Domaaki, also known locally as Dawoodi, is an endangered Indo‑Aryan language spoken in the Hunza and Nagar valleys of Gilgit‑Baltistan, Pakistan. The language belongs to the Central Indo‑Aryan group and is historically related to languages of the Indian Midlands, though it has been heavily influenced by neighboring tongues such as Burushaski and Shina. Speakers estimates range from 340 to a few hundred individuals, making it one of the smallest linguistic communities in the region. Ethnically, the speakers belong to the Domaa community, traditionally associated with occupations such as blacksmithing and music. Two main dialects exist—one in Hunza Valley and the other in Nagar Valley—which are mutually intelligible. The language has been documented in Arabic script, though it is primarily spoken and not taught in schools. Children are no longer learning Domaaki, and most Domaa families have shifted to dominant languages like Shina and Burushaski.
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