FLI’s Orthography Workshop with Madaklashti Researchers Concludes in Madaklasht, Chitral

Madaklasht, Lower Chitral
The Forum for Language Initiatives (FLI), in collaboration with Hunarmandan and local researchers, successfully concluded a five-day orthography workshop in Madaklasht, Lower Chitral. This event marked a significant step toward the preservation of the Madaklashti Persian language, its cultural heritage, and community identity.
The workshop brought together 17 linguists, researchers, community leaders, and representatives of the Madaklashti community. Nine of them were women. Over the course of five days, participants engaged in detailed discussions on the linguistic features, script development, historical background, and cultural significance of the language. The sessions provided a platform for scholarly exchange and community reflection, ensuring that the process of orthography development is rooted in both academic rigor and local wisdom.
Rather than concluding with a final decision, the workshop initiated a long-term collective process. In the coming days, FLI will continue to facilitate consultative meetings, training programs, and scholarly sessions to refine and build consensus around the orthography. The community itself will lead this journey, making informed decisions about its language and identity, while experts from FLI will provide technical guidance and a roadmap.
This achievement strengthens the foundation for standardized publications, research-based language development, and the transmission of cultural knowledge to future generations. FLI extends its heartfelt gratitude to all experts, community leaders, artisans, and supporting institutions whose contributions made this historic effort possible.
As the first-ever activity of its kind in the Madaklashti community, this workshop reflects FLI’s enduring commitment to language preservation. More initiatives will follow to further strengthen the Madaklashti Persian language, ensuring its vitality and continuity for generations to come.