Himalayan Languages, dialects and folk culture, including those of Jammu’s mountainous region, occupy an important place in the cultural identities of Jammu region are numerous and varied. Many travelers researchers and scholars, in the last one and a half century, have noted and commented upon some of the dialects spoken in Jammu hill region, but further research needs to be carried on. The Pahari dialects belong to three main linguistic groups i.e. Western Pahari, Lehnda or Geographical Pahari and Dardo-Pahari. The dialects of Western Pahari belong to Hindi group, Lehnda or Geographical Pahari belong to Western Punjabi or Lehnda, and the dialects of Dardo-Pahari are older, very rich in antiquity and have certain characteristics common to Western Pahari as well as Kashmiri. Most of the tribal dialects such as Zarloli, Sansi etc. recorded by erstwhile linguists and numbering 17 are now extinct, except dialects like Gojri and Bakerwali, and the author has been able to trace and record two new dialects in the name of Watali and Cinnali.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR P.K. Kaul
Dr. P.K. Kaul, born at Bhadarwah J & K, is a research Scholar of repute, having experience, in diverse fields of regional study. Being a science graduate in Physics, Chemistry, Geology and Bio-Science, and Science teacher in Secondary Schools in earlier part of his professional career, he has developed a logical approach in dealing with the topics of his study. He later worked in various state colleges, and retired as a Professor of Hindi from Govt. Women's College Gandhi Nagar, Jammu. Presently he is working as Principal Investigator of specified and unspecified Pahari dialects or Jammu, a University Grants Commission Project. He writes both in Hindi as well as in English, and his works include a dozen of research publications (books) on diverse regional topics including linguistics, folk lore, biographies, history and culture and paleography also. In addition he has contributed scores of research articles published in various magazines and newspapers from many parts of North India. He has to his credit two poetic collections also. The author is presently settled at Jammu.
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