Languages of Iraq
| Languages of Iraq | |
|---|---|
| Official | (Standard) Arabic, Kurdish |
| Main | Iraqi Arabic |
| Regional | Assyrian Neo-Aramaic, South Azeri (referred to as respectively "Syriac" and "Turkmen" in the constitution), Kurdish |
| Minority | Aramaic language, Mandaic, Armenian, South Azeri |
| Foreign | English, German |
There are a number of languages spoken in Iraq, but Iraqi Arabic is by far the most widely spoken in the country.
Contemporary languages
Arabic is the majority language, Kurdish is spoken by approximately 20%, South Azeri (called "Turkmen" locally) is spoken by 5% - 10% of people,[1][2] the Ethnic Turcomans, Assyrian Neo-Aramaic is spoken by 3% - 5% of people, mainly Ethnic Assyrian Christians. Mandaic (and other Neo-Aramaic varieties), Shabaki, Armenian, Roma and Persian are spoken by small numbers of between 25,000 and 100,000 each. There may be a few Chechen, Georgian and speakers of other Caucasian languages also.
Arabic, Kurdish, Persian and South Azeri are written with versions of the Arabic script, the Neo-Aramaic languages in the Syriac script and Armenian is written in the Armenian script.
Official languages
Prior to the invasion in 2003, Arabic was the sole official language. Since the new Constitution of Iraq approved in June 2004, both Iraqi and Kurdish are official languages[3] while Assyrian Neo-Aramaic and South Azeri (referred to as respectively "Syriac" and "Turkmen" in the constitution) are recognized regional languages.[4] In addition, any region or province may declare other languages official if a majority of the population approves in a general referendum.[5]
History
The language with the longest recorded period of use in Iraq is Aramaic, which has a written tradition dating back for 3200 years or more and survives today in its descendants, the Neo-Aramaic languages.
The earliest recorded languages of Iraq were Sumerian and Akkadian (including ancient Assyrian-Babylonian). These languages are now extinct. Sumerian was displaced by Akkadian by 1700 BCE, and Akkadian was displaced by Aramaic gradually, from 1200 BCE to 100 CE. Sumerian and Akkadian (including all Assyrian & Babylonian dialects) were written in the cuneiform script from 3300 BCE onwards. The latest positively identified Akkadian text comes from the first century CE.[6]
Notes
- ^ http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1571/is_37_16/ai_65913589/pg_2/?tag=content;col1
- ^ http://www.unpo.org/article/7878
- ^ Constitution of Iraq, Article 4 (1st)
- ^ Constitution of Iraq, Article 4 (4th)
- ^ Constitution of Iraq, Article 4 (5th)
- ^ John Huehnergard & Christopher Woods, 2004 "Akkadian and Eblaite", The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the World's Ancient Languages, pg. 218.
