~A Brief Introduction to Pashto Language~

[aftab.yusufzai]

A Brief Introduction to Pashto Language

Pashto is the language of Pashtuns. They are, historically, inhabited mainly in Afghanistan; Pakistans North West Frontier and Balochistan. Population is estimated around twenty five millions. Based on Fairly reliable sources, while 52.9 percents speak Pashto in Afghanistan, ethnically Pastuns make up 60 to 65 percents of the population. Based on a theory that attributes Pashuns to Israelite origin, Pashto had been considered a language of Semitic group. That theory is recorded in great details in Makhzani Afghani, a book written by Niamatulla Herawi in the eleventh Hejri century (17th A.D.) and is widely used as a reference source by Afghan scholars and non-Afghan orientalists in favor of the Israelite theory of Pashtuns.

At the early nineteenth century, when European scholars became interested in Pashtuns origin, some accepted the Israelite theory, but others deemed the theory wrong and called Pushtuns to be Arians. (Sir William Jones, Alexander Burnes, William Moorcroft subscribe to the Israelite theory. On the other hand, Mountstuart Elphinston, John Malcolm, Bernard Doren, and James Darmsteter believe in Arian origin of Pashtuns.) Scholars favoring the Israelitic theory, believe that Pashto is like Arabic and Hebrew a Semitic language. On the other hand, those who accept the Arian origin of Pahtuns, relate Pashtu to Indo-European language group.

At present, based on scientific research in Philology and History, most Afghans as well as foreign scholars agree that Pashto belongs to the Northeast Arian branch of Indo- European language group and its kinship with ancient (Avista and Saka ) languages is considered a proven fact. Ancient forms of the language can be found in the (Zand and Avesta). The late Norwegian scholar, Georg Morgenstierne (1892-1978) accepts the Indo-European and North-east Arian origin of Pashto language but instead of its relation with (Avesta), he believes Pashto is of (Saki) origin.*

As a consequence of life in mountainous areas, weak socio-economic inter-relations, along with other historic and linguistic reasons, there are many dialects in Pashto language. However, as a whole, Pashto has two main dialects: soft or western dialect and hard or eastern dialect. The difference between these two dialects is in the use of some vowels and two sounds: (sh, gh to be added in Pashto alphabet).

Like Pashtuns are called Afghans by non-Pashtuns; Pashto is called Afghani. Based on Ghaznavid era literature, written history of the word afghan extends to more than a thousand years. The name Afghanistan, as documented in the History of Herat (12th A.D.) has a history of more than 700 years. In the Indian Subcontinent, Pashtuns are called Pathan which scholars think is the Hindi variation of Pashtun.

Pashto alphabet is made Arabic letters. The numbers of sound letters (Phonemes) reaches to forty, of which eight sounds are distinctly Pashto, and the rest are the same as Arabic sounds. Although, we dont have much definitive information regarding the kind of letters used in written Pashto before the present Arabic based letters. Form coins, earthenware and inscriptions, discovered in various parts of Pashtunhkwa, areas where Pushtuns historically lived, it can be guessed that at some point of time, Pashto was written in Kharoshti. But as of today, scholars have not made a lasting judgment on the subject of ancient Pashto alphabet.
With regards to the formation of contemporary Pashto alphabet, it is generally said, that in the era of Gaznvid Sultan Mohmud, his wazir Khwaja Hassan Maiwandi, instructed Qazi Saifullah to develop alphabet for Pashto language. After hard work and many improvements the present form of Pashto alphabet was adopted. But Baizid Roshan, a Pasthun religious and political leader, (931-980), prides himself for inventing Pashto letters, superimposing them on Arabic and thus creating Pashto alphabet. Anyhow, Pashto alphabet has gone through a series of changes introduced by such prominent Pashtuns as Roshans peer Baizid Ormar, Nangarhari Akhund Darviza (939-1048), Khushal Khan Khatak (1022-1100) and latter on by Wazir Mohamma Gul Khan, Khan Abdul Samad Khan, and Qalandar Momand. But the present form of Pashto alphabet, initiated by Pashto Tolana (official English name), rectified and agreed upon by scholars in Afghanistan and Pahtunkhwa, has become popular and is widely accepted for writing Pashto.

