashmiri-pandit-youth/472872/|title = Valley divide impacts Kashmiri, Pandit youth switch to Devnagari|publisher = Indian Express|accessdate = 2009-07-07}}</ref> However, today, the Kashmiri Perso-Arabic script has come to be associated with Kashmiri Muslims, while the Kashmiri Devanagari script, has come to be associated with the Kashmiri Hindu community, who employ the latter script.<ref name="Indian Express-Perso-Arabic"/><ref name="KOA-Devanagari">{{cite web|url = http://www.koausa.org/Languages/devan1.html|title = Devnagari Script for Kashmiri: A Study in its Necessity, Feasibility and Practicality|publisher = Kashmiri Overseas Association|accessdate = 2009-07-07}}</ref>
There are three [[orthography|orthographical systems]] used to write the Kashmiri language—these are the Sharada script, the Devanagari script and the Perso-Arabic script; additionally, due to internet technology, the Roman script is sometimes used to write Kashmiri, especially online.<ref name="Mouton de Gruyter"/> The Kashmiri language was traditionally written in the [[Sharada script]] after the 8th Century A.D.<ref name="Sharada">{{cite web|url = http://www.ancientscripts.com/sarada.html|title = Sarada|publisher = Lawrence|accessdate = 2007-06-02}}</ref> This script however, is not in common use today, except for religious ceremonies of the [[Kashmiri Pandit]]s.<ref name="KOA-Sharada">{{cite web|url = http://www.koausa.org/Languages/Sharda.html|title = The Sharada Script: Origin and Development|publisher = Kashmiri Overseas Association|accessdate = 2009-07-07}}</ref> However, today, it is written in [[Devanagari script]] and [[Perso-Arabic script]] (with some modifications).<ref name="Omniglot-Kashmiri">{{cite web|url = http://www.omniglot.com/writing/kashmiri.htm|title=Kashmiri (कॉशुर / كٲشُر)|publisher = Omniglot|accessdate = 2009-07-07}}</ref> Among languages written in the Perso-Arabic script, Kashmiri is one of the [[Perso-Arabic script|very few]] which regularly indicates all vowel sounds.<ref>{{cite book | title=The World's Writing Systems | date=1996 | last=Daniels & Bright |pages=753–754 }}</ref> This script has been in vogue since the [[Muslim conquest in the Indian subcontinent|Muslim conquest in India]] and has been used by the people for centuries, in the Kashmir Valley.<ref name="Indian Express-Perso-Arabic">{{cite web|url = http://www.indianexpress.com/news/valley-divide-impacts-kashmiri-pandit-youth/472872/|title = Valley divide impacts Kashmiri, Pandit youth switch to Devnagari|publisher = Indian Express|accessdate = 2009-07-07}}</ref> However, today, the Kashmiri Perso-Arabic script has come to be associated with Kashmiri Muslims, while the Kashmiri Devanagari script, has come to be associated with the Kashmiri Hindu community, who employ the latter script.<ref name="Indian Express-Perso-Arabic"/><ref name="KOA-Devanagari">{{cite web|url = http://www.koausa.org/Languages/devan1.html|title = Devnagari Script for Kashmiri: A Study in its Necessity, Feasibility and Practicality|publisher = Kashmiri Overseas Association|accessdate = 2009-07-07}}</ref>

Revision as of 23:15, 14 October 2010

Kashmiri
कॉशुर كأشُر kạ̄šur
Native toJammu and Kashmir (India)[1] Azad Kashmir (Pakistan)[1]
RegionNorthwestern region of the Indian subcontinent
Native speakers
4.6 million[1]
Perso-Arabic script (contemporary),[2]
Devanagari script (contemporary),[2]
Sharada script (ancient/liturgical)[2]
Official status
Official language in
 India[1]
Language codes
ISO 639-1ks
ISO 639-2kas
ISO 639-3kas

Kashmiri (कॉशुर, كأشُر Koshur) is a language from the Dardic sub-group[3] of the Indo-Aryan group of languages and it is spoken primarily in the Kashmir Valley, in Jammu and Kashmir.[4][5][6] There are approximately 5,554,496 speakers in Jammu and Kashmir, according to the Census of 2001.[7] Most of the 105,000 speakers or so in Pakistan are émigrés from the Kashmir Valley after the partition of India.[8] They include a few speakers residing in border villages in Neelum District.

The Kashmiri language is one of the 22 scheduled languages of India,[9] and is a part of the Sixth Schedule in the constitution of the Jammu and Kashmir. Along with other regional languages mentioned in the Sixth Schedule, as well as Hindi and Urdu, the Kashmiri language is to be developed in the state.[10] Some Kashmiri speakers frequently use Urdu or English as a second language.[1] Since November 2008, the Kashmiri language has been made a compulsory subject in all schools in the Valley up to the secondary level.[11]

Some common words

Kashmiri word English translation Comparative
Aa Yes Haan (Hindi,Urdu,Punjabi), Ah (Dogri), Ho (Pashto)
Sityə With Saath (Hindi/Urdu), Kanne(Dogri), Naal (Punjabi)
khộr baan Shoes Jootey (Hindi,Urdu), Chhittar/Juttiaan (Punjabi) , Nukke(Dogri)
Darwazə/Bạṝ Door Darwaza (Hindi/Urdu/Punjabi), Buha (Punjabi), Pit(Dogri)
Kya What Kya (Hindi/Urdu), Kee (Punjabi) , K(Dogri)
Kyặzə Why Kyon (Hindi/Urdu/Punjabi), Kī(Dogri), Kate/Kanu (Punjabi alternates)
Hyandwanḏ Watermelon Tarbooz (Hindi/Urdu), Hadwana (Punjabi/Persian) ,Adwana(Dogri), Mateera (Punjabi), Indwanna (Pashto)
Duniyā/samsaar World Duniya (Urdu/Punjabi/Dogri/Persian/Arabic), Sansaar (Hindi/Punjabi)


Literature

In 1919 George Abraham Grierson wrote that “Kashmiri is the only one of the Dardic languages that has a literature”. Kashmiri literature dates back to over 750 years, this is, more-or-less, the age of many a modern literature including modern English.

