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Brokskat () or Minaro is an

endangered An endangered species is a species that is very likely to become extinct in the near future, either worldwide or in a particular political jurisdiction. Endangered species may be at risk due to factors such as habitat loss, poaching, inv ...

Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Brokpa people in the lower Indus Valley of

Ladakh Ladakh () is a region administered by India as a union territory and constitutes an eastern portion of the larger Kashmir region that has been the subject of a Kashmir#Kashmir dispute, dispute between India and Pakistan since 1947 and India an ...

and its surrounding areas. It is the oldest surviving member of the ancient Dardic language. It is considered a divergent variety of Shina, but it is not mutually intelligible with the other dialects of Shina. It is only spoken by 2,858 people in Ladakh and 400 people in the adjoining Baltistan, part of Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

Phonology

Consonants

Vowels

Etymology

Exonym The term ''Brokskat'' translates to "the language of the Brokpa" in the Tibetic language. The name "Brokpa" is used by Ladakhi and Balti Tibetic origin people to refer to this ethnic group. ''Brokpa'' means "hill-dweller" or "hillbilly," reflecting their historical lifestyle as hunters in the upper mountainous regions. Endonym The Brokpa themselves refer to their language as "Minaro" and identify their ethnic group by the Minaro as well. Interestingly, their ancient religion is known as "Minaro". Recent articles also refer to the Brokpa community as "Dard Aryans," recognizing it as their cultural identity.

Vocabulary

Verb tenses

References

Dardic languages Languages of Ladakh Languages of Pakistan Languages of Gilgit-Baltistan Languages of India {{IndoAryan-lang-stub