Brokskat () or Minaro is an endangered Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Brokpa people in the lower Indus Valley of Ladakh 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 (in areas such as the Kharmang Valley), part of Gilgit-Baltistan, a region administered by Pakistan.
Phonology Consonants LabialDental/alveolarPalatalVelarGlottal Nasal Stop Affricate Fricative ApproximantTrill Vowels + Vowel inventory Front Central Back Close Mid Open
Etymology
Exonym
The term Brokskat translates to in the Tibetic language. The name Brokpa is used by Ladakhi and Balti Tibetic origin people to refer to this ethnic group. Brokpa means or , reflecting their historical lifestyle as hunters in the upper mountainous regions.
Endonym
The Brokpa themselves refer to their language as and identify their ethnic group with the term as well. Their ancient religion is also known as Minaro. Recent articles also refer to the Brokpa community as "Dard Aryans", recognizing it as their cultural identity.
Vocabulary + English Brokskat in Roman script Brokskat in Bodyig script Nastaliq Script Water Fire Sun Moon Mountain Human Land Boy Girl Baby Knife
Verb tenses
There are two tenses, past and non-past.
+ English Brokskat-present tense Brokskat-past tense Broskat-future tense Imperative To go Not english as per the citation in this section. To stand To break To open To laugh To sit To walk To throw To look To cut To count
Notes
References
Bibliography