Bhalesi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken in the Bhalessa region of Jammu and Kashmir, India. It is a member of the Bhadarwahi group of dialects under the Western Pahari subgroup.[1]

Bhalesi
Bhalesi written in Takri
Native to	India
Region	Bhalessa region of Jammu
Language family	Indo-European Indo-Iranian Indo-Aryan Western Pahari Bhadarwahi Bhalesi
Language codes
ISO 639-3	–
Glottolog	bhal1244
ELP	Bhalesi
Bhalesi Show map of Jammu and Kashmir Bhalesi Show map of India
Coordinates: 33.03°N 75.90°E / 33.03; 75.90

The region is locally known as Bhalessa (with variants like Bhalesh), or as Bhal, and from these terms derive the local names for the dialect: /ˈbʱɑli/ and /bʱəˈleiʃi/ (with variants /bʱəˈleʃi/, /bʱəˈlesi/).[2] The region mostly takes up two adjacent mountain valleys, with the main settlements being Kahra, Gandoh, Kilhotran, Jakyas, Bhatyas, and Juggasar. The neighbouring languages are Chinali, Pangwali and Chambeali to the south-east, Padri to the north-east, Kishtwari to the north-west, Sarazi to the west, and Bhadarwahi to the south.[3]

Features that distinguish Bhalesi from the other Bhadarwahi dialects include the preponderence of diphthongs, and the dropping of /l/ between vowels (e.g. Bhalesi /kɑo/ vs. Bhadarwahi /kɑlo/ 'black').[4]

An unusual feature is found in one of the patterns for the formation of the plural of feminine nouns, adjectives and participles. While some forms add a suffix (/bʱi/ 'a small bee' -> /bʱiɑ̃/ 'small bees'), others will undergo apophony: the final and initial vowels are raised, for example:[5]

• /ˈloʈkɪ/ 'a small jug' -> /ˈluʈki/ 'small jugs'
• /ˈsʊɳɪ/ 'a white ant' -> /syɳi/ 'white ants'
• /ˈɡɛɪ/ 'she went' -> /ˈɡei/ 'they(f) went'

References

Bibliography

• Kaul, Pritam Krishen (2006). Pahāṛi and Other Tribal Dialects of Jammu. Vol. 1. Delhi: Eastern Book Linkers. ISBN 8178541017.
• Varma, Siddheshwar (1948). The Bhalesī dialect. Monograph series (Royal Asiatic Society of Bengal). Vol. 4. Calcutta.