Alternate Names: Biyori, Dangarikwar, Palola, Phalulo, Phalura
Dialects: Ashreti, Northern Palula. No, or limited, intelligibility of Kalkoti , and Savi ,. Lexical similarity: 92% with Ashreti and Northern Palula dialects, 56%–58% with Savi , in Afghanistan, 38%–42% with Kohistani Shina ,. Palula, Kalkoti , (spoken in Dir Kohistan) and Savi , (spoken in Afghanistan) form a cluster of closely related varieties within the Shina group (Liljegren 2008).
Genealogy:
Demographics: 10,000 (Liljegren 2008). Population of Ashret and Biori Valleys is almost completely monolingual (Liljegren 2008). L2 users: Used and understood by many other-tongue speakers in Badrugal and Kalkatak.
Language Use: Vigorous within Ashret and Biori valleys. Reluctant to use Palula when speakers of other languages are present. Home, community. All ages. Positive attitudes. Also use Khowar [khw], Northern Pashto [pbu].
Language Development: 2-year mother-tongue multilingual education program (bridging from Palula to Urdu) now tested in two locations (2012). Taught in primary schools, but limited. Poetry. Dictionary.
Writing System: Arabic
Nation of Origin: Pakistan
Other Comments: Muslim (Sunni).