Alternate Names: Kandahar Pashto, Qandahar Pashto, Southwestern Pashto
Dialects: Durani. Lexical similarity: 80% between northern and southern varieties of Pashto. A member of macrolanguage Pushto ,.
Genealogy:
Demographics: 6,000,000 in Afghanistan (2008). Population total all countries: 10,810,100.
Language Use: Afghan government has worked since 1930s to standardize and publicize it. All domains. All ages. Positive attitudes. Only those who are educated or have business in Dari-speaking provinces are bilingual in Dari [prs]. Some have spent time in Pakistan and are bilingual in Urdu [urd]; otherwise, speakers are monolingual.
Language Development: Pashto is one of two national languages taught in schools. Low literacy rate, especially in non-urban locations and among women. Taught in primary and secondary schools. Poetry. Magazines. Newspapers. New media. Radio programs. Films. TV. Videos. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible portions: 2011.
Spoken In: Afghanistan
Writing System: Arabic
Nation of Origin: Afghanistan
Other Comments: Muslim (Sunni).