Kamkata-vari language

Kamkata-vari
Kati
Native to	Afghanistan
Region	Nuristan, Kunar
Native speakers	(39,000 cited 1994–2011)
Language family	Indo-European Indo-Iranian Nuristani Kamkata-vari
Dialects	Kata-vari Kamviri Mumviri
Language codes
ISO 639-3	Either: bsh – Kati xvi – Kamviri
Glottolog	kati1241
ELP	Kati
Linguasphere	58-ACB-a

Kamkata-vari, the largest Nuristani language, contains the main dialects Kata-vari, Kamviri and Mumviri. Kata-vari and Kamviri are sometimes erroneously reckoned as two separate languages, but according to linguist Richard Strand they form one language.

The Kamkata-vari language is spoken by the Kata, Kom, Mumo, Ksto and some smaller Black-Robed tribes in parts of Afghanistan and Pakistan. There are dialectal differences of the Kamkata-vari speakers of Pakistan. Most used alternative names are Kati or Bashgali.

Kamkata-vari is spoken by 40,000-60,000 Kata, Kom, and other minor tribal peoples.

It belongs to the Indo-European language family, and is on the Nuristani group of the Indo-Iranian branch.

Literacy rates are low: below 1% for people who have it as a first language, and between 15% to 25% for people who have it as a second language. The Katavari dialect can be heard on radio in Afghanistan.

There are four main dialects: Eastern Kata-vari, Western Kata-vari, Kamviri and Mumviri, the last two are sometimes erroneously defined as separate languages.

References

• Strand, Richard F. (2010). "Nurestâni Languages". Encyclopaedia Iranica, Online Edition. Retrieved 2012-01-16.

External links

• Strand, Richard F. (1997). "Nuristan: Hidden Land of the Hindu-Kush". Retrieved 2012-01-16.
• Strand, Richard F. (1997). "The kâtʹa, kʹom, mumʹo, kṣtʹo, biniʹo, ǰâmčʹo, and ǰâšʹa". Retrieved 2012-01-16.
• Strand, Richard F. (1999). "Kâmvʹiri Lexicon". Retrieved 2012-01-16.
• Strand, Richard F. (1997). "The Sound System of Kâmvʹiri". Retrieved 2012-01-16.
• Strand, Richard F. (2011). "Kâtʹa-vari Lexicon". Retrieved 2012-01-16.
• Strand, Richard F. (2011). "The Sound System of Kt'ivřâ·i vari". Retrieved 2012-01-16.