PACC @ USF |
Languages of Iran
[See also SIL publications on the languages of Iran.]
Islamic Republic of Iran, Jomhouri-e-Eslami-e-Irân. 67,503,205. National or official language: Western Farsi. Literacy rate: 70% to 75% among those 6 years old and over (1995–1996 Iran Statistical Center). Also includes Eastern Farsi (1,000,000), Hulaulá (300), Tajiki, Turkish (2,570), people from Afghanistan (3,000,000), Kurds from Iraq (120,000), Shi'a Arabs from Iraq. Information mainly from E. Drower 1939; R. Macuch 1965; I. Garbell 1965; T. Sebeok 1969, 1970; G. Doerfer et al. 1971; R. Oberling 1974; D. L. Stilo 1981; R. D. Hoberman 1988a, b. Blind population: 200,000 (1982 WCE). Deaf population: 3,978,055. Deaf institutions: 50. The number of languages listed for Iran is 77. Of those, 75 are living languages and 2 are extinct.
| Aimaq | [aiq] 170,000 in Iran
(1993 Johnstone). Mazanderan Province. Dialects: Teimuri
(Teimurtash). Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian,
Iranian, Western, Southwestern, Persian |
| Alviri-Vidari | [avd] Near Saveh,
Markazi Province. Dialects: Alvir (Alviri), Vidar (Vidari). Related
to Gozarkhâni and Vafsi. Classification: Indo-European,
Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Northwestern, Talysh |
| Arabic, Gulf Spoken | [afb] 200,000 in Iran
(1993). Southern coast; Khamseh nomads live in eastern Fars Province;
other Arab nomadic groups in several southcentral provinces of Iran.
Alternate names: Khaliji, Gulf Arabic. Dialects:
Al-Hasâ, Khamseh. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic,
Central, South, Arabic |
| Arabic, Mesopotamian Spoken | [acm] 1,200,000 in Iran. Khuzestan
Province, southwest side of Zagros Mountains, along the bank of the
Shatt al Arab. Alternate names: Mesopotamian Gelet Arabic, |
| Armenian | [hye] 170,800 in Iran
(1993). Northern Iran, Azerbaijan Provinces around Khoi, Shahpur,
Ahar, Tabriz, Tehran, Esfahan, Shiraz. Alternate names: Haieren,
Somekhuri, Ermenice, Armjanski, Armani, Erâmani. Dialects:
Eastern Armenian, Agulis, Astrakhân, Jolfâ (Dzhulfa), Karabagh Shamakhi,
Khoi-Salmst (Khvoy), Urmia-Maragheh. Classification: Indo-European,
Armenian |
| Ashtiani | [atn] 21,099 (2000 WCD). Ashtiyan
and Tafresh, Markazi Province. Alternate names: Astiani, Ashtiyani.
Dialects: Ashtiani, Tafresh. Transitional between central Iranian
dialects and Talysh. Dialects may be separate languages. Very close
to Vafsi. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian,
Iranian, Western, Northwestern, Central Iran |
| Assyrian Neo-Aramaic | [aii] 10,000 to 20,000
in Iran (1994). Ethnic population: 80,000 (1994). Reza'iyeh (Rizaiye,
Urmia, Urmi). Most in TehranTehran. Dialects: Iranian Koine (General
Urmi). Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central,
Aramaic, Eastern, Central, Northeastern |
| Azerbaijani, South | [azb] 23,500,000 in Iran
(1997). Population includes 290,000 Afshar, 5,000 Aynallu, 7,500 Baharlu,
1,000 Moqaddam, 3,500 Nafar 1,000 Pishagchi, 3,000 Qajar, 2,000 Qaragozlu,
130,000 Shahsavani (1993). Population total all countries: 24,364,000. East
and West Azerbaijan, Ardebil, Zanjan, and part of Markazi provinces.
Many in a few districts of TehranTehran. Some Azerbaijani-speaking groups
are in Fars Province and other parts of Iran. Also spoken in Afghanistan,
Azerbaijan, Iraq, Jordan, Syria, Turkey (Asia), USA. Alternate names:
Azeri, Torki. Dialects: Aynallu (Inallu, Inanlu), Karapapakh,
Tabriz, Afshari (Afshar, Afsar), Shahsavani (Shahseven), Moqaddam, Baharlu
(Kamesh), Nafar, Qaragozlu, Pishagchi, Bayat, Qajar. Distinctive linguistic
differences between the Azerbaijani of the former USSR (North) and Iranian
Azerbaijani (South) in phonology, lexicon, morphology, syntax, and loanwords.
