The
Pahari languages, also known as
Northern Zone languages, are a group of related
Indo-Aryan languagesThe Indo-Aryan languages are a branch of the Indo-European language family.SIL International in a 2005 estimate counted a total of 209 varieties, the largest in terms of native speakers being Hindustani , Bengali , Punjabi , Marathi ,...
or dialects spoken in the lower ranges of the
HimalayasThe Himalaya Range or Himalayas for short , meaning "abode of snow", is a mountain range in Asia, separating the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau...
from
NepalNepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked country in South Asia and the world's youngest republic. It is bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
in the east to the
IndiaIndia, officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the south, the Arabian Sea on the west, and the Bay of Bengal...
n state of
Himachal PradeshHimachal Pradesh is a state in north India.It is spread over 21,629 sq mi , and is bordered by the Indian states of Jammu and Kashmir on north, Punjab on west and south-west, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh on south, Uttarakhand on south-east and by Tibet, China on the east...
in the west. These languages fall into three groups: an eastern, consisting of the various dialects of
NepaliNepali is a language in the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European language family.It is official language and de facto lingua franca of Nepal and is also spoken in Bhutan, parts of India and parts of Myanmar...
, also known as Gorkhali, Gurkhali, Khaskura, or Parbatiya; a central, spoken in
UttarakhandUttarakhand , is a state located in the northern part of India. It was carved out of Himalayan and adjoining districts of Uttar Pradesh on 9 November 2000, becoming the 27th state of the Republic of India...
state, in
KumaonFor Kumaoni/Kumauni People see Kumauni PeopleKumaon kumaun is one of the two regions and administrative divisions of Uttarakhand, a mountainous state of northern India, the other being Garhwal. It includes the districts of Almora, Bageshwar, Champawat, Nainital, Pithoragarh, and Udham Singh Nagar...
and
GarhwalGarhwal or Gurwal is a region and administrative division of Uttarakhand state, India, lying in the Himalayas. It is bounded on the north by Tibet, on the east by Kumaon region, on the south by Uttar Pradesh state, and on the west by Himachal Pradesh state. It includes the districts of Chamoli,...
; and a western, spoken in Himachal Pradesh. In Nepal, Nepali is the native language mainly of the Indo-Aryan population of the "hills" north of the
Mahabharat LekhThe Mahabharat Lekh or Range is a major east-west mountain range with elevations 1,500 to 2,700 meters along the crest, paralleling the much higher Great Himalaya range from the Indus River in Pakistan across northern India, Nepal, Sikkim and Bhutan but then the two ranges become increasingly...
up to the limits of rice cultivation at about 2,500 meters. The mother tongues of most "hill tribes" of higher elevations are
Tibeto-BurmanThe Tibeto-Burman family of languages is spoken in various central, east, south and southeast Asian countries, including Burma , Tibet, northern Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, parts of central China , northern parts of Nepal, eastern parts of Bangladesh , Bhutan, northern parts of...
. Nepali is mainly differentiated from Central Pahari through its being affected, both in grammar and vocabulary, by Tibeto-Burman idioms. The speakers of Central and Western Pahari have not been brought into close association with Tibeto-Burmans, and their language is therefore purely Indo-Aryan.
Even the Bihari people have adapted this style and also use a wide range of terms from this language. It is sometimes known as Hindi code language and is known to few around bharat (aka : india)
Khaskura, as its speakers themselves call it, passes under various names. English speakers generally call it Nepali or Nepalese (i.e. the language of Nepal). Khaskura is also called Gorkhali or Gurkhali, the language of the Gurkhas, and Parbatiya, the language of the mountains. Palpa, closely related to Khaskura, is deemed by some authorities to be a separate language.
The term Khaskura -- "Khas talk" -- originated in western Nepal where it referred to the tongue of "Khas" Indo-Aryan rice growers mainly living along streams that enabled irrigation.
In the highlands where rice couldn't dominate agricultural production, and particularly the knot of highlands separating the Karnali-Bheri basin from the Gandaki basin, a complex of Tibeto-Burman dialects called Khamkura -- Kham talk -- prevailed and persists today among the Kham Magar ethnic group. So the term Khaskura seems to have originated in a Khaskura/Khamkura duality.
Perhaps five hundred years ago, Khas pioneers migrated eastward. They detoured around Kham uplands where rice could hardly be grown to settle in the lowlands of the Gandaki basin. One particular Khas family settled in the small Gorkha principality and ruled it for generations. This family was destined to become the Shah family that unified Nepal as we know it today, thus Khaskura came to be called Gorkhali.
