The Effect of Accessibility on Language Vitality: The Ishkashimi and the Sanglechi Speech Varieties in Afghanistan

Abstract

This paper presents a sociolinguistic assessment of the Ishkashimi and Sanglechi speech varieties based on data collected during a survey conducted between July 21st and July 29th 2007 in the Ishkashim area and the Sanglech valley. The research was carried out under the auspices of the International Assistance Mission, a Non-Government Organization working in Afghanistan. The goal was to determine whether Dari, one of the two national languages, is adequate to be used in literature and primary school education, or whether the Ishkashimi and the Sanglechi people would benefit from language development, including literature development and primary school education in the vernacular. It was important to find out how closely the two speech varieties, Ishkashimi and Sanglechi, are related to determine whether one written form would suffice for both varieties, in case language development is deemed to be necessary. The researchers administered sociolinguistic and village elder questionnaires, elicited word lists, tested mutual intelligibility of Ishkashimi and Sanglechi, and observed and asked about bilingualism in Dari. In this way they aimed to determine the domains of language use, the attitude towards the other speech variety and Dari, to investigate bilingualism in Dari, and intelligibility between Ishkashimi and Sanglechi. Sanglechi was found to be unintelligible to the Ishkashimi speakers. However, Ishkashimi is more intelligible to Sanglechi speakers. The Ishkashimi speak Dari and their vernacular at home and in the community; in all other domains they primarily speak Dari. All Sanglechi speak only their vernacular in their homes and in the community. They speak Dari and some Sanglechi with guests, when travelling outside the area, with government officials, in school and in the religious domain. School is the only domain that exposes girls and young women to Dari; older women have virtually no contact with Dari. In both places, people display a positive attitude towards Dari. Both language groups show a positive attitude towards their own vernacular. However, the Ishkashimi look down on Sanglechi as a rural language, while the Sanglechi consider Ishkashimi to be a good language. There is a growing awareness among the Ishkashimi, especially the educated, that they may lose their language if they continue not speaking it to their children. However, Sanglechi is very vital. Bilingualism with Dari is high among the Ishkashimi while it is very low in significant segments of the Sanglechi people. Therefore literature in Dari currently cannot serve the Sanglechi adequately, while it does serve the Ishkashimi people at present. Considering the high vitality of Sanglechi and the speakers' low degree of bilingualism with Dari a language development project for the Sanglechi people is recommended. It should include a contribution to the Ishkashimi speech variety as they develop a growing awareness of the endangerment of their language. Besides this, it might be possible to extend such efforts to the Ishkashimi speakers in Tajikistan as well.