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clear up, its called Ezdîkî (not Ezdiki) by Yezidis
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{{Infobox language
{{Infobox language
| name = Kurmanji
| name = Northern Kurdish
| altname = Northern Kurdish
| altname = Kurmanji
| nativename =
| nativename =
{{lang|kmr|Kurmancî}}, {{lang|kmr|کورمانجی|rtl=yes}}, {{lang|kmr-Cyrl|Кӧрманщи}}<br/>{{lang|kmr|Kurdiya Jorîn}}, {{lang|kmr-Arab|کوردیا ژۆرین|rtl=yes}}, {{lang|kmr-Cyrl|Кӧрдьйа Жорин}}
{{lang|kmr|Kurmancî}}, {{lang|kmr|کورمانجی|rtl=yes}}, {{lang|kmr-Cyrl|Кӧрманщи}}<br/>{{lang|kmr|Kurdiya Jorîn}}, {{lang|kmr-Arab|کوردیا ژۆرین|rtl=yes}}, {{lang|kmr-Cyrl|Кӧрдьйа Жорин}}, {{lang|kmr|Êzdîkî}}
| region = autochthonous to [[Kurdistan]], Kurdish diaspora<ref name="ethnologue" />
| states = [[Turkey]], [[Syria]], [[Iraq]], [[Iran]], [[Armenia]], [[Azerbaijan]]
| region = [[Kurdistan]]
| speakers = 15 million
| speakers = 15 million
| date = 2009
| date = 2009
Line 16: Line 15:
| fam5 = [[Northwestern Iranian languages|Northwestern]]
| fam5 = [[Northwestern Iranian languages|Northwestern]]
| fam6 = [[Kurdish languages|Kurdish]]
| fam6 = [[Kurdish languages|Kurdish]]
| dia1 = Kurmanji
| dia1 = '''Subdialects'''<br>Botani
| dia2 = Botani
| dia2 = Marashi
| dia3 = Bazidi
| dia3 = Ashiti
| dia4 = Bakrani
| dia4 = Bayezidi
| dia5 = Hakkari
| dia5 = Hekari
| dia6 = [[Behdini]]
| dia6 = Shemdinani
| dia7 = [[Shengali]]
| dia7 = Shikaki
| dia8 = Judikani
| dia8 = Silivî
| dia9 = Jiwanshiri
| dia9 = Mihemedî<ref name="ethnologue" />
| nation = {{flag|Kurdistan Region}}<ref name="ethnologue" />
| dia10 = Alburzi
| minority = {{flag|Armenia}} (Educational)<ref name="ethnologue" /><br>{{flag|Azerbaijan}} (Statutory language of provincial identity in five districts, as abided by the constitution)<ref name="ethnologue" >{{cite web|title=Ethnologue - Kurmanji Kurdish|url=https://www.ethnologue.com/language/kmr|accessdate=3 February 2018|deadurl=no|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180123190604/https://www.ethnologue.com/language/KMR|archivedate=23 January 2018|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
| dia11 = Qochani
| script = [[Naskh (script)|Naskh Arabic script]] in Iran, Iraq, Syria and Lebanon,<br>[[Latin script]] in Turkey and Syria,<br>[[Cyrillic script]] in [[Russia]] and [[Armenia]].<ref name="ethnologue" />
| dia12 = Bujnurdi
| dia13 = Rihayi
| minority = {{flag|Iraq}}<br/>{{flag|Armenia}}<ref>{{cite book|last=Pavlenko|first=Aneta|title=Multilingualism in post-Soviet countries|year=2008|publisher=Multilingual Matters|location=Bristol, UK|isbn=978-1-84769-087-6|pages=18–22}}</ref>
| script = [[Latin script|Latin]] ([[Turkey]], [[Syria]]), [[Perso-Arabic script|Perso-Arabic]] ([[Iran]], [[Iraq]]); [[Kurdish alphabets#Cyrillic script|Cyrillic]] (formerly in the [[Soviet Union]]), [[Kurdish alphabets#Armenian alphabet|Armenian]] (formerly in the [[Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic]])
| iso3 = kmr
| iso3 = kmr
| lingua = 58-AAA-a
| lingua = 58-AAA-a
Line 36: Line 32:
| glottorefname = Northern Kurdish
| glottorefname = Northern Kurdish
| map = Kurdish languages map.svg
| map = Kurdish languages map.svg
| mapcaption = Geographic distribution of Kurmanji and other Northwestern Iranian languages spoken by Kurds)
