The Judæo-Iranian languages (or dialects) are a number of related Jewish variants of Iranian languages spoken throughout the formerly extensive realm of the Persian Empire. Judaeo-Iranian dialects are generally conservative in comparison with those of their Muslim neighbours. Judaeo-Shirazi, for example, remains close to the language of Hafiz.
Like most Jewish languages, all the Judæo-Iranian languages contain great numbers of Hebrew loanwords, and are written using variations of the Hebrew alphabet. Another name used for some Judaeo-Iranian dialects is Latorayi, sometimes interpreted by folk etymology as "not [the language] of the Torah". This refers to a form of the language in which the number of Hebrew and Aramaic loanwords is deliberately maximised to allow it to function as a secret code. In general, however, the number of such loanwords is small compared with that in other Jewish languages such as Yiddish or Judaeo-Spanish.
- Dzhidi (literary Judæo-Persian)
- Bukhori (Judæo-Bukharic, Judæo-Tajik, the Jewish language of the distinctive Jewish community centered in Bukhara)
- Judæo-Golpaygani (the Judæo-Persian language traditionally spoken in the environs of Gulpaigan and western Isfahan Province, Iran)
- Judæo-Yazdi (spoken in the environs of Yazd and elsewhere in Yazd Province, in central Iran)
- Judæo-Kermani (spoken in Kerman and elsewhere in Kerman Province, in south-central Iran)
- Judæo-Shirazi (spoken in Shiraz and elsewhere in Fars Province, in southwestern Iran)
- Judæo-Esfahani (spoken in Isfahan and environs, as well as elsewhere in central and southern Isfahan Province, Iran)
- Judæo-Hamedani (spoken in Hamadan and elsewhere in Hamadan Province, in western Iran)
- Judæo-Kashani (spoken in Kashan and elsewhere in northern Isfahan Province, in western Iran)
- Judæo-Borujerdi (spoken in Borujerd and elsewhere in Lorestan Province, in western Iran)
- Judæo-Nehevandi (spoken in Nahavand and elsewhere in northern Hamadan Province, in western Iran)
- Judæo-Khunsari (spoken in Khansar and elsewhere in far-western Isfahan Province, in western Iran)
- Juhuri (Judæo-Tat)
- Judæo-Kurdish (not to be confused with several Jewish Neo-Aramaic languages which are also sometimes called "Judeo-Kurdish")
See also [edit]
References [edit]
- Schmidt, Rüdiger (ed.) (1989). Compendium Linguarum Iranicarum. Wiesbaden: Reichert. ISBN 3-88226-413-6.
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