Teimurtash (7,000 in Mazanderan; possibly the same as Teimuri, Timuri,
Taimouri) and Salchug (in Kerman Province) may be dialects. Qashqa'i
may be a dialect. Part of the Qizilbash merchant group speak the Afshari
dialect, which is strongly influenced by Persian. The dialect spoken
in Syria is different from Kirkuk of Iraq, and may be closer to Turkish
(Osmanli) than to Azerbaijani. There is a gradual transition of dialects
from Turkish to Azerbaijani from central to western Turkey. Classification:
Altaic, Turkic, Southern, Azerbaijani |
| Bakhtiari | [bqi] 1,000,000 (2001).
350,000 monolinguals. Ethnic population: 1,000,000 (2001). Southwestern
Iran: western Chahar-Mahal va Bakhtiari, eastern Khuzestan, eastern
Lorestan, and western Esfahan. Masjed-e Soleiman, Shahr-e Kord, Dorud.
Alternate names: Lori-ye Khaveri, Luri, Lori. Dialects:
Haft-Lang, Charlang, Chelgerd, Kuhrang (Kohrang). Bakhtiari is on a
dialect continuum between Northern Luri and Southern Luri. Farsi dialects
in Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari Province are mutually intelligible with
Bakhtiari. Close to Kumzari. Lexical similarity 75% with Southern Luri
(Mamasani), 86% with Southern Luri (Boyerahmadi), 73% with Northern
Luri (rural), 78% with Northern Luri (Khorramabadi), 76% with Western
Farsi. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian,
Western, Southwestern, Luri |
| Balochi, Southern | [bcc] 405,000 in Iran. Southern
Sistan va Baluchistan Province. Alternate names: Baluchi, Baluci,
Baloci. Dialects: Makrani (Lotuni). Classification:
Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Northwestern, Balochi
|
| Balochi, Western | [bgn] 451,000 in Iran
(1986). Northern Sistan va Baluchistan Province. Half are settled
in cities and villages, half are nomadic. Alternate names: Baluchi,
Baluci, Baloci. Dialects: Rakhshani (Raxshani), Sarawani.
Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western,
Northwestern, Balochi |
| Bashkardi | [bsg] 7,033 (2000 WCD). Eastern
Hormozgan, Southern Kerman, and possibly southwestern Sistan va Baluchistan
provinces. Alternate names: Bashaka. Dialects: Northern
Bashaka, Southern Bashaka. Classification: Indo-European,
Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Northwestern, Balochi |
| Brahui | [brh] 10,000 in Iran (1983). Central
Sistan and Baluchistan provinces, including Zahedan. Alternate names:
Brahudi, Birahui, Kur Galli. Dialects: Jharawan, Kalat,
Sarawan. Classification: Dravidian, Northern |
| Dari, Zoroastrian | [gbz] 8,000 to 15,000
(1999). Yezd and Kerman areas. Alternate names: Dari, "Gabri",
"Gabar", "Yazdi". Dialects: Related to Parsi-Dari and Nâyini.
Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western,
Northwestern, Central Iran |
| Dezfuli | [def] Dezful, northern
Khuzestan Province. Alternate names: Dezhfili, Dizfuli.
Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western,
Northwestern, Unclassified |
| Domari | [rmt] 1,338,271 in Iran
(2000 WCD). Population total all countries: 1,876,116. Kurbat and
Luli are in western Iran. Mehtar is in Fars and Kohgiluyeh va Boyerahmad
Province. Karachi is in northern Iran. Also spoken in Afghanistan, Egypt,
India, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Libya, Palestinian West Bank and Gaza,
Russia (Europe), Sudan, Syria, Turkey (Europe), Uzbekistan. Alternate
names: Middle Eastern Romani, Tsigene, Gypsy, Luti, Mehtar.