| mapcaption = Geographic distribution of the Kurdish languages spoken by Kurds
{{col-begin}}
{{col-begin}}
{{col-break}}
{{col-break}}
Line 49: Line 45:
}}
}}


'''Kurmanji''', (synonym for '''''Kurdish'''''),<ref>{{cite book |author1=Captain R. E. Jardine |title=Bahdinan Kurmanji - A grammar of the Kurmanji of the Kurds of Mosul division and surrounding districts of Kurdistan |date=1922 |publisher=Government Press |location=Baghdad |page=ii}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |author1=Ayfer Gokalp |title=Language and Literacy Practices of Kurdish Children Across Their Home and School Spaces in Turkey: |url=https://repository.asu.edu/attachments/158115/content/Gokalp_asu_0010E_15288.pdf |date=August 2015 |page=146 |accessdate=19 March 2019 |publisher=Arizona State University}}</ref><ref name=Iranica>{{Cite encyclopedia|title=Kurdish language I. History of the Kurdish language|author-last=Paul|author-first=Ludwig|author-link=|encyclopedia=[[Encyclopædia Iranica]]|editor-last=Yarshater|editor-first=Ehsan|editor-link=Ehsan Yarshater|volume=|year=2008|publisher=Routledge|location=London and New York|url=http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/kurdish-language-i|accessdate=28 August 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author1=Georg Krotkoff |title=Humanism, Culture, and Language in the Near East |date=1997 |page=299}}</ref> also classified as '''Northern Kurdish'''<ref>{{cite web |title=Ethnologue - Kurdish |url=https://www.ethnologue.com/language/kur |accessdate=19 March 2019}}</ref> is the northern dialect of the [[Kurdish language]], spoken in southeast [[Turkey]], northwest and northeast [[Iran]], northern [[Iraq]], northern [[Syria]] and the [[Caucasus]] region. It is the most spoken Kurdish dialect and [[mother tongue]] to other ethnic minorities in the region as well.<ref>{{cite book|title=Aşiretler raporu|date=2000|publisher=Kaynak Yayınları|location=İstanbul|isbn=9753432208|edition= 1st}}</ref>
'''Kurmanji''' ({{lang|kmr|Kurmancî}}, {{lang|kmr-Arab|کورمانجی|rtl=yes}}), also called '''Northern Kurdish''' ({{lang|kmr|Kurdiya jorîn}}, {{lang|kmr-Arab|کوردیا ژۆرین|rtl=yes}}) or '''Ezdiki''' by [[Yezidis]] ({{lang|kmr|Êzdîkî}}, ''Yazidi language'')<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Schulze|first=Ilona|title=Methodologische Überlegungen zur soziokulturellen Dokumentation von Minderheiten in Armenien. Iran and the Caucasus Vol. 18, 2, pp. 169-193|url=https://www.academia.edu/15116713/Methodologische_%C3%9Cberlegungen_zur_soziokulturellen_Dokumentation_von_Minderheiten_in_Armenien._Iran_and_the_Caucasus_Vol._18_2_pp._169-193|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.de/books?id=y1RsBAAAQBAJ&pg=PT8&dq=%C4%93zd%C4%ABk%C4%AB+the+yezidi+language&hl=de&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi0_8bPi-ngAhUpM-wKHaNyB78Q6AEIJTAA#v=onepage&q&f=false|title=The Religion of the Peacock Angel: The Yezidis and Their Spirit World|last=Asatrian|first=Garnik S.|last2=Arakelova|first2=Victoria|date=2014-09-03|publisher=Routledge|isbn=9781317544289|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.de/books?id=7XuMAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA68&dq=ezdiki&hl=de&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi1o-yQlpPfAhXNKlAKHYZdBm8Q6AEIMzAC#v=onepage&q&f=false|title=The Caucasus - An Introduction|last=Coene|first=Frederik|date=2009-10-16|publisher=Routledge|isbn=9781135203023|language=en}}</ref> is a [[Western Iranian languages|Northwestern Iranian language]] spoken in southeast [[Turkey]], northwest and northeast [[Iran]], northern [[Iraq]], northern [[Syria]] and [[Armenia]]. It is the most widespread language of the [[Kurds]] and [[Yazidis]]. <!