Pashto

Pashto, Central (Mahsudi). Wazirstan, Bannu, Karak. Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Eastern, Southeastern, Pashto. Dialects: WACIRI (WAZIRI), BANNUCHI (BANNOCHI, BANNU). Lexical comparison and interviews indicate this is distinct from Eastern and Southern Pashto. Grammar, dictionary. Sunni Muslim.

Pashto, Eastern (Pakhto, Pusto, Pashtu, Passtoo, Pushto, Ningraharian Pashto, Northeastern Pashto, Northern Pashto). 9,585,000 in Pakistan or 8.47% of population (1993 estimate); 100,000 in United Arab Emirates (1986); 14,161 in India (1994 IMA). All Pashto in Pakistan are 13.2% of the population (1981 census). Along Afghanistan border, NWFP. Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Eastern, Southeastern, Pashto. Dialects: KOHAT (KHATAK), YUSUFZAI (PESHAWAR), AFRIDI, SHINWARI, MOHMAND, SHILMANI. Distinct from Western Pashto, Central Pashto, and Southern Pashto. Modified Perso-Arabic script in use. Yusufzai is the literary dialect, used in schools and media in NWFP and adjacent tribal territories. Rich literary tradition. The Powinda are a nomadic Pashto-speaking group. Used for radio, TV, newspaper, movies. Low literacy rate. Dictionaries. Sunni Muslim, some Shi'a.

Pashto, Southern. 1,000,000 to 1,500,000 in Pakistan (1992); many in Afhanistan. Baluchistan in Pakistan and Qandahar in Afghanistan. Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Eastern, Southeastern, Pashto. Dialects: SOUTHWEST PASHTO (QANDAHAR PASHTO), SOUTHEAST PASHTO (QUETTA PASHTO). Distinct from Eastern and Central Pashto, but with some intelligibility with Southern and Eastern Pashto. More differences than merely the ‘hard’ versus ‘soft’ sound shifts. Perso-Arabic script. Grammar. Muslim.