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Author's Preface
This site contains previously unpublished material on the linguistics and ethnography of Nuristân and
neighboring regions, collected and analyzed by Richard F. Strand since 1967. Funding for
the author's field research in Nuristân, Afghânistân, and Pâkistân was provided in part by the following
institutions: the Fulbright Foundation (1991-92), the Smithsonian Institution (1980, 1984-85), The
Wenner-Gren Foundation for Anthropological Research (1972), Brown University (1971), Cornell
University (1966-69, 1970), and Teachers College, Columbia University (1967-69 ).
All contents of this site are Copyright © 1997-2021 by Richard F. Strand. No part of these
contents may be reproduced or redistributed by any means without written consent of the author.
Peoples of Nuristân
Where is Nuristân, and Who Cares?
The region called Nuristân is one in a chain of ethnic refuge areas that line the mountains of the Indian Plate collision zone from Afghânistân to Southeast Asia. Nuristân lies in the Hindu Kush
mountains of northeastern Afghânistân, spanning the basins of the Alingâr, Pech, Landai Sin, and Kunar rivers. It is the homeland of a unique group of Indo-European-speaking tribal peoples, now called
Nuristânis, who fled and resisted Islâm as it spread eastward. In 1895-96 the Nuristânis were finally conquered by the Afghân armies of Âmir Abdur Rahmân Khân, and the people were obliged to
abandon their ancient religious beliefs in favor of Islâm.
Nuristânis are today such devout Muslims that they were the first citizens of Afghânistân to successfully revolt against the communist overthrow of their government in 1978. Their success inspired others throughout the country to rise up and bleed the Soviet Union to death through thirteen years of war. The straw that broke the Soviet Union's back sprouted in Nuristân, and we must acknowledge the pivotal historical role that the Nuristânis played in nurturing the seed.
Topics
- A Brief Look at the Linguistic, Cultural, and Strategic Significance of Nuristan (A .pdf version of a PowerPoint presentation given at the University of Chicago in April 2018, without my accompanying narration)
- Peoples and Languages of Nuristân (15 February 2001 - 7 July 2011)
- Northern Nuristâni Linguistic Group
- Southern Nuristâni (Kalaṣʹa) Linguistic Group
- Transcription and Pronunciation of the Nuristâni Languages (8 December 2007 - 10 December 2011)
- The Evolution of the Nuristâni Languages
- Origins
- Phonology
- Grammar
- Lexicon
- Nuristâni Etymological Lexicon, (Version 2, 18 March 2013, containing etymological sources going back to Proto-Indo-European and beyond) [choose this language in the upper-right window of the ensuing page] (20 May 2012, 24 March 2013)
- Nuristan Natural Resource Assessment (A report prepared for USAID in February 2009) (16 December 2019)
- Neighboring Peoples and Languages
- Indo-Aryan-Speaking Peoples (12 June 2001)
- Southern Neighbors:
- Pashai-Speaking Peoples
- Enclaves in the Pech and Lower Kunar Valleys
- The Gawâr
- Neighbors in Chitral:
- The Kh´ow
- Khow`ar, The Language of the Kh´ow
- The Sound System of Khow`ar (16 January 2012)
- The Grammar of Khow`ar
- Khow`ar Lexicon [choose this language in the upper-right window of the ensuing page] (5 July 2004 - 13 November 2011)
- An Anectdote in Khow`ar
- The Kalʹaṣa
- Shin Enclaves in Chitral and Kunar
- The Dåmiâ
- Neighboring Ethnic Refuge Areas: the Kohistâns of Dir, Swat, and the Indus:
- The Garvi Speakers of Dir and Swat Kohistan
- The Torwali of Swat Kohistan
- The Ushuju Speakers of Swat Kohistan
- The People of Duber and Kandia in Indus Kohistân
- The People of Patan in Indus Kohistân
- The People of Bhaṭera in Indus Kohistân
- Bhaṭʹe sa-zib, The Language the People of Bhaṭera
- The People of Koli in Indus Kohistân
- The Shin People of Indus Kohistân
- Iranian-Speaking Peoples (20 January 2002 - 28 March 2011)
- The Afghâns of Kunar
- Paxtʹo (Pashto), The Language the Afghâns
- Paxtʹo Lexicon [choose this language in the upper-right window of the ensuing page] (6 October 2001)
- The Munji
- Persian Speakers
- Comparative Studies of the Region's Languages
- Phylogeny
- Phonology
- Lexicon
- Bibliography (1 May 1999 - 15 March 2021)
- Links to Other Websites Devoted to the Cultures of the Hindu-Kush Region
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Copyright © 1997-2021 by Richard F. Strand
Direct any comments to
Richard F. Strand
Site created 24 December 1997 Last updated 20 March 2021
[Phonemic transcription updated 9 Oct 2007, 6 May 2011-present]