-- Kurmanji is difficult to classify, like Kurdish in general, due to strong influence from Persian and other neighbouring related Iranian languages, numerous lexical borrowings and conflicting or ambiguous dialectal traits. -->Kurmanji belongs to the [[Kurdish languages]]. Kurmanji also shares many similarities with [[Central Kurdish|Sorani]] and other [[Western Iranian languages|Northwestern Iranian languages]] along with [[Balochi language|Baluchi]]<!-- given its placement regarding the very oldest isoglosses within Iranian -->,<ref name=Iranica>{{Cite encyclopedia|title=Kurdish language I. History of the Kurdish language|author-last=Paul|author-first=Ludwig|author-link=|encyclopedia=[[Encyclopædia Iranica]]|editor-last=Yarshater|editor-first=Ehsan|editor-link=Ehsan Yarshater|volume=|year=2008|publisher=Routledge|location=London and New York|url=http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/kurdish-language-i|accessdate=28 August 2013}}</ref><ref>Windfuhr, Gernot (1975), “Isoglosses: A Sketch on Persians and Parthians, Kurds and Medes”, Monumentum H.S. Nyberg II (Acta Iranica-5), Leiden: 457–471</ref> it also shares many traits with Southwestern Iranian languages like [[Persian language|Persian]], apparently due to longstanding and intense historical contacts, and some authorities have gone so far as to classify Kurmanji as a Southwestern or "southern"<!-- this is not a usually acknowledged subgroup, but seems to be merely an alternative term for "Southwestern Iranian" --> Iranian language.<ref>{{cite book|title=Turkey's Alevi Enigma: A Comprehensive Overview|year=2002|publisher=Brill|isbn=978-9004125384|editor=Paul J. White|page=23}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Gunter|first=Michael M.|title=The A to Z of the Kurds|year=2009|publisher=The Scarecrow Press|isbn=978-0810868182|url=https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=Kurmanji+%28Kurmanc%C3%AE%29+or+Northern+Kurdish&hl=en&btnG=Google+Search&sourceid=Mozilla-search&start=0#q=Kurmanji+%28Kurmanc%C3%AE%29+or+Northern+Kurdish&hl=en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbo=u&tbm=bks&source=og&sa=N&tab=wp&ei=tfssUNOuE-Sp0QWX0oGoDA&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.r_qf.&fp=f81dd1ab64a80a9f&biw=980&bih=418|page=112}}</ref>


The earliest textual record of Kurmanji Kurdish dates back to approximately the 16th century and many prominent Kurdish poets like [[Ahmad Khani]] (1650-1707) wrote in this dialect as well.