Prithvi Narayan Shah was this family's scion who answered destiny's call in the late 18th century and set out to acquire a larger domain. He conquered the urbanized Kathmandu Valley -- then called Nepal -- just east of the Gandaki basin. Nepal became Prithvi Narayan's new capital while he and his heirs went on to conquer small principalities for hundreds of miles along the Himalayas. Nepal gradually came to refer to the Shahs' entire realm, not just the Kathmandu Valley. Khaskura/Gorkhali became the new country's lingua franca, thus it came to be called Nepali as well.
Although the language of the Khasas has disappeared, the tribe is still numerically the most important Aryan one in this part of the Himalaya, and it hence gave its name to its newly adopted speech, which is at the present day locally known as "Khas-kura." In the manner described above the Aryan language of the whole Pahari area is now a form of Rajasthani, exhibiting at the same time traces of the old Khasa / Khas language which it superseded, and also in Nepal of the Tibeto-Burman forms of speech by which it is surrounded. (For information regarding
RajasthaniRajasthani is a language or language cluster of the Indo-Aryan languages family. It is spoken by 36 million people in Rajasthan and other states of India and in some adjacent areas of Pakistan. The number of speakers may be up to 80 million worldwide...
the reader is referred to the articles Indo-Aryan Languages;
PrakritPrakrit is the name for a group of Middle Indic, Indo-Aryan languages, derived from Classical Sanskrit and other Old Indic dialects. The word itself has a flexible definition, being defined sometimes as, "original, natural, artless, normal, ordinary, usual", or "vernacular", in contrast to the...
; and
GujaratiGujarati is an Indo-Aryan language, and part of the greater Indo-European language family...
.) Khas-kura shows most traces of Tibeto-Burman influence. The gender of nouns is purely sexual, and, although there is an oblique case derived from Rajasthani, it is so often confounded with the nominative, that in the singular number either can be employed for the other. Both these are due to Tibeto-Burman influence, but the non-Aryan idiom is most prominent in the use of the verb. There is an indefinite tense referring to present, past or future time according to the context, formed by suffixing the verb substantive to the root of the main verb, exactly as in some of the neighbouring Tibeto-Burman languages. There is a complete impersonal honorific conjugation which reminds one strongly of Tibetan, and, in colloquial speech, as in that tongue, the subject of any tense of a transitive verb, not only of a tense derived from the past participle, is put into the agent case.
Language Comparison
| |
Khas-kura |
Kumauni |
Kashmiri |
| |
Masc |
Fem |
Masc |
Fem |
Masc |
Fem |
| I am |
chu |
chu |
chic |
chu |
thus |
ches |
| You are |
chas |
ches |
chai |
chi |
chukh |
chekh |
| He is |
cha |
the |
ch |
chi |
chuh |
cheh |
In Eastern and Central Pahari the verb substantive is formed from the root
ach, as in both Rajasthani and Kashmiri. In Rajasthani its present tense, being derived from the Sanskrit present
rcchami, I go, does not change for gender. But in Pahari and Kashmiri it must be derived from the rare Sanskrit particle
*rcchitas, gone, for in these languages it is a participial tense and does change according to the gender of the subject. Thus, in the singular we have: - Here we have a relic of the old Khasa language, which, as has been said, seems to have been related to Kashmiri. Other relics of Khasa, again agreeing with north-western India, are the tendency to shorten long vowels, the practice of
epenthesis, or the modification of a vowel by the one which follows in the next syllable, and the frequent occurrence of disaspiration. Thus, Khas
siknu, Kumauni
sikno, but Hindi
sikhna, to learn; Kumauni
yeso, plural
yasa, of this kind.
Regarding Western Pahari materials are not so complete. The speakers are not brought into contact with Tibeto-Burman languages, and hence we find no trace of these. But the signs of the influence of north-western languages are, as might be expected, still more apparent than farther east. In some dialects epenthesis is in full swing, as in (Churahi)
khata, eating, fern.
khaiti. Very interesting is the mixed origin of the postpositions defining the various cases. Thus, while that of the genitive is generally the Rajasthani ro, that of the dative continually points to the west. Sometimes it is the
SindhiSindhi is the language of the Sindh region of Pakistan. It is spoken by 24,410,910 people in Pakistan, and is also spoken in India by 2,535,485 speakers. It is the third most spoken language of Pakistan, and the official language of Sindh in Pakistan. It is also an official language of India...
khë. At other times it is
jo, where is here a locative of the base of the Sindhi genitive postposition
jo. In all Indo-Aryan languages, the dative postposition is by origin the locative of some genitive one. In vocabulary, Western Pahari often employs, for the more common ideas, words which can most readily be connected with the north-western and Piedca groups. (See Indo-Aryan Languages.)
There are also speakers of various Pahari dialects living in the mountainous north of Pakistan, between
KashmirKashmir is the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent...
and
AfghanistanThe Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is a landlocked country in south central Asia. It is variously described as being located within Central Asia, South Asia, or the Middle East...