Dialects: Kurbati (Ghorbati), Qinati, Yürük, Koli, Karachi, Luli,
Maznoug, Nawar. A number of the dialects in Iran may be highly divergent
from one another. Not intelligible to Romani speakers. Classification:
Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Central zone, Dom |
| Dzhidi | [jpr] Alternate
names: Judeo-Persian, Djudi, Judi. Classification:
Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Southwestern, Persian
|
| Eshtehardi | [esh] Eshtehard
and environs, Karaj District, Markazi Province. Dialects: Close
to Takestani. Eshtehardi may be the same language as some other dialects
spoken to the southwest of Qazvin. Classification: Indo-European,
Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Northwestern, Talysh |
| Fars, Northwestern | [faz] Scattered
in isolated pockets of Fars Province. Dialects: Close to Sivandi.
Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western,
Northwestern, Central Iran |
| Fars, Southwestern | [fay] Central Fars
Province: Somghun, Papun, Masarm, Buringun, Kondazi, Davâni, others.
Alternate names: "Tajik". Dialects: Related to Lari.
Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western,
Southwestern, Fars |
| Farsi, Western | [pes] 22,000,000 in Iran
(1997). Population includes 800,000 Eastern Farsi in Khorasan, Gilan,
Tat, Bakhtiari, Lur. Population total all countries: 24,316,121. Throughout
Iran. Most heavily concentrated in central, south central, and northeastern
Iran. Also spoken in Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Canada,
Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, India, Iraq, Israel, Netherlands,
Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Tajikistan, Turkey (Asia),
Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, USA, Uzbekistan.
Alternate names: Persian, New Persian, Parsi, Irani. Dialects:
Ketabi, Tehrani, Shirazi, Old Shirazi, Qazvini, Mahalhamadani, Kashani,
Esfahani, Sedehi, Kermani, Araki, Shirazjahromi, Shahrudi Kazeruni,
Mashadi (Meshed), Basseri, Yazdi, Bandari. The literary language is
virtually identical in Iran and Afghanistan, with very minor lexical
differences. Zargari may be a dialect used by goldsmiths (also see Balkan
Romani in Iran). Dialect shading into Dari in Afghanistan and Tajiki
in Tajikistan. Many of the dialects may be separate languages.
Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western,
Southwestern, Persian |
| Gazi | [gzi] 7,033 (2000). Gaz.
Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western,
Northwestern, Central Iran |
| Georgian | [kat] 50,000 in Iran. Fereydan
and Fereydunshahr provinces, Esfahan, Najaf Abad, Shahin Shahr, Yazdanshahr.
Alternate names: Kartuli, Gruzin. Dialects: Fereydan
(Ferejdan). Classification: Kartvelian, Georgian
|
| Gilaki | [glk] 3,265,000 (1993).
Population includes 2,000 Galeshi. Gilan Region, coastal plain,
south of Talish. Galeshi is a mountain dialect. Alternate names:
Gelaki, Gilani, Guilaki, Guilani. Dialects: Galeshi, Rashti.
Close to Mâzanderâni. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian,
Iranian, Western, Northwestern, Caspian |
| Gozarkhani | [goz] Gozarkhan
(northwest of Qazvin); Tajrish, north of Tehran; Alamut area. Dialects:
Close to Maraghei, as well as Semnani languages. Classification:
Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Northwestern, Talysh
|
| Harzani | [hrz] 28,132 (2000 WCD). West
Azerbaijan Province: Qalingie, between Marand and Jolfa, northwest of
Tabriz; related varieties in Galin Qaya, Babra, and Dizmar. Dialects:
Close to Karingani and Talysh. Classification: Indo-European,
Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Northwestern, Talysh |
| Hawrami | [hac] 22,948 in Iran (2000
WCD). For all speakers of Gurani group, several million; Hawrami dialect:
20,000 (Blau 1989). Western part of Kordestan province, near Iraqi
border, in Hewraman, east of Sanandaj, also north of Kermanshah. Alternate
names: Hewrami, Howrami, Hawramani, Awromani, Gurani, Gorani.
Dialects: Kakai (Macho), Hawraman-I Luhon, Hawraman-I Taxt, Kandula,
Gawhara, Gurani (Gorani). Classification: Indo-European,
Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Northwestern, Zaza-Gorani |
| Hazaragi | [haz] 283,000 in Iran
(1993). Population has increased significantly due to the influx of
Hazaragi-speaking refugees from Afghanistan. Throughout Iran, especially
urban centers. Alternate names: Hazara, Hezareh, Hezare'i.
Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western,
Southwestern, Persian |
| Jadgali | [jdg] Alternate
names: Jatgali, Jatki, Jat. Classification: Indo-European,
Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Northwestern zone, Sindhi |
| Kabatei | [xkp] Rudbar District,
Gilan Province. Dialects: Kalas, Kabate. Close to Upper Taromi.
Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western,
Northwestern, Talysh |
| Kajali | [xkj] Khalkhal District
in Eastern Azerbaijan Province, Kaqazkonan District, Kajal. Dialects:
Close to Shahrudi and Koresh-e Rostam. Classification:
Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Northwestern, Talysh
|
| Karingani | [kgn] 17,583 (2000 WCD). East
Azerbaijan Province, Dizmar District, Keringan village, and Hasanu District,
northeast of Tabriz. Alternate names: Keringani. Dialects:
Various dialects. Very close to Harzani. Classification:
Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Northwestern, Talysh
|
| Kazakh | [kaz] 3,000 in Iran (1982). Gorgan
City, Mazanderan Province. Alternate names: Kazak, Kazakhi, Gazaqi.
Classification: Altaic, Turkic, Western, Aralo-Caspian
|
| Khalaj | [kjf] 42,107 in Iran (2000
WCD). Also spoken in Azerbaijan. Dialects: Related to Kurdish
and Talysh. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian,
Iranian, Western, Northwestern |
| Khalaj, Turkic | [klj] 42,107 (2000 WCD). Northeast
of Arak in Central Province. Alternate names: Khalaj. Dialects:
Not a dialect of Azerbaijani, as previously supposed. An independent
language distinct from other extant Turkish languages (Doerfer 1971).
Classification: Altaic, Turkic, Southern, Azerbaijani |
| Kho'ini | [xkc] Kho'in District,
Zanjan Province. Dialects: Various dialects. Related to Kabatei
and Takestani. Closely related varieties spoken in the nearby villages
of Balbavin, Sefidkamar, Halab, Sa |
| Khorasani Turkish | [kmz] 400,000 (1977 Doerfer). Northeast
Iran, in the northern part of Khorasan Province, especially northwest
of Mashhad. West dialect in Bojnurd Region; north dialect in Quchan
Region (probably the largest), south dialect around Soltanabad near
Sabzevar. Alternate names: Quchani. Dialects: West
Quchani (Northwest Quchani), North Quchani (Northeast Quchani), South
Quchani. Midway linguistically between Azerbaijani and Turkmen, but
not a dialect of either. Oghuz-Uzbek in Uzbekistan is reported to be
a dialect. Classification: Altaic, Turkic, Southern, Turkish
|
| Khunsari | [kfm] 21,099 (2000 WCD). Esfahan
Province, Kashan and Esfahan areas. Dialects: Khunsari may be
only one of a large complex of dialects in Esfahan Province. Other Northwestern
dialects that have been described in the same area and which may be
very closely related include those of Vonishun, Qohrud, Keshe, Zefre,
Sedeh, Gaz, Kafran, Mahallat, So, Mejme, and Djaushaqan. Classification:
Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Northwestern, Central
Iran |
| Koresh-e Rostam | [okh] Eastern Azerbaijan
Province, Koresh-e Rostam District. Dialects: Related to Shahrudi
and Kajali. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian,
Iranian, Western, Northwestern, Talysh |
| Koroshi | [ktl] 160 to 200 (1992
Mohamedi). 40 to 50 families. Fars Province. Classification:
Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Northwestern, Balochi
|
| Kurdish, Central | [ckb] 3,250,000 in Iran. Northwest
Iran, primarily Kordestan, West Azerbaijan provinces, areas north of
Kermanshah. Mukri is spoken around Mahabad, and Sineyi (Sine'i) is spoken
around Sanandaj (Sine). Alternate names: Kordi, Korkora, Kurdi,
Kurdy, Sorani, Mukri, Mokri, Sine'i, Wawa. Dialects: Mukri,
Sanandaji (Sine'i, Sina'i, Sineyi), Southern Jafi, Pijdari. Classification:
Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Northwestern, Kurdish
|
| Kurdish, Northern | [kmr] 350,000 in Iran
(1988 Stanzer). North and west of Lake Urmia, extending to border
with Azerbaijan. Some small communities live in the Caspian region (Mazandaran,
Kalardasht [Fattah 2000]). Khorasani Kurmanji speakers live east of
the Caspian Sea, in northern Khorasan Province, bordering Turkmenistan.
