Historically, Munji displays the closest possible linguistic affinity with the now-extinct Bactrian language.[6]
The Garam Chashma area became important during the Soviet–Afghan War. During the invasion, the Soviets were unable to stop the flow of arms and men back and forth across the Dorah Pass that separates Chitral, in Pakistan, from Badakshan in Afghanistan. The two dialects spoken in the area of Mamalgha Valley and the area of Munjan Valley differed, being the northern and southern dialects. The language has moved to parts of Chitral, after the War in Afghanistan forced the Munji-speaking people to flee to safer areas.[7]
Despite Dari being the predominant language of the region, attitudes towards Munji are highly positive, and among speakers, few predict a decline in use.[8]
Munji language has 8 vowel phonemes, these are [ə] ,[a] ,[ɔ] ,[ʊ] ,[u] ,[ɪ] ,[ɛ] ,[i]. Five of these vowels are lengthened in pronunciation, [i], [u], [ɛ], [ɔ], [a]. And the three central vowels [ɪ], [ʊ], [ə] are pronounced as short. The short vowels are neutralized in unstressed syllables, so that even native speakers are not aware of which specific vowel they are using.[10]
As for orthography, native Munji words that have the 5 long vowels, these vowels are written with explicit letters, as defined in orthographic conventions of Munji. The three short vowels are written using diacritics which are dropped in most cases. Loanwords entering Munji via Persian (Dari) (which can be native Persian words, or Arabic or Turkic or European words) are written as they would in Persian.[10]
Attempts at compiling and standardizing an alphabet for Munji was first started in 2010. Samar linguistic institute, the Afghan branch of SIL International, an organization dedicated to preservation of language and development of literacy, has compiled a standardized orthography and various educational and lingustic material on Munji language. In 2017, the Munji orthography was given official confirmation by the Academy of Sciences of Afghanistan, Afghanistan's official language regulator.[11]
The alphabet is derived from Persian alphabet, but consists of 10 additional letters. Some of these letters are to represent phonemes that do not exist in Persian (Dari), while others are to clarify and specify vowel and consonant phonemes for better clarity and less ambiguity.[12]
Unique to Munji, not used as such in Persian (Dari). Similar letter exists in Turkmen orthography. Vowel phoneme [ä] is represented with (أ / ـأ) whether at the beginning, middle, or end of a word.
Letter alif at the beginning of a word can serve two functions. First, it precedes vowel letters (اؤ) [u], (ایـ / اي) [i], or (اېـ / اې) [ɛ]. Second, it acts as a vowel carrier for diacritics of the three short vowels of Munji, اَ [ə], (اُ) [ʊ], and (اِ) [ɪ].
Unique to Munji, not part of Persian (Dari) alphabet. Similar letter exists in Shughni, Wakhani, and other orthographies beyond Afghanistan, such as Kurdish.
Unique to Munji, not used as such in Persian (Dari). Indicates a vowel, and when a word begins with this vowel phoneme, the letter needs to be preceeded by alif (اؤ).
Only at the end of the word does this letter represent vowel phoneme [ə]. In the middle of words, this vowel is represented with diacritic (ـَ) which is usually dropped in writing. At the beginning of a word, the diacritic is placed on top of alif (اَ)
Represents two phonemes based on context, [i] and [j]. If used at the beginning of a word, if representing consonant [j], it will be written standalone یـ, if representing a vowel [i], it will be preceeded by alifایـ. Not used at the end of the word. Instead, either ( ۍ) or ( ي) are used for representing the phonemes [j] or [i] respectively.
Unique to Munji, not part of Persian (Dari) alphabet. Similar letter exists in Pashto orthograpy. This letter is only used at the end of a word to represent the phoneme [j]. Elsewhere in a word, the letter ye یـ / ـیـ is used.
Unique to Munji, not part of Persian (Dari) alphabet. Similar letter exists in Pashto orthograpy. This letter is only used at the end of a word to represent the phoneme [i]. Elsewhere in a word, the letter ye ( ایـ / یـ / ـیـ ) is used.
Unique to Munji, not part of Persian (Dari). Similar letter exists in Pashto and Uzbek orthographies. Indicates a vowel, and when a word begins with this vowel phoneme, the letter needs to be preceeded by alif (اېـ).
Vowels
Munji language has 8 vowel phonemes, these are A a [ə], Ā ā [a], O o [ɔ], U u [ʊ], Ū ū [u], Ə ə [ɪ], E e [ɛ], I i[i]. Five of these vowels are lengthened in pronunciation, [i], [u], [ɛ], [ɔ], [a]. And the three central vowels [ɪ], [ʊ], [ə] are pronounced as short.[10]
As for orthography, native Munji words that have the 5 long vowels, these vowels are written with explicit letters, as defined in orthographic conventions of Munji. The three short vowels are written using diacritics which are dropped in most cases. Loanwords entering Munji via Persian (Dari) (which can be native Persian words, or Arabic or Turkic or European words) are written as they would in Persian.[10]
^Waghmar, Burzine K. (2001) 'Bactrian History and Language: An Overview.' Journal of the K. R. Cama Oriental Institute, 64. pp. 40-48.
^Decker, Kendell D. (1992). Languages of Chitral. National Institute of Pakistan Studies, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan and Summer Institute of Linguistics. p. 50.
^Daniela Beyer; Simone Beck (2011). "A linguistics assessment of the Munji language in Afghanistan". Language Documentation and Conservation. 6: 38–103.
^ abcdefgZabanha, Paul Williamson and Anna Williamson. Translated to Dari by Sani Marzban. Munji Phonological Analysis / تحلیل وتجزیه صدا زبان منجانی [1]
Decker, Kendall (1992). Languages of Chitral. Islamabad: National Institute of Pakistan Studies, Quaid-i-Azam University and Summer Institute of Linguistics.
Williamson, Paul (2017). "Munji". Illustrations of the IPA. Journal of the International Phonetic Association. 47 (2): 213–218. doi:10.1017/S0025100316000256, with supplementary sound recordings.
