Hindko and Gujari. c - SIL International

34
Calvin R. Rensch
residents were interviewed concerning the languages which they
use in various contexts and the factors which affect their
language choices. The percentage of respondents from Balakot
giving the various responses is presented in figure (2.4).
(2.4) Languages Used by Balakot Respondents with Speakers of
Other Languages, in Percentages of Respondents (n = 48)
Language
Used by
Respondent
with
Hindko
speakers
with
Pashto
speakers
with
Urdu
speakers
with
Panjabi
speakers
Hindko 100 42 29 67 81
Urdu 58 71 21
Panjabi 12
Gujari 19
with
Gujari
speakers
Once more, the respondents report complete loyalty to
Hindko in the family domain and with fellow speakers of
Hindko.
The Hindko-speaking people of Balakot are in frequent
contact with Gujari-speaking people since many Gujars are
found in that vicinity. Some Gujars come to the markets of
Balakot daily. Others are storekeepers. Still others come to sell
wood in Balakot or to work in the homes of Hindko speakers.
Nineteen percent of the respondents report having learned Gujari
to the point where they use it in their communication with Gujari
speakers. This contrasts with Jammun and Sherpur, where Pashto
speakers are the principal other language group with whom
Hindko speakers are in frequent contact. Although a large
portion of the residents of Balakot identify themselves as Swati
Pathans, not one of the respondents reported ever speaking
Pashto. Thus, it appears that they have very little contact with
Pashto speakers.
Hindko is the principal language used for communicating
with those who speak Gujari and Panjabi, while Urdu is more
commonly used when communicating with speakers of Pashto
and Urdu. In some respects, the language-use patterns of Balakot
are similar to those of Singo Di Garhi in that Urdu is the