Centers include Quchan and Bojnurd. Alternate names: Kurmanji,
Kurmancî, Eastern Kurmanji, Kordi, Kurdi. Dialects: Khorasani
Kurmanji. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian,
Iranian, Western, Northwestern, Kurdish |
| Kurdish, Southern | [sdh] 3,000,000 in Iran
(2000 Fattah). Western Iran, Kermanshah, Ilam provinces; Eastern
Iraq bordering these provinces including Xanaqin. Also spoken in Iraq.
Dialects: Kolyai, Kermanshahi (Kermanshani), Kalhori, Garrusi
(Bijari) Sanjabi, Malekshahi (Maleksh ay), Bayray, Kordali, Feyli, Luri.
Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western,
Northwestern, Kurdish |
| Laki | [lki] 1,000,000 (2002
Fattah). 150,000 monolinguals. Population includes 10,000 Nahavand Lurs. Western
Iran, Ilam, Lorestan provinces, cities of Aleshtar, Kuhdesht, Nurabad-e
Dolfan, Khorramabad. Alternate names: Leki, Alaki. Dialects:
Lexical similarity 70% with Western Farsi, 78% with Luristani (Khorramabadi),
69% with Northern Luri (central rural dialects). Classification:
Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Northwestern, Kurdish
|
| Lari | [lrl] 80,000. Ethnic population:
100,000. Throughout Lar District, South Fars Province; Shiraz;
United Arab Emirates. Alternate names: Larestani, Achomi.
Dialects: Lari. Verbal system is quite distinct from Western
Farsi. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian,
Western, Southwestern, Fars |
| Lasgerdi | [lsa] In Lasjerd,
Semnan Province (40 km southwest of Semnan). Dialects: Related
to Sorkhei. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian,
Iranian, Western, Northwestern, Semnani |
| Luri, Northern | [lrc] 1,500,000 (2001).
Ethnic population: 1,700,000 (2001). Western Iran: Central and
Southern Lorestan, Northern Khuzestan, Southern Hamadan Province, the
southern edge of Markazi Province, some regions of Ilam, and possibly
a small population in eastern Iraq. Populations also in Khorramabad,
Borujerd, Andimeshk. Alternate names: Lori, Luri. Dialects:
Khorramabadi, Borujerdi, Nahavandi, Andimeshki, Bala-Gariva'i, Mahali
(Rural), Cagani. The major Northern Luri dialects (Khorramabadi, Borujerdi,
etc.) are found in Lorestan and Khuzestan. Some local regions in Ilam
Province (Posht-e Kuh) are said to speak Northern Luri dialects. Mainly
south Kurdish dialects are spoken in Ilam Province (Fattah 2000). Also,
according to Fattah, there are a small number of villages in Iraq, where
a dialect of Northern Luri may be spoken. Close to Kumzari. Lexical
similarity of Mahali dialect 80% with Western Farsi, 69% with Laki,
and 73% with Bakhtiari (Haflang); Khorramabadi dialect 85% with Western
Farsi, 78% with Laki, and 75% with Bakhtiari (Haflang). Similarity to
Western Farsi is due to language shift, but also to lexical borrowing.
Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western,
Southwestern, Luri |
| Luri, Southern | [luz] 875,000 (1999).
300,000 monolinguals. Ethnic population: 900,000. Kohgiluyeh va
Boyerahmad Province (Yasuj is center of Boyerahmadi, Dehdasht is center
of Kohgiluyeh), eastern Khuzestan Province (Kohgiluyeh), Northwestern
Fars Province (Nurabad is center of Mamasani, Shul is center of Shuli),
Shiraz. Alternate names: Ruliy, Lori-ye Jonubi, Luri, Lur, Lor,
Lori. Dialects: Boyerahmadi, Yasuji (Yasichi), Kohgiluyeh,
Mamasani, Shuli. Southern Luri is on a continuum between Bakhtiari and
Western Farsi "dialects" such as Bushehri and Fars Province varieties.
There is a non-Lur tribe in Fars Province called Kurdshuli, which is
reported to speak a Southern Luri dialect. Their winter quarters are
at Qasr-e Dasht near Sivand, which is 70 km from Sharaz on the Shiraz-Esfahan
road (Ivanow 1959, unpublished). Close to Kumzari. Lexical similarity
75% with Western Farsi, 80% with Bushehri dialect of Western Farsi;
Mamasani dialect 75% with Bakhtiari, Boyerahmadi dialect 86% with Bakhtiari.
Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western,
Southwestern, Luri |
| Mandaic | [mid] 500 (2001). Ethnic
population: 23,000. Hoveiseh and other towns, Khuzestan. Alternate
names: Mandaean, Neo-Mandaic, Modern Mandaic, Manda:yi, Mandi, Subbi,
Sabean, Sabe'in. Dialects: Ahwaz (Ahvaz), Shushtar, Iraqi
Neo-Mandaic. Little dialect variation. Classification:
Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, Aramaic, Eastern, Mandaic |
| Maraghei | [vmh] Upper Rudbar
area (Rudbar-e Alamut). Dialects: Dikini. Various dialects. Close
to Gozarkhani. Dialect in Kuhpayeh may be the same language. Classification:
Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Northwestern, Talysh
|
| Mazanderani | [mzn] 3,265,000 (1993). Northern
Iran near Caspian Sea, southern half of Mazanderan Province. Alternate
names: Tabri, Mazandarani. Dialects: Mazanderani, Gorgani.
Related to Gilaki. Qadikolahi (Ghadikolahi) and Palani may be dialects.
Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western,
Northwestern, Caspian |
| Natanzi | [ntz] 7,033 (2000 WCD). Esfahan
Province: Natanz, on the Esfahan-Kashan Road. Dialects: Natanzi
may be part of a larger complex of Esfahan Province dialects including
Yarani (Yarandi) and Farizandi. Classification: Indo-European,
Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Northwestern, Central Iran |
| Nayini | [nyq] 7,033 (2000 WCD). Esfahan
Province: Nayin and Anarak, 100 km east of Esfahan; Khuri is spoken
in Khur (Khvor) and Mehrjan, 250 km northeast of Esfahan. Alternate
names: Biyabanak. Dialects: Nayini, Anarak, Khuri.
Dialects listed may be separate languages. Khuri is distinct from other
dialects. Related to Zoroastrian Dari. Classification:
Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Northwestern, Central
Iran |
| Parsi-Dari | [prd] 350,000 in Iran.
Population total all countries: 700,000. Also spoken in Afghanistan.
Alternate names: Parsee-Dari. Dialects: Parsi-Dari
is reported to not be inherently intelligible with Parsi of India, Pakistan,
and other countries, but linguistically and ethnically related. They
diverged 600 to 700 years ago or more. It is related to Dari.
Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western,
Northwestern, Central Iran |
| Pashto, Southern | [pbt] 113,000 in Iran
(1993). Population does not include refugees. Khorasan on Afghanistan
border east of Qa'en. Alternate names: Pashtu, Paktu, "Afghani".
Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Eastern,
Southeastern, Pashto |
| Persian Sign Language | [psc] Classification:
Deaf sign language |
| Qashqa'i | [qxq] 1,500,000 (1997). Southwestern
Iran, Fars Province and Southern Kohgiluyeh va Boyerahmad Province.
Shiraz, Gachsaran, and Firuzabad are centers. Alternate names:
Qashqay, Qashqai, Kashkai. Dialects: Very close to Azerbaijani.
Classification: Altaic, Turkic, Southern, Azerbaijani |
| Razajerdi | [rat] Qazvin and
Kuhpayeh area, Razajerd. Dialects: Various dialects. Related
to Takestani. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian,
Iranian, Western, Northwestern, Talysh |
| Romani, Balkan | [rmn] Dialects:
Zargari. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan,
Central zone, Romani, Balkan |
| Rudbari | [rdb] Sefid Rud
Valley. Dialects: Various dialects. Transitional to Caspian languages
and related to Vafsi. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian,
Iranian, Western, Northwestern, Talysh |
| Salchuq | [slq] Dialects:
Probably a dialect of Azerbaijani. Classification: Altaic,
Turkic, Southern, Azerbaijani |
| Sangisari | [sgr] Semnân Province.
Alternate names: Sangesari. Classification: Indo-European,
Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Northwestern, Semnani |
| Semnani | [smy] 21,099 (2000 WCD). Semnan
Province. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian,
Western, Northwestern, Semnani |
| Senaya | [syn] 60 in Iran (1997
H. Mutzafi). Population total all countries: 460. Tehran and Qazvin.
Originally in Sanandaj, Kordestan Province. Some in western Europe.
Also spoken in Australia, USA. Alternate names: Sena:ya, Christian
Neo-Aramaic, Shan Sray, Lshan Sray, Soray, Sray, Shan Gyanan.
