Different types of Western Pahari languages

There are a dozen Western Pahari languages, of which Dogri and Kangri are the best known. Though traditionally considered Pahari, and often Hindi or Punjabi, the Western Pahari languages are more closely related to each other than to other Indo-Aryan languages. 17-20% of Jammu and Kashmir's population speaks Pahari languages. Pahari, along with Urdu, are the two most spoken languages in Kashmir.

The Western Pahari or Himachali languages are a range of languages and dialects spoken in the western parts of the Himalayan range, in northeastern Pakistan and the state of Himachal Pradesh, India.

Some Western Pahari languages, notably Dogri and Kangri, are tonal, like their close relative Punjabi but unlike most other Indic languages. Dogri has been an official language in India since 2003.

Although traditionally called Western Pahari, they are not as close to the other Pahari languages as they are to Punjabi. They are a dialect chain, and neighboring varieties may be mutually intelligible.

• Pothwari (Also referred to as Pahari-Pothwari or Poonchi in Poonch and Rajouri districts)
• Dogri
• Kangri
• Mandeali and various Chambealic varieties
• Jaunsari
• Kullu
• Harijan Kinnauri
• Hinduri
• Mahasu Pahari
• Sirmauri

Some Western Pahari languages have occasionally been regarded as dialects of either Urdu or Punjabi.

Script

Before the independence of India, many dialects of Himachali languages in Himachal Pradesh used to be written in the Takri script. Since it fell into disuse after independence, many efforts have been made to revive the Takri script for Himachali language.

Read Also : Takri script is used to write Himachali languages