Aer

AEQ

threatened

Dialects: Jamesabad Aer, Jikrio Goth Aer. Lexical similarity: 78% with Katai Meghwar and Kachi Bhil—both dialects of Kachi Koli ,, 75%–77% with the Rabari dialect of Kachi Koli ,, 76% with Kachi Koli ,.

Genealogy:

Indo-European
Indo-Iranian
Indo-Aryan
Central zone
Gujarati

Demographics: 100 (1998). Women monolingual. Ethnic population: 330 Aer in Deh area.

Language Use: All ages. Also use Sindhi [snd] (adult men for common topics). 100% of boys and 25% of girls attend Sindhi medium schools. Also use Western Panjabi [pnb] (adult men of Jikrio Goth, only for common topics). Also use Gujarati [guj].

Language Development: Literacy rate in L2: 15% in Sindhi.

Writing System: Arabic

Nation of Origin: Pakistan

Other Comments: Unusual interrogative word suggests possible historical connection with Western Rajasthani group. Speakers in Pakistan running out of marriage possibilities and may have to move to India. The Indian group is most influential. Other Aer people in Nawabshah, Sindh reportedly speak a different language, dress differently, and do not intermarry with this group. Hindu.