Pata Khazana or Hidden treasure, compiled by Mhammad Hotak (1728) traces Pashto literatures poetic samples as far back as the 2nd Hijri Qamari (7th A.D.). Tazkiratul-Awlia, written in Pashto by Suliman Maku in 1215, extends the history of Pashto prose to about 800 years. After Roshani era or 10th century Hijri Qamari (16th A.D.) Pashto written literature, till present day, has had a steady continuity. The era of Khoshal Khan, his sons and his grandsons is considered the golden age of Pashto literature. We will have a headless body, as the saying goes, if Landie and Khoshal Khatak are taken awy from Pashto literature.

Today, Pashto literatures active cultural domains are Kabul, Kandahar, Gandahara ( Nangarhar and Peshawar area) and Quetta ( Baluchistan) and numerous Pashtun men of letters, poet and writers are moving forward with the world cultural caravan.s.

Pashto alphabet (? ???? ??????)

Pashto is a member of the southeastern Iranian branch of Indo-Iranian languages and has about 25-30 million speakers. There are three main varieties of Pashto: Northern Pashto, spoken mainly in Pakistan; Southern Pashto, spoken mainly in Afghanistan, and Central Pashto, spoken mainly in Pakistan.

Pashto was made the national language of Afghanistan by royal decree in 1936. Today both Dari and Pashto are official languages there. Since then, the Pashto spelling system has been revised to some extent.
Pashto first appeared in writing during the 16th century in the form of an account of Shekh Mali's conquest of Swat. It is written with a version of the Arabic script. There are two standard written forms: one based on the dialect of Kandahar, the other on the dialect of Peshawar.
The name Pashto is thought to derive from the reconstructed proto-Iranian form, parsaw? 'Persian language. In northen Afghanistan speakers of Pashto are called Pakht?n; in sourthen Afghanistan they are known as Pasht?n, and as Path?n or Afghan in Pakistan.

Pashto alphabet (? ???? ??????)

Pashto numbers

Pashto sample text

Translation

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
(Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights)

some basic words in daily routine:

Jor' aw Rogh Ose = Wish you well and good health
Khad aw Abad Ose = Wish you a happy and prosperous life
Pa Khair Raghla = Thanks God you came safe and sound
har kala Rasha = You are welcome anytime
Sthare Mashe = May you not be tired..
Grana = Respected

Pa Dranawi = Best Regards
Khuday Pa Amaan = May God protect you
Staso = yours

Manana = thanks
daera manana= thanks a lot.
bakhAna ghwarum=asking your forgiveness (sorry)
daer Kha kar mo wuku = You have done a good job

Pa Meena = with Love,
Pa Makha Dhay Kha = good on the way
Kher Dey Wee = So nice of you
Sa Khidmath Shta = (is there) Anything , I can do

Sa---what
sok---who
kom--which (male)
Koma---- which (female)
walay---why
sanga---how
dasay---like this
cherta----where
halta---there
dalta----here
kala---when (question)
che----when (for conditional sentence)
biya---then
os---now
na----from
ta----you
ta na (from u)
woom---was
cha---whose
ma----I
hum-----also
zaa----go (verb)
zaay---you go
zam----I go
kay na----sit (verb)
kay nay---- you sit
kay nam---I sit
o khanda---- laugh (verb)
khanday----you laugh
khandam----I laugh
pa---on
rasha----come (to call someone)
raghlo----came (sound for someone who came/visit)
razii----we come
kawwa---do
ma kawwa---do not do
zar/ta di--- soon
zar kawwa---do soon
dadah---his (for present person)
dadawi----their (for present persons)
da hagha---his (not present person)
da haghwi----their (not present persons)
da stasoo---your (for respected/formal persons)
war kara----give him
ra kara----give me
oba---water
lara---for
da para---for
hagha da para----for him
hagha lara----for him
da hagha na----from him (not present person)
da da na----from him (present person)
tah---to
Kabal na Peshawar tah----from kabul to peshawar
da stana---from you
zama na---from me
pa ta---on you, upon you
pa ta soo----on you all
o khora---- eat (verb)
sakal----drink (verb)
kor---home
piyalai---cup
k----in
wachwa---fill/insert
piyalai k chai wachwa----fill tea in the cup
za---I
zama---my
sta---your
day---is (male)
da----is (female)
di----are
mung---we
zamung---our
za....yam----I...am
mung...yoo---we are

[Ankaboot]

very nice and very informative, like dat

[TrUsT Of AnGeL]

Perfect Sharings....

[KingKash]

V. Informative & Impressive...........Aftaab Bahi............Pashtu Section Mai Bhi Kuch Post karain