Afghanspeaking

Afghanspeaking is a term used to describe individuals who speak the languages most commonly used in Afghanistan. In practice, it often refers to speakers of Dari Persian and Pashto, the country's two officially recognized languages, while also recognizing the country's substantial linguistic diversity.

Dari, a variety of Persian, functions as the lingua franca of Afghanistan and is widely used in government, media, and education. Pashto, an Eastern Iranian language, is predominant among Pashtun communities in the south and east. Most Afghans are multilingual and speak both Dari and Pashto, along with one or more minority languages such as Uzbek, Turkmen, Balochi, Hazaragi, or Nuristani.

The writing systems reflect the languages: Dari is written in the Persian script and Pashto in its own variant of the Arabic script. Both scripts are taught in schools, though literacy rates and access to education vary by region and over time, influencing how Afghans communicate publicly.

Geographic distribution and social use: Dari dominates in the central and northern parts of the country, while Pashto is more common in the southern and eastern regions. In urban centers, many residents switch between languages depending on context, including media, government, and social networks.

Diaspora: Afghan-speaking communities abroad reinforce language maintenance and contribute to linguistic exchange in Iran, Pakistan, Europe, and North America, where Dari and Pashto, as well as minority languages, are spoken in familial and community settings.