- although these dialects are increasingly coming under the influence of the national language Urdu and also Punjabi.
Khas-Kura, as its speakers themselves call it, passes under various names. The English generally call it Nepali or Naipali, which is a misnomer, for it is not the principal form of speech used in that country. Moreover, the Nepalese employ a corruption of this very word to indicate what is really the main language of the country, viz. the TibetoBurman Newari. Khas-kura is also called Gorkhali, or the language of the Gurkhas, and Pahari or Parbatiya or Parbate, the language of the mountains. The number of speakers in British India 143,721 were recorded in the census of 1901, most of whom were soldiers in, or others connected with, the British Gurkha regiments.At present Khas kura or Nepali is the lingua franca of Nepal spoken by millions.
Central Pahari includes three dialects - Garhwali, spoken mainly in Garhwal and the country round the hill station of Mussoorie; Jaunsari, spoken in the Jaunsar tract of Dehra Dun; and Kumaoni, spoken in Kumaun, including the country round the hill station of Naini Tal. In 1901 the number of speakers was 1,270,931.
Western Pahari includes a great number of dialects. In the SimlaShimla , originally called Simla, is the capital city of Himachal Pradesh. In 1864, Shimla was declared the summer capital of the British Raj in India. A popular tourist destination, Shimla is often referred to as the "Queen of Hills"...
Hill states alone no less than twenty-two, of which the most important are Sirmauri and Keonthali (the dialect of Simla itself), were recorded at the last census. To these may be added Chambiali and Churahi of the state of Chamba, Mandeali of the state of Mandli, Himachali of Chamba and Kangra, Kuluhi of Kulu and others. In 1901 the total number of speakers was 1,710,029. |
With increased communication and education these dialects are coming under greater influence from the national languages, but these communities have never been totally isolated and the dialects in the east have had other influences, such as
TibetanThe Tibetan languages are a cluster of mutually unintelligible Tibeto-Burman languages spoken primarily by Tibetan peoples who live across a wide area of eastern Central Asia bordering South Asia, including the Tibetan Plateau and the northern Indian subcontinent in Baltistan, Ladakh, Nepal,...
, which is not an
Indo-European languageThe Indo-European languages are a family of several hundred related languages and dialects, including most major languages of Europe, Iran, and northern India, and historically also predominant in Anatolia and Central Asia...
.
The Himalayan mountain runs from Pakistan in the west, across northern India and into Nepal. Pahari dialects are found in the Indian states of
Himachal PradeshHimachal Pradesh is a state in north India.It is spread over 21,629 sq mi , and is bordered by the Indian states of Jammu and Kashmir on north, Punjab on west and south-west, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh on south, Uttarakhand on south-east and by Tibet, China on the east...
and
UttarakhandUttarakhand , is a state located in the northern part of India. It was carved out of Himalayan and adjoining districts of Uttar Pradesh on 9 November 2000, becoming the 27th state of the Republic of India...
whilst in Pakistan there are dialects spoken in the eastern part of North West Frontier Province (such as the district of
AbbottabadAbbottabad is a city located in the North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan and is the third-largest city in the province after Peshawar and Mardan. The city is situated in the Orash Valley, 150 km north of Islamabad and 200 km east of Peshawar at an altitude of...
), and also in the Northern Part of
PakistanPakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country located at the crossroads of South Asia, the Middle East, and Central Asia...
i
PunjabThe Punjab province of Pakistan. It is the country's most populous region with about 45% of Pakistan's total population. The Punjab is home to the Punjabis and various other groups...
- as well as across
Azad KashmirAzad Jammu and Kashmir or, for short, Azad Kashmir is the southernmost political entity within the Pakistani-controlled part of the former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir...
. Western Pahari (Himachali) dialects include:
PothohariPotwari or Pothohari can refer to:*An inhabitant of Potwar , a plateau in northern Pakistan*The Potwari language , a Western Pahari language spoken in Potwar and neighboring areasCategory: Ethnic groups in Pakistan...
/Potwari,
MirpuriMirpuri can refer to* a person or people from the district of Mirpur in Azad Kashmir, which lies at the foothills of the Himalayas minor.* a term that was coined in the UK to refer to people hailing from the district of Mirpur...
,
KangriKangri can mean:*Kangri language, a dialect spoken in northern India, predominantly in the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh, by the people of Kangra valley...
,
KulluKullu, once known as Kulanthpitha - "the end of the habitable world", is the capital town of the Kullu District, in the state of Himachal Pradesh, India...
,
MandealiThe Mandeali is a dialect spoken in northern India, predominantly in the Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh, by the people of Mandi fart. It is an Indo-Aryan dialect and classified as one of the Pahari languages.- General :* Mandeali is a pahari language....
