Balochi language

Balochi (also called Baluchi, Baloci or Baluci) is a Northwestern Iranic language. It is the main language of the Baloch of Balochistan, 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
بلوچی baločî Balóćí
Native toPakistan, Iran, Afghanistan
Native speakers
7.6 million (2007)[1]
Indo-European
Official status
Official language in
Pakistan (Balochistan Province of Pakistan) (provincial) and Iran (Balochistan Province of Iran)
Regulated byBalochi Academy (Pakistan)
Language codes
ISO 639-2bal
ISO 639-3bal – inclusive code
Individual codes:
bgp – Eastern Balochi
bgn – Western Balochi
bcc – Southern Balochi
Linguasphere58-AAB-a > 58-AAB-aa (East Balochi) + 58-AAB-ab (West Balochi) + 58-AAB-ac (South Balochi) + 58-AAB-ad (Bashkardi)

Dialects

Balochi has several dialects. The Ethnologue lists three dialects: Balochi, Eastern, Balochi, Northern, Balochi, Southern and Balochi, Western 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 and north of Sindh in Pakistan. Northern Balochi dialects are similar to northern Rakhshani and southern Makkorani dialects.

References
  1. Nationalencyklopedin "Världens 100 största språk 2007" The World's 100 Largest Languages in 2007
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