Balochi language

Balochi (also Baluchi, Baloci or Baluci) is a Northwestern Iranian language. It is the principal language of the Baloch of Balochistan, a region in western Pakistan, eastern Iran and southern Afghanistan. It is also spoken as a second language by some Brahui.It is designated as one of nine official languages of Pakistan in the near coming future for government officials and Balochi politcians.

Dialects

Balochi has several dialects. The Ethnologue lists three major dialects: Eastern Balochi, Western Balochi and Southern Balochi while the Encyclopedia Iranica (from Elfenbein) lists six major dialects: Rakhshani (subdialects: Kalati, Panjguri and Sarhaddi), Saravani, Lashari, Kechi, Coastal Dialects, and Eastern Hill Balochi.

Sound System

Vowels

a, i, u, ā, ī, ē, ū, ō

Diphthongs

ay, aw, āy

Plosives

p, b, t, d, , , k, g

Affricates

č, j

Fricatives

s, z, š, ž, h

Allophones for syllable final -b, -t, -d -> -v, -θ, -ð (Eastern Hill Balochi only)
Fricatives in unassimilated loanwords: f, x, ġ

Nasals

m, n,

Trills

Lateral Approximants

Approximants

w, y

History

Balochi is closely related to other Northwestern Iranian languages such as Persian and Kurdish.

Writing system

Before the 19th century, Balochi was an unwritten language. The official written language was Persian although Balochi was still spoken at the Baloch courts. British linguists and political historians wrote form with the Roman script, but following independence of Pakistan, Baloch scholars adopted Nasta'liq Arabic script. In Afghanistan, Balochi is written in a modified Arabic script based on what is used for Pashto.

External links

Northwestern Iranian languages | Languages of Pakistan | Official Languages of Pakistan | Languages of Iran | Languages of Turkmenistan

Gourt Home::Gourt :: Balochi language