Thali dialect

Thaḷī is a western dialect of the Punjabi language spoken in parts of the Pakistani provinces of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It has been classified within the Saraiki group of dialects by some linguists, as a northern dialect of Saraiki, although it has also been described as transitional between Multani and Shahpuri Punjabi. Its name derives from the Thal Desert.

Its area starts from Tank to Muzzafargarh on the eastern end of the Indus River and from Bannu running down to D I khan at the western end of the Indus River.

In Dera Ismail Khan District, it goes by the name of Ḍerāwāl or Derawali, and in Mianwali and Bannu districts it is known as Hindko or Mulkī. A dialect of Thali spoken in the northeast is known as Kacchī. Inhabitants of Dera Ismail Khan District, presumably speakers of this dialect, variously identify their language as Saraiki or Hindko. Likewise for those living in Mianwali District, who identify their language as either Punjabi, general, or Saraiki.

Thali is spoken in the following districts of Punjab Province and districts of Kyber Pakhtunkha Province:


 * Layyah District
 * parts of Muzaffargarh District
 * Dera Ismail Khan District
 * Tank District
 * Lakki Marwat District
 * Bhakkar District
 * parts of Mianwali District