FLI Kateviri Keyboard

The language often referred to as Kateviri is more accurately known as Katë or Kati, and sometimes Bashgali. It is a major language within the Nuristani branch of the Indo-Iranian family, which itself is part of the larger Indo-European language family.


Classification and Location
Family: Indo-European → Indo-Iranian → Nuristani → Katë

Speakers: Katë is the largest Nuristani language, with an estimated 40,000 to 150,000 speakers (figures vary).

Geography: It is primarily spoken by the Kata people in the Nuristan Province of northeastern Afghanistan, and by a smaller population in the Chitral District of Pakistan, notably in the Bumboret Valley. In Chitral, the dialect is sometimes called Shekhani or Bashgaliwar.

Dialects and Status
Dialects: Katë is a dialect continuum, meaning its varieties blend into one another. It is generally divided into Western, Northeastern, and Southeastern Katë. The Southeastern variety is often confusingly listed as a separate language, Kamviri, though many linguists consider them one language.


Vitality: While some sources, like Ethnologue, classify it as 'stable' within its community (meaning children learn it at home), others, including UNESCO, classify it as Definitely Endangered, highlighting the pressure from dominant regional languages like Pashto and Khowar.

Literacy: Literacy rates are notably low, often below 1% for native speakers. However, there are ongoing efforts to develop a writing system, primarily using the Arabic script (Nastaliq), and some books and literary materials are being produced.


Katë is of significant interest to linguists for its distinct position within the Indo-Iranian family, representing a separate, early split from the common ancestor of Indo-Aryan and Iranian languages. It serves as an essential part of the cultural identity for the Nuristani people.