Balochi language
Balochi (also called Baluchi, Baloci or Baluci) is a Northwestern Iranic language. It is the main language of the Baloch people of Balochistan region, Pakistan, eastern Iran and southern Afghanistan. It is also spoken as a second language by some Brahui. It is one of nine official languages of Pakistan.
Balochi | |
---|---|
بلۏچی Balòci | |
Native to | Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan |
Region | Balochistan |
Ethnicity | Baloch |
Native speakers | 8.8 million (2017–2020)[1] |
Balochi Standard Alphabet | |
Official status | |
Official language in | Pakistan [a] |
Regulated by | Balochi Academy, Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan Balochi Academy Sarbaz, Sarbaz, Iran |
Language codes | |
ISO 639-2 | bal |
ISO 639-3 | bal – inclusive codeIndividual codes: bgp – Eastern Balochibgn – Western Balochibcc – Southern Balochi |
Glottolog | balo1260 |
Linguasphere | 58-AAB-a > 58-AAB-aa (East Balochi) + 58-AAB-ab (West Balochi) + 58-AAB-ac (South Balochi) + 58-AAB-ad (Bashkardi) |
Approximate geographic distribution of Balochi | |
Dialects
changeBalochi has several dialects. The Ethnologue lists three dialects: Eastern Balochi, Northern Balochi, Southern Balochi and Western Balochi while the Encyclopædia Iranica (from Elfenbein) lists six dialects: Rakhshani (subdialects: Kalati, Panjguri and Sarhaddi), Saravani, Lashari, Kechi, Coastal Dialects, and Eastern Hill Balochi.
Northern Balochi dialects are settled north of Iranian Balochistan and Golestān Province of Iran, north of Nimruz Province in Afghanistan and north Chagai District of Balochistan.
Related pages
changeNotes
change- ↑ Official provincial status
References
change- ↑ Eberhard, David M.; Simons, Gary F.; Fennig, Charles D., eds. (2023). Ethnologue: Languages of the World (26th ed.). Dallas, Texas: SIL International.