Darispeaking

Darispeaking, also rendered as Dari-speaking, denotes the use of the Dari language, the Afghan variety of Persian, by individuals or communities. It commonly refers to people who consider Dari their native or primary language and identify culturally through Dari-speaking heritage. Dari is one of Afghanistan's official languages, alongside Pashto, and it functions as a lingua franca in much of the country.

Linguistically, Dari is mutually intelligible with Iranian Persian but has distinctive pronunciation, lexicon, and syntax in some contexts. It is written in a variant of the Perso-Arabic script, with four added letters and distinctive orthographic conventions. The standard form used in government, media, and education is often called Afghan Dari.

Dari comprises regional varieties, with notable differences among Kabul, Herat, Balkh, and other areas. Variants differ mainly in phonology and vocabulary rather than grammar, and speakers generally understand one another across regions.

In Afghanistan, Dari serves as a primary medium of instruction in schools in Dari-speaking regions, is widely used in government administration and media, and functions as a key language in urban and many rural communities. The language is also present in Afghan diaspora communities in Iran, Pakistan, Europe, and North America.

Dari-speaking communities maintain literature, journalism, and online media in Dari, contributing to the preservation and evolution of Afghan Persian. Ongoing language planning and education policies influence its status and standardization.