Alternate Names: Brokpa, Shinaki, Sina
Dialects: Astori (Astor, Dras, Gurezi, Kharmangi, Satpara), Chilasi Kohistani (Chilas, Darel, Harban, Sazin, Tangir), Gilgiti (Bagrote, Bunji, Gilgit, Haramosh, Hunza-Nagar, Punial, Rondu). Gilgit functions as the language standard. Shina is the primary language in Gilgit and Diamer districts. Lexical similarity: 79%–99% within Gilgiti (Northern) dialect subgroup, 81%–96% with Astori (Eastern) subgroup, 84%–98% with Chilas (Diamer) subgroup.
Genealogy:
Demographics: 337,000 in Pakistan (1998 census), increasing. Population total all countries: 371,400.
Language Use: Vigorous. All domains. All ages. Positive attitudes. Also use Urdu [urd]. Used as L2 by Balti [bft], Domaaki [dmk], Khowar [khw].
Language Development: Literacy rate in L1: 0%. Bible portions: 1929.
Writing System: Arabic
Nation of Origin: Pakistan
Other Comments: Ethnonym: Brokpa in Baltistan and Ladakh. Glossonym: Brokskat, name also used semiofficially in India to refer to a highly divergent variety of Shina spoken by Buddhists. Muslim (Sunni), Muslim (Shi’a).