Dogri

Dogri is an Indo-Aryan language spoken primarily in the Jammu region of the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir in northern India. It forms part of the Western Pahari subgroup in many classifications. The language has a strong oral tradition and a growing modern literature, and it is spoken by millions, with diaspora communities in Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

In 2004, Dogri was included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India, giving it official recognition at the national level. Within Jammu and Kashmir, Dogri is widely used in education, media, and local administration, alongside other regional languages.

Dogri is primarily written in the Devanagari script in India, although it has historical use of the Takri script in some areas. It is also encountered in Romanization in digital texts and transliterations.

The language has several regional varieties, with Jammu Dogri being the prestige form. It exhibits influences from Sanskrit, as well as borrowings from Persian, Urdu, and Punjabi, reflecting long contact with neighboring linguistic communities. Its phonology includes a range of stops and vowels typical of Indo-Aryan languages.

Dogri has a developing modern literature with poetry, prose, and children’s books. Newspapers, magazines, and radio and television programs in Dogri contribute to its vitality. Language-promoting institutions like the Dogri Academy support publications, education, and cultural events.