Sheikhgal
Sheikhgal or Watali is an unclassified Indo-Aryan language of Jammu and Kashmir, India. Its speakers, the formerly nomadic Watals, are found throughout Kashmir, particularly in the districts of Srinagar, Baramulla, Pulwama and Kupwara. Among its speakers the language is also known as Opedigal or Phiri kathi.
Although attitudes towards the language are generally negative, the community is compact and Sheikhgal is the dominant language within the home. However, in other domains the language of wider communication Kashmiri is the preferred choice, even with other speakers of Sheikhgal. Within the family, there is a slight shift away from using Sheikhgal.
