Ancient Languages of Kabul

[Shamaar]

I am intrigued by this quote of Babur's from 1525, where he mentions 11 or 12 languages spoken in Kabul. I am wondering what happened to some of these other languages. Were they just conquered by Dari and/or Pashto eventually?

In the country of Kābul there are many and various tribes. Its valleys and plains are inhabited by Tūrks, Aimāks, and Arabs. In the city and the greater part of the villages, the population consists of Tājiks. Many other of the villages and districts are occupied by Pashāis, Parāchis, Tājiks, Berekis, and Afghans. In the hill-country to the west, reside the Hazāras and Nukderis. Among the Hazāra and Nukderi tribes, there are some who speak the Moghul language. In the hill-country to the north-east lies Kaferistān, such as Kattor and Gebrek. To the south is Afghanistān... There are eleven or twelve different languages spoken in Kābul: Arabic, Persian, Tūrki, Moghuli, Hindi, Afghani, Pashāi, Parāchi, Geberi, Bereki, and Lamghāni...

Like, Arabic, Persian, Tūrki, Moghuli, Hindi, Afghani (Pashto), Pashāi, Geberi (probably old Nuristani), and Bereki (Burki/Urmuri) seem pretty straight forward but what were Parāchi and Lamghāni, and who do you think they were spoken by?

[Feroza_Banu]

They still speak many of these languages in Afghanistan. Each province of Afghanistan has its own dielect for Dari and its own Dielect for Pashto.

I am not sure what praachi is but laghmani is still spoken in laghman province. it is different dialect of Dari with some words taken from ancient languages spoken in Afghanistan. Laghmani Dari is very different and identified very easily.

there are many small villages and communities in Afghanistan (minorities) that are not accessed by media yet. they speak their own languages and have names for them too. Their culture and their languages are soooo old that it is amazing.

[Laila]

They still speak many of these languages in Afghanistan. Each province of Afghanistan has its own dielect for Dari and its own Dielect for Pashto.

I am not sure what praachi is but laghmani is still spoken in laghman province. it is different dialect of Dari with some words taken from ancient languages spoken in Afghanistan. Laghmani Dari is very different and identified very easily.

there are many small villages and communities in Afghanistan (minorities) that are not accessed by media yet. they speak their own languages and have names for them too. Their culture and their languages are soooo old that it is amazing.

You are correct Laghman has its own dialect in Dari. Even our pakhto is different too. We actually get made fun of

When i was in Kabul, i heard many, many street boys from my baba's house about speaking Laghmani....we have our own certain phrases in Dari and Pakhto.


Also, when i was in my village, in Laghman, i heard this odd sort of language. It was beautiful and very mysterious to me. It did not sound like Dari or Pakhto. Neither was it Nuristani and Pashai. I asked one of my cousins, and he says its an ancient language that was once spoken in Laghman, Nuristan, Kunar, and Ningarhar (when it was one Province). It was spoken by our Kuchi people. Sadly, i do not remember the name of it :/

Still today, Laghman has been good with keeping its ancient customs.

[pukhtana]

I have relatives who speak Pashai

[Laila]

^ Same here

[Toramana]

Hay people, I think my 14th Century ancestors might have some connection with Pashais. Furthermore, there was a language spoken to the immediate north of Kabul probably somewhere near Panjshir, which was called Parachi...don't know whether it is still in existance or now extinct.

I am very much interested in the indegenous languages spoken in Kunar, Nuristan, Nangarhar, Laghman, etc. I also like Dardic languages e.g., Kohwar, Pashai, Shina, etc.

[Laila]

Hay people, I think my 14th Century ancestors might have some connection with Pashais. Furthermore, there was a language spoken to the immediate north of Kabul probably somewhere near Panjshir, which was called Parachi...don't know whether it is still in existance or now extinct.

I am very much interestes in the indegenous languages spoken in Kunar, Nuristan, Nangarhar, Laghman, etc. I also like Dardic languages e.g., Kohwar, Pashai, Shina, etc.