The 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica stated that "The language spoken in Kashmir is akin to that of the Punjab, though marked by many peculiarities. It possesses an ancient literature, which is written in a special character."[12] Note must be taken of the fact: The Kashmiri language is an Aryan language. By large close to Rig-vedic Sanskrit. There are however minor differences between the language spoken by Hindus and the Muslims. After the arrival of Islam it picked up some Arabic words which Muslims tend to use more often than Hindus. Example a Muslim refers to fire as Nar, while a traditional Hindu refers to it as Agun. the Muslim uses the word Safar for travel again a traditional Hindu uses the word Yatra. Some commonly used words in Kashmiri language; nov-new, nas-nose,and-end, lot-light, pod-footstep, nangu-naked, achh-eye, dand-tooth,domb-womb, zut-cut, shurt-short, etc. Thus very pure Aryan in origin

Writing system

There are three orthographical systems used to write the Kashmiri language—these are the Sharada script, the Devanagari script and the Perso-Arabic script; additionally, due to internet technology, the Roman script is sometimes used to write Kashmiri, especially online.[2] The Kashmiri language was traditionally written in the Sharada script after the 8th Century A.D.[13] This script however, is not in common use today, except for religious ceremonies of the Kashmiri Pandits.[14] However, today, it is written in Devanagari script and Perso-Arabic script (with some modifications).[15] Among languages written in the Perso-Arabic script, Kashmiri is one of the very few which regularly indicates all vowel sounds.[16] This script has been in vogue since the Muslim conquest in India and has been used by the people for centuries, in the Kashmir Valley.[17] However, today, the Kashmiri Perso-Arabic script has come to be associated with Kashmiri Muslims, while the Kashmiri Devanagari script, has come to be associated with the Kashmiri Hindu community, who employ the latter script.[17][18]

Grammar

Kashmiri, like German and Old English and unlike other Indo-Aryan languages, has V2 word order.[19]

There are four cases in Kashmiri: nominative, genitive, and two oblique cases: the ergative and the dative case[20].

Vocabulary

Kashmiri is rich in Persian words[21], much as is the case with Urdu. In reference[6], Shashishekhar Toshkhani, a scholar on Kashmir's heritage[22], provides a detailed analysis where he shows extensive linguistic relationship between the Sanskrit language and the Kashmiri language, and presents detailed arguments contesting George Grierson's classification of the Kashmiri language as a member of the Dardic sub-group (of the Indo-Aryan group of languages).

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Kashmiri: A language of India". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2007-06-02. Cite error: The named reference "Ethnologue" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b c d "Sociolinguistics". Mouton de Gruyter. Retrieved 2009-08-30.
  3. ^ "Kashmiri language". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 2007-06-02.
  4. ^ name="Koshur">"Koshur: An Introduction to Spoken Kashmiri". Kashmir News Network: Language Section (koshur.org). Retrieved 2007-06-02.
  5. ^ "Kashmiri Literature". Kashmir Sabha, Kolkata. Retrieved 2007-06-02.
  6. ^ a b S. S. Toshkhani. "Kashmiri Language: Roots, Evolution and Affinity". Kashmiri Overseas Association, Inc. (KOA). Retrieved 2007-06-02.
  7. ^ Abstract of speakers’ strength of languages and mother tongues – 2001, Census of India (retrieved 17 March 2008)
  8. ^ "The Kashmir Dispute – a cause or a symptom?". Stockholm University. Retrieved 2009-07-07.
  9. ^ "Scheduled Languages of India". Central Institute of Indian Languages. Retrieved 2007-06-02.
  10. ^ "The Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir (India)" (PDF). General Administrative Department of the Government of Jammu & Kashmir (India). Retrieved 2007-06-02.
  11. ^ "Kashmiri made compulsory subject in schools". API News. Retrieved 2007-06-02. [dead link]
  12. ^ Reference of inclusion here; not from this source though..
  13. ^ "Sarada". Lawrence. Retrieved 2007-06-02.
  14. ^ "The Sharada Script: Origin and Development". Kashmiri Overseas Association. Retrieved 2009-07-07.
  15. ^ "Kashmiri (कॉशुर / كٲشُر)". Omniglot. Retrieved 2009-07-07.
  16. ^ Daniels & Bright (1996). The World's Writing Systems. pp. 753–754.
  17. ^ a b "Valley divide impacts Kashmiri, Pandit youth switch to Devnagari". Indian Express. Retrieved 2009-07-07.
  18. ^ "Devnagari Script for Kashmiri: A Study in its Necessity, Feasibility and Practicality". Kashmiri Overseas Association. Retrieved 2009-07-07.
  19. ^ "V-2 and the Verb Complex in Kashmiri". University of Michigan and Central Institute of Indian Languages. Retrieved 2008-06-04.
  20. ^ Edelman (1983). The Dardic and Nuristani Languages.
  21. ^ Krishna, Gopi (1967). Kundalini: The Evolutionary Energy in Man. Boston: Shambhala. p. 212. ISBN 978-1570622809. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  22. ^ "Dr. Shashishekhar Toshkhani: The Literary Works". Kashmir News Network. Retrieved 2009-08-21.
Kashmiri edition of Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kashmiri_language&oldid=390779161"