Pangwali

A language of India

Population	17,000 (1997).
Region	Himachal Pradesh, Chamba District, Pangi Tahsil, Lahul-Spiti District, Udaipur down the Chenab (Chandra-Bhaga) River to Chamba border at Purthi. Possibly from Tandi to Sach Pass.
Alternate names	Pahari, Pangi, Pangwali Pahari
Dialects	64% inherent intelligibility with Mandeali [mjl], 52% with Kangri [xnr], 44% with Chambeali [cdh], 50% with Bhadrawahi [bhd]; some dialect variation throughout the valley in Chamba District; Purthi reportedly most divergent. Lexical similarity: 55% with Hindi, 77% with Kullu Pahari [kfx]; 45% with Bhadrawahi.
Classification	Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Northern zone, Western Pahari
Language use	Vigorous. Home, village, religion. Positive attitude. Some also use Hindi; a few use English.
Language development	Literacy rate in L2: 9% men, 1% women. In 1981, 9% of the men had a 5th grade education, 1% of the women; 3% of the men had an 8th grade education, fewer than 1% of the women. Poetry. Radio programs.
Writing system	Devanagari script.
Comments	Speakers are called ‘Pangwala’ or ‘Pangi’. A Scheduled Tribe. Agriculturalists: wheat, barley, maize, ragi, millet, potatoes, pulses; animal husbandry: cattle, yak, sheep, goats. Hindu.

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