Ethnicities and Languages

Roya Sereshki

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NApThFcWeFc

Afghanistan has no majority group. They have mixed ethnicities and languages.

Major ethnic groups include Pashtuns, Tajiks, Hazaras, and Turkmen. Currently, Pashtuns are seen as the dominant people in Afghanistan.

Pashtuns make up the largest percent (42% of population) out of the ethnic groups.

Ethnic Categories are a general way of how Afghans view themselves and others. It is often seen as rude to immediately ask about an Afghan’s ethnicity.

Afghans often identify with their tribes, not just “Pashtun.” Durrani, Gharghasht, Karlaane, and Khilji are Pashtun tribes.

These tribes have many subtribes within them. For example, the Pashtun tribe Durrani has 38 subtribes.

Afghanistan’s official languages are Pashto and Dari (Afghan Farsi). Dari is used for cultural expression, business, and government transactions.

Pashto has extensive literature. Many books and poems are written in Pashto.

Pashtun literally means “man of honor.” Pashtuns abide by the Pashtun code of conduct and honor called Pashtunwali.

Pashtuns adhere to Pashtunwali, even with strangers to show good hospitality.

Pashtunwali guarantees the 3 Z’s: Zan (woman), Zar (property), and Zamin (land). Women are especially important to Pashtuns, as they view that harassing women is the most un-Pashtun thing one can do.

Works Cited

"Afghanistan Languages." CountryReports. N.p.: n.p., n.d. N. pag. Print.

Citizendium. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Nov. 2014.

Google Images. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Nov. 2014.

"Pashtun Tribes." AfghanTribes. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Nov. 2014.

"People and Ethnic Groups." Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. U of West

Florida, 2010. Web. 7 Nov. 2014.