Languages of Afghanistan: Difference between revisions
Fixed language distribution information (someone keeps switching Dari and Pashto). |
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Exact figures about the size and composition of the various ethnic groups are not available as no systematic census has been held in [[Afghanistan]] in decades.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/3717092.stm BBC News – Afghan poll's ethnic battleground – 2004-10-06].</ref> An approximate distribution of languages based on the CIA World Factbook is as following:<ref name="CIA-lang"/> |
Exact figures about the size and composition of the various ethnic groups are not available as no systematic census has been held in [[Afghanistan]] in decades.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/3717092.stm BBC News – Afghan poll's ethnic battleground – 2004-10-06].</ref> An approximate distribution of languages based on the CIA World Factbook is as following:<ref name="CIA-lang"/> |
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* [[Persian language]]: (or Dari, the official government language)50% |
* [[Persian language]]: (or Dari, the official government language) 50% |
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* [[Pashto language]]: 35% |
* [[Pashto language]]: 35% |
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* [[Turkic languages]] (primarily Uzbek and Turkmen): 11% |
* [[Turkic languages]] (primarily Uzbek and Turkmen): 11% |
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Revision as of 03:17, 2 December 2010
Among the languages of Afghanistan the most common are Afghan Persian (officially known as Dari) and Pashto, both are Indo-European languages from the Arianian languages sub-family, and the official languages of the country. according to the 1946 official constitution the Afghan(Pashto) Language is described as a native and National language of Afghanistan. [1][2] Other languages, such as Uzbek, Turkmen, Pashayi, are spoken by minorities across the country, and have official status in the regions where they are the language of the majority.
Minor languages include Nuristani (Ashkunu, Kamkata-viri, Vasi-vari, Tregami and Kalasha-ala), Pamiri (Shughni, Munji, Ishkashimi and Wakhi), Brahui, Hindko, Kyrgyz, etc.
Exact figures about the size and composition of the various ethnic groups are not available as no systematic census has been held in Afghanistan in decades.[3] An approximate distribution of languages based on the CIA World Factbook is as following:[1]
- Persian language: (or Dari, the official government language) 50%
- Pashto language: 35%
- Turkic languages (primarily Uzbek and Turkmen): 11%
- 30 minor languages (primarily Balochi and Pashayi): 4%
- much bilingualism
Other sources, such as Ethnologue,[4] give slightly differing numbers.
According to older numbers in the Encyclopædia Iranica,[5] the Persian language is the most widely used language of the country, spoken by most of the population, while Pashto is spoken and understood by around 60% of the population. According to "A survey of the Afghan people – Afghanistan in 2006",[6] Persian is the first language of 49% of the population, while additional 37% speak the language as a second language (combined 86%). Pashto is the first language of 40% of the population, while additional 27% know the language (combined 67%). Uzbek is spoken or understood by 6% of the population, Turkmen by 3%. In the survey "Afghanistan: Where Things Stand" (average numbers from 2005 to 2009), 69% of the interviewed people preferred Persian, while 31% preferred Pashto. Additionally, 45% of the polled people said that they can read Persian, while 36% said that they can read Pashto.[7]
Persian has been the principal language of culture, government and of business. Both Pashtu and Persian are written primarily with the Arabic alphabet, however, there are some modifications. Bilingualism is common.
See also
References
- ^ a b "Languages of Afghanistan". Central Intelligence Agency. The World Factbook. Retrieved 2010-09-16.
- ^ "The Afghans, Their History and Culture - Language and Literacy". Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL). June 30, 2002. Retrieved 2010-09-16.
- ^ BBC News – Afghan poll's ethnic battleground – 2004-10-06.
- ^ "Languages of Afghanistan". Ethnologue: Languages of the World. June 30, 2002.
{{cite web}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help); Missing or empty|url=(help); Unknown parameter|http://www.ethnologue.com/14/show_country.asp?name=ignored (help) - ^ Iranica.com, "Afghānistān: (v.) languages by L. Dupree, Encyclopædia Iranica Online Edition 2006.
- ^ "A survey of the Afghan people – Afghanistan in 2006", The Asia Foundation, technical assistance by the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS; India) and Afghan Center for Socio-economic and Opinion Research (ACSOR), Kabul, 2006, PDF.
- ^ ABC NEWS/BBC/ARD poll – Afghanistan: Where Things Stand, February 9, 2009, pp. 38–40.
