Pahari Languages - Classification

Classification

The Pahari languages fall into three groups:

• Eastern, consisting of the various dialects of Nepali, also known as Gorkhali, Gurkhali, Khaskura, or Parbatiya; plus Jumli and Palpa
• Central, spoken in Uttarakhand state, in Kumaon and Garhwal
• Western, spoken in Himachal Pradesh and the Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir

Though traditionally considered Pahari, and often Hindi or Punjabi, they are more closely related to each other than to other Indo-Aryan languages. In Himachal Pradesh, Jammu, and other surrounding areas, it is the same as Dogri. Both words, Pahari and Dogri, are used alternatively as well. Eastern and Central Pahari has been placed together as the Northern zone of Indo-Aryan, with Western Pahari in the Northwestern zone along with Punjabi and related languages. The variation in Pahari languages is due to influence of specific religion, dominating language and culture. Nearly 17 to 20 percent of Jammu and Kashmir (both sides of Loc) speaks Pahari language which resembles more to Punjabi or Hindi. It is considered as a dialect of Punjabi or other dominating languages of region.