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In:Historical Linguistics 2023: Selected papers from the 26th International Conference on Historical Linguistics,Heidelberg, 4-8 September 2023
Edited by Jadranka Gvozdanović
[Current Issues in Linguistic Theory 371] 2026
► pp. 242–256

On the Bactrian influence on local languages of the Hindukush

 | Indiana University
This content is being prepared for publication; it may be subject to changes.
Abstract
As an important language in Afghanistan and the Hindukush area of the first millennium ce, Bactrian exerted influence on surrounding, mostly unattested, Middle Indo-Iranian languages, many of whose descendants are still spoken today in the region. The present chapter draws attention to a number of Bactrian loanwords in Pashto, Ishkashmi-Sanglechi, Munji, Wakhi, Nuristani and Khowar. At the same time, individual words or entire layers in regional languages are discussed which, despite an a priori attractiveness of this idea, cannot stem from Bactrian for phonological reasons.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.On Bactrian loanwords in Pashto
  • 3.On Bactrian loanwords in Ishkashmi and Sanglechi
  • 4.On Bactrian loanwords in Munji and Yidgha
  • 5.On Bactrian loanwords in Wakhi
  • 6.On Bactrian loanwords in Nuristani
  • 7.On Bactrian loanwords in Khowar
  • 8.No evidence for a Bactrian substrate in Hazaragi
  • 9.Conclusion
  • Author queries
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • References
References (41)
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