Hindko and Gujari. c - SIL International

Hindko 67
(5.2) Responses from Two Hindko Villages to the Question:
“Would you want your son to marry an Urdu-speaking girl?”
Community Yes No
Sherpur 63% 33%
n = 27
Balakot 58 42
n = 48
The responses from the two locations are similar and
indicate that respondents in both communities have favorable
attitudes toward Urdu speakers. An examination of the reasons
given by those who gave a positive response shows that the most
commonly mentioned reason is that Urdu speakers are
“civilized” people. Such responses indicate that the Urdu
language holds a high degree of prestige due to its role in
education and literature and its association with social and
economic advancement.
Many of those who replied that they would not favor
intermarriage with Urdu speakers said that they do not
understand Urdu or that the bride would not understand them.
This response indicates that they believe they have low
proficiency in Urdu but does not necessarily reveal a negative
attitude toward the language.
Respondents were also asked whether they would be willing
for their sons to marry Pashto-speaking girls, Panjabi-speaking
girls, or Gujari-speaking girls. Their responses are summarized
in figure (5.3).