, etc. The Central Pahari dialects spoken in
UttarakhandUttarakhand , is a state located in the northern part of India. It was carved out of Himalayan and adjoining districts of Uttar Pradesh on 9 November 2000, becoming the 27th state of the Republic of India...
include
GarhwaliThe Garhwali are a people of the hilly Garhwal Division of Uttarakhand, India. The Garhwali language belongs to the Pahari subgroup of Indo-Aryan....
,
KumaoniFor the people of Kumaon see Kumauni PeopleThe Kumaoni are a people of the Kumaon Division of Uttarakhand, a region in the Indian Himalayas...
and others. Garhwali itself has many subdialects spoken in different parts of the state, like Jaunsari, Jadhi, etc. In Uttarakhand the language is referred to colloquially as
mawri twaree (mine and yours).
The words Garhwali and Kumaoni are also used to refer to people speaking these dialects.
It is noteworthy that in India most people consider the Western Pahari dialect spoken in
Himachal PradeshHimachal Pradesh is a state in north India.It is spread over 21,629 sq mi , and is bordered by the Indian states of Jammu and Kashmir on north, Punjab on west and south-west, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh on south, Uttarakhand on south-east and by Tibet, China on the east...
to be same or just a variant of Punjabi, it is a similar case in Pakistan, the Pahari language there is sometimes calld
Dhanni or
Jhelumi and in some places it is called
Mirpuri but it bears similarity to Punjabi - and any native speaker of Punjabi can understand it.
List of languages
- Central Pahari
- Kumaoni or Kumauni, spoken in Kumaon
For Kumaoni/Kumauni People see Kumauni PeopleKumaon kumaun is one of the two regions and administrative divisions of Uttarakhand, a mountainous state of northern India, the other being Garhwal. It includes the districts of Almora, Bageshwar, Champawat, Nainital, Pithoragarh, and Udham Singh Nagar...
region
- Garhwali
The Garhwali are a people of the hilly Garhwal Division of Uttarakhand, India. The Garhwali language belongs to the Pahari subgroup of Indo-Aryan....
, spoken in GarhwalGarhwal or Gurwal is a region and administrative division of Uttarakhand state, India, lying in the Himalayas. It is bounded on the north by Tibet, on the east by Kumaon region, on the south by Uttar Pradesh state, and on the west by Himachal Pradesh state. It includes the districts of Chamoli,...
region
- Dotiyali
Farwestern region of Nepal is also known as Doti or Doti region. The name Dotigarh has been used in the Jagar . This region is situated between River Kali boarding to the Uttarakhand in the west and Karnali river on the east...
spoken in DotiFarwestern region of Nepal is also known as Doti or Doti region. The name Dotigarh has been used in the Jagar . This region is situated between River Kali boarding to the Uttarakhand in the west and Karnali river on the east...
region
- Eastern Pahari
- Nepali
Nepali is a language in the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European language family.It is official language and de facto lingua franca of Nepal and is also spoken in Bhutan, parts of India and parts of Myanmar...
- Palpa language
The Palpa language of Nepal together with the Nepali language according to the SIL Ethnologue forms the Eastern subgroup of the Pahari languages. There is also Kumauni influence, and Palpa has also been classified as either a Nepali or a Kumauni dialect....
- Western Pahari
- Mahasu Pahari
- Bhadrawahi
- Bhattiyali
- Chambeali
- Churahi
- Dogri
- Gaddi
- Hinduri
- Kashmiri
Kashmiri is a language from the Dardic sub-group of the Indo-Aryan group of languages and it is spoken primarily in the Kashmir Valley, in the Indian Administered part of Jammu and Kashmir. There are approximately 5,554,496 speakers in India, according to the Census of 2001...
- Jaunsari
- Bilaspuri
- Kullu Pahari
Kullu is a Western Pahari language spoken in Himachal Pradesh, also called Kului....
- Mandeali
The Mandeali is a dialect spoken in northern India, predominantly in the Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh, by the people of Mandi fart. It is an Indo-Aryan dialect and classified as one of the Pahari languages.- General :* Mandeali is a pahari language....
- Pangwali
- Poonchi, Punchi
- Potwari, spoken on the Pothohar Plateau
The Pothohar Plateau is a plateau in the province of Punjab, Pakistan. The area was the home of the Soanian Culture, which is evidenced by the discovery of fossils, tools, coins, and remains of ancient archaeological sites...
, PakistanPakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country located at the crossroads of South Asia, the Middle East, and Central Asia...
, MirpurMirpur is the largest city in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and the capital of Mirpur District. Mirpur is located at the extreme south of Azad Kashmir at an elevation of 459 metres...
- Sirmauri
- Kangri
Kangri can mean:*Kangri language, a dialect spoken in northern India, predominantly in the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh, by the people of Kangra valley...