Brokskat language


Brokskat or Minaro is an endangered Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Brokpa people in the lower Indus Valley of Ladakh and its surrounding areas. It is the oldest surviving member of the ancient Dardic language. It is considered a divergent variety of Shina, but it is not mutually intelligible with the other dialects of Shina. It is only spoken by 2,858 people in Ladakh and 400 people in the adjoining Baltistan, part of Gilgit-Baltistan, a region administered by Pakistan.

Phonology

Consonants

Vowels

Etymology

Exonym
The term Brokskat translates to in the Tibetic language. The name Brokpa is used by Ladakhi and Balti Tibetic origin people to refer to this ethnic group. Brokpa means or, reflecting their historical lifestyle as hunters in the upper mountainous regions.
Endonym
The Brokpa themselves refer to their language as Minaro and identify their ethnic group with the term as well. Their ancient religion is also known as Minaro. Recent articles also refer to the Brokpa community as "Dard Aryans", recognizing it as their cultural identity.

Vocabulary

Verb tenses

There are two tenses, past and non-past.
EnglishBrokskat-present tenseBrokskat-past tenseBroskat-future tenseImperative
To gobyasgobyungsboyai
To standautheisauthaitauthiyungsauthi
To breakphitaisphitaiatphitiaungsphitai
To openaunisauniatauniungsauni
To laughhazishazithaziungshazi
To sitbazhaisbazhitbazhiungsbazhi
To walkzaziszazitzaziungszazi
To throwfaitisfaitiatfatiungsfati
To lookskisskaitskiungsski
To cutchhinischinaitchhiniungschhini
To countgyanisgyaniatgyaniungsgyani