Many Shamali people (Northern Kabulis) speak it. Though, Parachi is very much extinct.

Many Laghmanis still speak their ancient Languages. In fact, i have many cousins that speak it still, well after Pashto.

But there was a language i came upon, i forgot the name it was really cool to hear it.

[Shamaar]

In the book on Waziri Pashto, it says Hindus that converted to Islam were thereafter known as Paracha (that became their surname). I am pretty sure they must have had a language of their own known as Parachi.

Also guys, they are not talking about a language called Laghmani, they are talking about one called Lamghani lol. I know Laghmani Dari is a little funny but I'm pretty sure they are talking about an entirely different language here.

[Shamaar]

Shamaar, If it helps I have a friend who's last name is Lamghani.

Yes, that most certainly does help. Thank you, nazia.

[Toramana]

Shamar, Laghman in old days was called Lamghan. Those who have written about Mahmud of Ghazna expeditions into the east have called it Lamghan.

Moreover, Parachi is not an Indo-Aryan language. I think it is East Iranian.

Here:
Parachi language - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ethnologue report for Northwestern

Ethnologue report for language code: prc

http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=oru

[Toramana]

Toramana, my family which originally hails from Kunar say they originally spoke some ancient language. How do you know your roots so well?

That is nice to know Afghanprincess...In Kunar, etc. once Gabbari people lived (their language is called Gawari or something like that). Gawari most probably is a Dardic language. Kunar, Nuristan, Laghman, Chitral, etc. is an area of great linguistic diversity.

I am very much fascinated with Dard languages.

About my roots, I studied them somewhat...There is a book by Abdul Haai Habibi Saib, "da Afghanistan land tarikh" or "Tarikh-i-Mukhtasar Afghanistan" in Dari that mentions it...But Habibi Saib has taken his sources from Akhun Darwaiza and some orientalists...

[Shamaar]

Shamar, Laghman in old days was called Lamghan. Those who have written about Mahmud of Ghazna expeditions into the east have called it Lamghan.

Moreover, Parachi is not an Indo-Aryan language. I think it is East Iranian.

Here:
Parachi language - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ethnologue report for Northwestern

I am unfamiliar with the history of Laghman, bro. If you say Lamghan was it's former name, I will take your word for it. Although, I have yet to come across anything pertaining to that.

You are correct. Parachi is classified as a Southeastern Iranian language, however, that does not eliminate the possibility that the people who spoke it were Hindu at one time or another. After all, people even consider us Afridis to have been Buddhists of Indian stock lol.

[Toramana]

You are correct. Parachi is classified as a Southeastern Iranian language, however, that does not eliminate the possibility that the people who spoke it were Hindu at one time or another. After all, people even consider us Afridis to have been Buddhists of Indian stock lol.

May be if there is a good indication for that .

[Laila]

Shamar, Laghman in old days was called Lamghan. Those who have written about Mahmud of Ghazna expeditions into the east have called it Lamghan.

Wrora, do you have proof that Laghman was once called Lamghan. I am really interested in hearing about it

Moreover, Parachi is not an Indo-Aryan language. I think it is East Iranian.

Here:
Parachi language - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I knew it. I had heard that towards northern Kabul, as you are in Shamal and Salang, Parachi is also a spoken language. Though not many speak it anymore since it Pashto or Dari has been picked up

[Toramana]

Wrora, do you have proof that Laghman was once called Lamghan. I am really interested in hearing about it



I knew it. I had heard that towards northern Kabul, as you are in Shamal and Salang, Parachi is also a spoken language. Though not many speak it anymore since it Pashto or Dari has been picked up

Yes, Laila, I was reading this book (don't remember Farishta or some other author} while writing about battles between Mahmood Ghaznavi and Raja Jaipal (11th Century) wrote it Lamghan. Probably, I also read it in other books.

Parachi is like Urmari.

It is interesting that we have got a Pashto dialect (Wanesi) that is/was almost a distinct language...