Ashkun

ASK

vigorous

Alternate Names: Ashkund, Ashkuni, Wamais, Wamayi

Dialects: Ashuruviri (Kolata, Titin Bajaygul), Gramsukraviri, Suruviri (Wamai). Not intelligible with the other Nuristani languages.

Genealogy:

Indo-European
Indo-Iranian
Indo-Aryan
Nuristani

Demographics: 40,000 (2011), increasing. 4,000 monolinguals. Ethnic population: 40,000.

Language Use: All domains. All ages. Positive attitudes. 36,000 also use Northern Pashto [pbu].

Language Development: Literacy rate in L1: 0%. Literacy rate in L2: 5%–15%. Poetry.

Writing System: Unwritten

Nation of Origin: Afghanistan

Other Comments: Spoken in the central and western Nuristan valleys, which also divide divergent dialects. Muslim (Sunni).