Alternate Names: Himachali, Pahari, Sirmouri, Sirmuri
Dialects: Dharthi (Giriwari), Giripari. Difficult intelligibility between Dharthi and Giripari; and between Upper Mahasui and Giripar. Dharthi dialect more influenced by Hindi. In south Shimla District, Kiunthali and Sirmauri are used interchangeably. Reportedly a different variety of Sirmauri in Sirmaur District. Lexical similarity: 56%–70% with Dharthi and Giripari, with considerable variation within each dialect; Giripari 67% with Lower Mahasui, 65% with Upper Mahasui, 61% with Jaunsari ,.
Genealogy:
Demographics: 400,000 (2005 SIL).
Language Use: Home, village. Positive attitudes. Educated are highly proficient in Hindi [hin], uneducated showing wide range of proficiency in Hindi. Most older, uneducated women have very limited proficiency in Hindi.
Language Development: Literacy rate in L2: 60% for Sirmaur District (2001 census). Newspapers. Radio programs. TV. Videos. Grammar.
Writing System: Devanagari, Takri (Tankri), Takri (Takari)
Nation of Origin: India
Other Comments: Dharthi is spoken in Giriwar area, Giripari in Giripar area. Hindu.