Dialects: The variety in Qazvin is slightly different from that
spoken by Sanandaj-born people. Classification: Afro-Asiatic,
Semitic, Central, Aramaic, Eastern, Central, Northeastern |
| Shahmirzadi | [srz] Shahmirzad,
Semnan Province. Dialects: Close to Mazanderani and Gilaki.
Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western,
Northwestern, Caspian |
| Shahrudi | [shm] Khalkhal District
in Eastern Azerbaijan Province, Shahrud District, Shal, Kolur, Lerd.
Dialects: Close to Kajali and Koresh-e Rostam. Different from
Sharudi, a Western Farsi dialect. Classification: Indo-European,
Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Northwestern, Talysh |
| Sivandi | [siy] 7,033 (2000 WCD). Sivand,
Fars Province (70 km northwest of Shiraz on the Shiraz-Esfahan Road).
Dialects: Related to Northwestern Fars varieties. Classification:
Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Northwestern, Central
Iran |
| Soi | [soj] 7,033 (2000 WCD).
Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western,
Northwestern, Central Iran |
| Sorkhei | [sqo] Semnan Province:
Sorkheh, 19 km southwest of Semnan. Dialects: Related to Lasgerdi.
Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western,
Northwestern, Semnani |
| Takestani | [tks] 220,000. Zanjan,
Qazvin and Markazi provinces: various towns and villages in the mainly
Azerbaijani-speaking region from Khalkhal to Saveh, especially in Takestan
and villages to the south and southeast. Alternate names: Takistani.
Dialects: Khalkhal, Tarom, Zanjan, Kharaqan, Ramand (Takestan).
Close to Talysh, especially Khalkhal dialect. Transitional between Talysh
and Semnani languages. Close to Eshtehardi. Classification:
Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Northwestern, Talysh
|
| Talysh | [tly] 112,000 in Iran
(1993). Northwest Gilan Province along Caspian coastal plain and
adjacent mountainous areas from Masuleh, Masal, and Kapur-Chal (Kepri-Chal)
(each about 50 km east of Rasht) to the Azerbaijan border. Northern
Talyshi is centered around Astara and the Caspian littoral in Azerbaijan;
Central Talyshi is centered in the Asalem-Hashtpar area along the Caspian
littoral in Gilan Province; Southern Talyshi is centered around Shandermen,
Masal, Masuleh, and surrounding mountainous areas in Gilan Province.
Alternate names: Talyshi, Talish, Talishi, Talesh, Taleshi.
Dialects: Northern Talyshi, Central Talyshi, Southern Talyshi.
Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western,
Northwestern, Talysh |
| Taromi, Upper | [tov] Upper Tarom
of Zanjan Province, Hazarrud, Siavarud. Dialects: Various dialects.
Close to Kabatei. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian,
Iranian, Western, Northwestern, Talysh |
| Tat, Muslim | [ttt] 8,000 in Iran.
Alternate names: Mussulman Tati. Classification:
Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Southwestern, Tat
|
| Turkmen | [tuk] 2,000,000 in Iran
(1997). Northeast, mainly in Mazanderan Province, along the Turkmenistan
border; important centers are Gonbad-e Kavus and Pahlavi Dezh. Alternate
names: Torkomani. Dialects: Anauli, Khasarli, Nerezim,
Nokhurli (Nohur), Chavdur, Esari (Esary), Goklen (Goklan), Salyr, Saryq,
Teke (Tekke), Yomud (Yomut), Trukmen. Classification: Altaic,
Turkic, Southern, Turkmenian |
| Vafsi | [vaf] 18,000 (2003). Markazi
Province, Arak District, Vafs, near Tafresh. Dialects: Various
dialects. Transitional between central Iranian dialects and Talysh;
very close to Ashtiani. Classification: Indo-European,
Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Northwestern, Central Iran |
| Avestan | [ave] Extinct. Alternate
names: Pazend, Avesta. Classification: Indo-European,
Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Eastern, Northeastern |
| Mandaic, Classical | [myz] Extinct. Also
used in Iraq (Basrah) and small communities in the USA (New York) and
Australia (300 Mandaeans in Sydney in 1995). Alternate names:
Classical Mandaean. Dialects: Appears to be the direct
ancestor of Modern Mandaic. Classification: Afro-Asiatic,
Semitic, Central, Aramaic, Eastern, Mandaic |