| Katë | |
|---|---|
| Kati, Kâmkata-vari, Kâmkata-mumkṣta-vari | |
 | |
| Native to | Afghanistan,Pakistan |
| Region | Nuristan,Kunar,Chitral |
Native speakers | 150,000 (2011-2017)[1] |
Early forms | |
| Dialects | |
| Arabic script (Nastaliq) | |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | Either:bsh – Katixvi – Kamviri |
| Glottolog | kati1270 |
| ELP | Kati |
| Linguasphere | 58-ACB-a |
 Katë is classified as Definitely Endangered by theUNESCOAtlas of the World's Languages in Danger | |
Katë, also known asKati orKamkata-vari, is aNuristani language. It is a dialect continuum comprising three separate dialects spoken mostly inAfghanistan, with additional speakers in theChitral District ofPakistan deriving from recent migrations a century ago. TheKata-vari (comprising Western and Northeastern) andKamviri (comprising Southeastern) dialects are sometimes erroneously reckoned as two separate languages, but according to linguistRichard Strand they form one language.[2]
The Katë language is the largest Nuristani language, spoken by 40,000–60,000 people, from theKata,Kom, Mumo, Kshto and some smallerBlack-Robed tribes in parts ofAfghanistan andPakistan. The most used alternative names for the language areKati orBashgali.
A descriptive grammar of Katë was written by Jakob Halfmann in 2024.[3]
The name, pronounced[kaˈtɘ], is the ethnonym of theKata people. Cognates of the ethnonym in otherNuristani languages includeNuristani KalashaKā̃ta[kãːˈta]. According to Halfmann (2024, p. 3), the names descend from aProto-Nuristani form*Kānta-ka-.
It belongs to theIndo-Europeanlanguage family and is in theNuristani group of theIndo-Iranian branch.
There are three main dialects according to Halfmann (2024): Western Katë, Northeastern Katë, and Southeastern Katë (including Kamviri and Mumviri). The dialects are sometimes erroneously defined as separate languages. The Northeastern Katë dialect is commonly referred to asShekhani inChitral. In older literature, Southeastern Katë is split into Kamviri and Mumviri.[4]
Literacy rates are low: below 1% for people who have it as afirst language and between 15% and 25% for people who have it as asecond language. The Kata-vari dialect can be heard on radio in Afghanistan.[citation needed]
| Official languages | ||
|---|---|---|
| Regional languages | ||
| Minority languages | ||
| Sign languages | ||
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