UNESCO’s list of endangered languages includes several Pakistani languages and Brahui is one of them. Some estimates put the number of Pakistani languages facing the danger of becoming extinct as high as 27. As there are about 75 languages and dialects spoken in Pakistan, the number of endangered ones seems to be quite high.
Brahui is categorised as ‘potentially vulnerable’ language by Unesco. This category represents the least endangered languages but it should be a reason for concern as vulnerable is defined as a language that though most children speak, the use may be restricted to a limited environ, such as home. According to Ethnologue, an annual publication involved in research on languages and publishing information on them, Brahui is spoken in some areas of Balochistan, including Quetta, Kalat and adjoining areas. It is spoken in some areas of Sindh, too. In Pakistan, Brahui is written in a script derived mainly from Perso-Arabic script with modifications.
Different dialects of Brahui are spoken in Kalat, Saravan and Jhalavan areas in Balochistan, with Kalat’s dialect considered standard language, as put by Ethnologue. Brahui has little or no resemblance with languages spoken in the surrounding areas and the reason is Brahui is a Dravidian language. Dravidian languages, as mentioned by several linguists, are native to South Asia and some major Dravidian languages spoken in South India are Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu and Kannada. Brahui is in fact a language isolated from other Dravidian languages and this isolation has resulted in heavy borrowing from languages spoken in neighbouring areas.
According to Prof Anwer Rooman, though Brahui has words borrowed from other languages such as Balochi, Persian, Arabic — all non-Dravidian languages — the basic vocabulary, syntax and morphology of Brahui are essentially Dravidian. Prof Rooman also wrote that Lieutenant R. Leech, an officer in British army, carried out the earliest research on Brahui language and his research paper titled ‘Epitome of Brahuiki, Balochki and Punjabi Languages’ was published in 1838 issue of Asiatic Society Journal, adds Prof Rooman.
The work was published in 1900 by Lahore’s Rai Sahib Munshi Gulab Singh Publishers in book form (now it is available online). Interestingly, the suffix ‘ki’ is added to the names of some Pakistani languages and dialects — such as Domaki, Loarki and Hindki — meaning ‘the language of’. That’s why R. Leech might have used Brahuiki and Balochki, but in some cases the suffix ‘ki’ has now been dropped and is no longer used. So is the case with Brahui and Balochi.
Recently, two books on Brahui’s vocabulary and its similarities with Urdu and Arabic languages were published. It is a pity that no notice of such scholarly work is taken and our electronic as well as print media keep themselves busy with more “interesting” news, mainly concerning showbiz and politics.
Penned by Dr Abdur Rahman Brahui and published by Quetta’s Brahui Academy, both the books explore the linguistic relations of Brahui. The first one, titled Urdu Aur Brahui Ke Lisani Ravabit traces Urdu vocabulary that has been borrowed by Brahui.
In his foreword Dr Brahui has clarified the misconception that Urdu arrived in Balochistan with the advent of the British rulers and along with them those who spoke Urdu and Panjabi arrived. He says it is incorrect because Mulla Muhammad Hasan Brahui’s Urdu divan was compiled in 1847, which means Urdu was spoken and understood in Balochistan much earlier than the arrival of the British.
Dr Abdur Rahman Brahui is a veteran scholar from Balochistan and has penned a large number of articles and books. In his intro to the book Dr M. Salahuddin Mengal has highlighted Dr Brahui’s services to Pakistani literature and languages. According to him, Dr Abdur Rahman Brahui was born in Quetta on May 15, 1940. He did his matriculation from Quetta, graduated from Punjab University and obtained a degree in law from Karachi University. Dr Brahui went to Oxford for a course on linguistics and especially studied Urdu’s influence on the English language. Dr Brahui presented this research in a book titled Angrezi Par Urdu Ka Asar, which was published by the National Language Authority, Islamabad. Dr Brahui possesses doctoral degrees both in Urdu and Islamic Studies, adds Dr Mengal.
Dr Abdur Rahman Brahui has penned and compiled over 60 books in Urdu, Brahui and English, but he has not been given any civil award, laments Dr Mengal. Dr Brahui’s contribution to Urdu and Brahui is truly remarkable. His book Brahui Lok Kahaniyan (Brahui Folklore) has been translated into Japanese.
The other book, Arabi Aur Brahui Ke Lisani Ravabit surveys Arabic words borrowed by Brahui. Both the books prove the authors command over different languages and his erudition.
Published in Dawn, July 3rd, 2023
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