| Sheikhgal | |
|---|---|
| Watali | |
| Opedigal | |
 | |
| Native to | India |
| Region | Kashmir Valley |
| Ethnicity | Watal |
Indo-European
| |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | None (mis) |
| Glottolog | None |
Sheikhgal or Watali is an unclassified Indo-Aryan language [1] of Jammu and Kashmir, India. Its speakers, the formerly nomadic Watals, [2] are found throughout Kashmir, particularly in the districts of Srinagar ( Parimpora, Nowhatta, Dargah, Natipora, Hawal), Baramulla ( Bandipora, Khawja Bagh, Sopore and Tangmarg), Pulwama ( Lolaab and Lassipora) and Kupwara ( Kanthpora, Kulgam, Haihama, Magam, Handwara, Tarathpora). [3] Among its speakers the language is also known as Opedigal or Phiri kathi. [4]
Although attitudes towards the language are generally negative, [5] the community is compact [6] and Sheikhgal is the dominant language within the home. [7] However, in other domains (market, workplace etc.) the language of wider communication Kashmiri is the preferred choice, even with other speakers of Sheikhgal. [8] Within the family, there is a slight shift away from using Sheikhgal (85% of those interviewed by Mullick speak Sheikhgal with their spouses but only 69% do so with their children). [9]
References
- ^ Safdar 2014, p. 280.
- ^ Safdar 2014, p. 279.
- ^ Mullick 2003, pp. 11–12; Safdar 2014, p. 279
- ^ Mullick 2003, p. 11.
- ^ Mullick 2003, p. 66.
- ^ Safdar 2014, p. 280; Mullick 2003, p. 91
- ^ Mullick 2003, pp. 81–2.
- ^ Mullick 2003, pp. 84–85.
- ^ Mullick 2003, p. 81. see also comment on p. 93.
Bibliography
- Mullick, Aban Parvaz (2003). A sociolinguistic study of Sheikhgal (MPhil). University of Kashmir.
- Safdar, Rahila (2014). "Sheikha Gal". In Devy, G. N.; Koul, Omkar N. (eds.). The languages of Jammu & Kashmir. People's linguistic survey of India. Vol. 12. New Delhi: Orient Blackswan. pp. 279–83. ISBN 978-81-250-5516-7.
