Languages and peoples: Dari, Pashto and much more

Afghanistan's constitution names Dari and Pashto as official languages. Dari, a form of Persian, is widely used as a common language, and estimates suggest about half the population speaks it. Pashto is spoken by roughly a third. Other languages carry official status in regions where most people speak them, including Uzbek, Turkmen, Baluchi, Nuristani and Pamiri languages. Many people speak more than one language, and literacy in any of them varies with the schooling a person was able to get.

The country is also ethnically diverse. The largest groups are usually listed as Pashtun, Tajik, Hazara and Uzbek, followed by Turkmen, Baloch, Aimaq, Nuristani and others. Treat any percentages you see with care. Afghanistan has not held a full census since the late nineteen-seventies, and a later count deliberately left out ethnicity and language questions because they were so politically charged. Religion is similar: nearly all Afghans are Muslim, most Sunni, with a Shia minority that includes many Hazara. Small Sikh and Hindu communities also have Afghan roots. Ethnicity, region and faith have shaped who was targeted in past conflicts, so these are not neutral topics for everyone.

For language access, the details matter. The Minnesota Department of Health notes that Dari and Farsi are both forms of Persian, but a Dari speaker may or may not understand Farsi well, depending on where they are from. MDH also recommends orienting interpreters to a family's city or province of origin. Less common languages among recent arrivals include Hazaragi and Uzbek. So do not stop at asking whether someone speaks Persian. Ask what language the person prefers, whether a particular dialect matters, and whether they want written material or spoken explanation.

Comfort with a particular interpreter can matter too. A person may prefer an interpreter of a certain gender, or may worry about confidentiality in a small community. Ask these questions of everyone, in a neutral way, rather than assuming what someone wants from their ethnicity or appearance. The person's answer is the guide, not your prediction.

Fictional case: Joel, a county case manager working with a DSD-funded program, schedules a Farsi interpreter for Marzia, an Afghan woman who is applying for services for her son. During the call, Marzia answers briefly and asks the interpreter to repeat several questions. Afterward the interpreter mentions that some of Marzia's words sounded like Hazaragi. Joel had not asked about language preference beyond the referral form, which said Persian.

Look at the interpreter request process you use. Add or draft two prompts: one asking for preferred language and dialect, and one asking about any interpreter preference such as gender. Share the draft with your team lead.

When you request an interpreter, what do you usually know about the person's language beyond its general name? What would you need to ask to know more?