Budhali as a Contact-Induced Variety: A Study of Linguistic Variation in Budhal (Rajouri District, Jammu and Kashmir)

Abstract

The present study examines language contact and linguistic variation in the speech community of Budhal in Rajouri district, a highly multilingual region of Jammu and Kashmir. The area is characterized by the coexistence and interaction of several languages, including Kashmiri, Pahari, Gojri, Dogri, Poguli, and Siraji, resulting in intense multilingual contact and structural convergence. A central focus of the study is Budhali, a local speech variety functioning as a link language across different ethno-linguistic communities. Although classified under Pahari in the Census of India, Budhali exhibits distinct phonological, lexical, and morphosyntactic features that distinguish it from closely related varieties. The study also analyzes Budhal Kashmiri, highlighting regional variation from standard Valley Kashmiri. The analysis reveals significant contact-induced changes across linguistic levels. At the phonological level, features such as [h]-dropping, vowel nasalization, glide insertion, and the use of the high central vowel demonstrate structural adaptation under language contact. Morphosyntactic variation is evident in the progressive marker alternation, deletion of dative case markers, and changes in pronominal usage. Additionally, lexical comparison shows that Budhali shares vocabulary with both Kashmiri and Urdu/Hindi, while also adopting plural formation patterns similar to Indo-Aryan languages. The findings suggest that Budhali has developed as a contact-induced and convergent variety, shaped by prolonged interaction among multiple linguistic communities. Despite lacking a standardized script and written tradition, Budhali plays a crucial role as a functional lingua franca in the region. The study contributes to the understanding of language contact, dialect continuum, and linguistic change in multilingual Himalayan settings, highlighting Budhali as an important but understudied variety.