Western Iranian languages
| Western Iranian | |
|---|---|
| Geographic distribution: |
Southwest Asia, Central Asia, and western South Asia |
| Linguistic classification: | Indo-European
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| Subdivisions: |
Northwestern Iranian
Southwestern Iranian
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The Western Iranian languages are a subgroup of the Iranian languages, attested from the time of Old Persian (6th century BC).
The two sub-branches are:
- Northwestern Iranian languages
- Southwestern Iranian languages
The opposition of these two dialect groups is apparent already in Old Iranian times, from the opposition of Old Persian and Median.
Contents |
Languages
Western Iranian languages fall into two distinct branches. The Northwestern Iranian languages show a lot of dialectal diversity. The Southwestern Iranian languages, also called the Persid languages, include some 16 (SIL estimate) closely related languages and dialects.
Northwestern
- Old Azeri (Azari)†
- Central Iran (geographic)
- Tafresh: Ashtiani, Amora’i, Kahaki, Vafsi, Judeo-Hamadani, Judeo-Borujerdi, Judeo-Nahavandi, Alviri-Vidari (Alviri, Vidari)
- Northwestern: Khunsari (Khwanshari, Judeo-Khunsari), Mahallati, Vanishani, Judeo-Golpaygani
- Northeastern: Arani, Bidgoli, Delijani, Nashalji, Abuzaydabadi, Qohrudi, Badrudi, Kamu’i, Jowshaqani, Meyma’i, Abyana’i, Soi (Sohi), Badi, Natanzi (Natanzi, Farizandi, Yarandi/Yarani), Kasha’i, Tari, Tarqi, Judeo-Kashani
- Southwestern: Gazi, Sedehi, Ardestani, Nohuji, Sajzi, Jarquya’i, Rudashti, Kafrudi, Kafruni, Judeo-Esfahani
- Southeastern: Zoroastrian Dari (Yazdi, Kermani, Judeo-Yazdi, Judeo-Kermani), Nayini (Na’ini, Anaraki), Zefra’i, Varzenei, Tudeshki, Keyjani, Abchuya’i
- Kavir: Khuri, Farvi, Farroki, Mehrjani
- Sivandi: Sivandi, Northwestern Fars
- Kurdish (Dialects: Sorani (Central Kurdish), Kurmanji (Northern Kurdish), Southern Kurdish), Laki
- Zaza–Gorani: Gorani (Hawrami), Bajelan, Kirmanjki (Northern Zaza), Dimli (Southern Zaza), Shabak, Sarli
- Parthian†
- Semnani: Semnani, Sangisari, Lasgerdi, Sorkhei, Aftari, Biyabanaki
- Median†
- Caspian: Deilami, Gilaki (Rashti), Mazandarani (incl. Gorgani†, Shahmirzadi)
- Balochi: Balochi, Koroshi, Bashkardi
- Talysh: Talysh, Gozarkhani, Kabatei, Kajali, Karingani, Koresh-e Rostam, Maraghei, Razajerdi, Shahrudi, Tati (incl. Kho'ini, Harzandi)
Also Khalaj (incertae sedis)
The dialects of Central Iran are a geographic rather than genealogical group. They are spoken in central Iran, mostly in Markazi and Isfahan provinces. Many of them are giving way to Persian language among the younger generations.[1]
Southwestern
- Persian: Old Persian†, Middle Persian†, Modern Persian: Iranian Persian, Dari Persian (Madaglashti), Tajik Persian, Hazaragi Persian, Dzhidi Persian (Judeo-Persian), Judeo-Bukharic, Khuzestani Persian, Aimaq, Darwazi Persian, Dehwari Persian, Pahlavani Persian, Dezfuli,[citation needed] Sistani, and Tat: Judeo-Tat, Muslim/Christian Tat
- Lari: the dialects of Fars, Judeo-Shirazi, Lari (Larestani)
- Luri: Luri (dialects: Luri, Mamasani, Kohkiluyeh, Bakhtiari), Kumzari
See also
References
- ^ Central dialects, Encyclopedia Iranica
- Compendium Linguarum Iranicarum, ed. Rüdiger Schmitt. Wiesbaden: L. Reichert Verlag, 1989; p. 99.
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