Balti language

Balti is a language formerly spoken in Baltistan, in what is now part of the Northern Areas of Pakistan. The language is an archaic dialect of the Tibetan language.

Script

Balti is also the name of the Tibetan Balti script, no longer in use, which was replaced by the written left to right instead, due to Arabic influence.

Recently a number of Balti scholars have been trying to repromote the use of the Balti script (including the Tibetan form) and as well as preserving their semi-Tibetan Balti culture, in order to preserve their racial identity.

Vocabulary

The Balti language shares 80-90% of the vocabulary with the neighboring Ladakhi, although they have adopted words from Shina , Burushaski and Persian with the process of Islamization.

External links

• Unicode
• Koshur: The Balti Language
• Pakistan's Northern Areas dilemma
• Northern Areas Development Gateway
• Pakistan's Northern Areas