A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | CH | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9
| Wanetsi | |
|---|---|
| وڼېڅي | |
 | |
| Native to | Pakistan |
| Region | Balochistan |
Native speakers | 150,000 (2020)[1] |
| Pashto alphabet | |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | wne |
| Glottolog | wane1241 |
Waṇetsi (Waneci: وڼېڅي), commonly called Tarīno (Waneci: ترينو), and sometimes Tsalgari (Waneci: څلګري), is a distinct variety of Pashto and is considered by some to be a different language. In some cases, Wanetsi shares similarities with the Pamir language of Munji, being a sort of bridge between the former and Pashto.[3] It is perhaps a representation of a more archaic, or very early, form of Pashto.[4]
It is spoken by the Tareen, Mashwani and other Pashtun tribes in Balochistan, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, primarily in Harnai (هرنای) (Harnai District) and Chawter (چوتېر) area in Sanjawi, Northern Balochistan, Pakistan.[3] The language is at risk due to lack of attention and not liking it as a language by foreigners.[5]
History
Professor Prods Oktor Skjærvø states:[6]
"The Pashto area split into two dialect groups at a pre-literary period, represented today on the one hand by all the dialects of modern Pashto and on the other by Waṇeci and by archaic remains in other Southeast dialects"
— page 386
According to Encyclopædia Iranica Waṇetsi branched off from the other Pashto dialects in the Middle Iranian stage:[7]
Some of Waṇetsi's particularities (e.g. šwī “twenty,” mōš “we,” γa “of;” the pres. endings; retention of rž; loss of -t-) prove that it must have split off from Paṣ̌to at an early Middle Iranic stage, considerably before the constitution of a standard Paṣ̌to. They can scarcely have developed after the arrival of the Waṇetsi speakers in their present home, which is in no way topographically cut off from the rest of Paṣ̌to territory. These speakers must rather represent the forerunners of the main Paṣ̌tūn movement towards the east, but when and where they split off is at present impossible to say.
— Section F.
Research
The first known linguistic research was conducted in 1929 by Georg Morgenstierne on Waṇetsi.[8] Since then linguists like Josef Elfenbein have worked and researched on this archaic Pashto dialect.[9][10][11] In his book, Syed Khair Muhammad Arif, "Tarin aw Tarīno" has also included a small dictionary of Waṇetsi.[12] ٙBut much work remains to be done on understanding Waṇetsi.[13]
Poetry
The Waṇetsi Poet Nizamuddin Nizami Tarin, a Spin Tarin from Chawter, has also compiled poetry in the language. An excerpt from his poem in Waṇetsi:
نيکۀ څېنه بړ سړا ده څۀ اړ توني چي بسيا ده |
How strong/capable grandfather is, that in a hill-locked place he is prosperous. |
| —نظام الدین نظامي ترين |
Music
The singer Khayam Tareen (خيام ترين) has also sung songs in Waṇetsi.[5]
Phonology
Consonants
- Waṇetsi has and for Pashto ښ and ږ, respectively.[14]
- څ does not merge with but can be pronounced as and ځ does not merge with but can be pronounced as .[15]
- is dropable in Waṇetsi e.g. هغه becomes اغه[14]