<ref>{{cite book |author1=Sebastian Maisel |title=The Kurds: An Encyclopedia of Life, Culture, and Society|date=2018 |page=164-165}}</ref><ref name="Iranica"/> Kurmanji Kurdish is also the common and ceremonial dialect<ref>{{cite web |title=Yazidis i. General |url=http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/yazidis-i-general-1 |accessdate=19 March 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=YEZIDIS in Armenia |title=People Armenia Travel, History, Archeology & Ecology TourArmenia Travel Guide to Armenia |url=http://www.tacentral.com/people.asp?story_no=8 |website=www.tacentral.com}}</ref> of [[Yezidis]]. Their sacred book ''[[Mishefa Reş]]'' and all prayers are written and spoken in Kurmanji, which the Yezidis call [[Ezdiki]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Arakelova |first1=Victoria |date=2001 |title=Healing Practices among the Yezidi Sheikhs of Armenia |journal=Asian Folklore Studies |volume=60 |issue=2 |pages=319–328 |doi=10.2307/1179060 |quote = As for their language, the Yezidis themselves, in an attempt to avoid being identified with Kurds, call it ''Ezdiki''.}}</ref>
== Scripts and books ==
Kurmanji is written using the [[Latin script]] in [[Turkey]], where most of its speakers live, as well as in [[Syria]], [[Iraq]] and [[Armenia]]. Kurmanji is the most widely spoken language by [[Kurds]] and [[Yazidis]]. It is being spoken by 80% of all Kurds and it is also the mother tongue of almost all Yazidis. The earliest textual record of Kurmanji dates to the 16th century.<ref name="Iranica"/>

Kurmanji is also the ceremonial language<ref>[http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/yazidis-i-general-1 Kurmanji is the language of almost all the orally transmitted religious traditions of the Yazidis.]</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=YEZIDIS in Armenia |title=People Armenia Travel, History, Archeology & Ecology TourArmenia Travel Guide to Armenia |url=http://www.tacentral.com/people.asp?story_no=8 |website=www.tacentral.com}}</ref> of [[Yazidism]]. The sacred book ''[[Mishefa Reş]]'' (the "[[Yazidi Black Book]]") and all prayers are written and spoken in Kurmanji. In this context, the Kurmanji language may also be called '''[[Ezdiki language|Ezdiki]]'''.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Arakelova |first1=Victoria |date=2001 |title=Healing Practices among the Yezidi Sheikhs of Armenia |journal=Asian Folklore Studies |volume=60 |issue=2 |pages=319–328 |doi=10.2307/1179060 |quote = As for their language, the Yezidis themselves, in an attempt to avoid being identified with Kurds, call it ''Ezdiki''. }}</ref>


== Phonology ==
== Phonology ==
{{see|Kurdish phonology}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+Vowels
!
![[Front vowel|Front]]
![[Central vowel|Central]]
![[Back vowel|Back]]
|-
![[Close vowel|Close]]
|{{IPA|i}}
|
|{{IPA|u}}
|-
![[Near-close vowel|Near-close]]
|{{IPA|ʏ}}
|
|
|-
![[Mid vowel|Mid]]
|
|{{IPA|ə}}
|
|-
![[Close-mid vowel|Close-mid]]
|{{IPA|e}}
|
|{{IPA|o}}
|-
![[Open vowel|Open]]
|{{IPA|a}}
|
|{{IPA|ɑ}}
|}
The vowels {{IPA|/i, a, u/}} have long forms, and Kumandji has contrastive vowel length.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.academia.edu/download/36582210/JoLaCE_2014-3-007.pdf|title=A Comparative Study of Kurdish Phonological Varieties|last=Asadpour|first=Hima|last2=Mohammadi|first2=Maryam|date=|website=|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+Consonants
! colspan="2" rowspan="2" |
! colspan="2" |[[Bilabial consonant|Bilabial]]
! rowspan="2" |[[Labiodental consonant|Labiodental]]
! colspan="2" |[[Dental consonant|Dental]]
! rowspan="2" |[[Alveolar consonant|Alveolar]]
! colspan="2" |[[Postalveolar consonant|Postalveolar]]
! rowspan="2" |[[Palatal consonant|Palatal]]
! colspan="2" |[[Velar consonant|Velar]]
! rowspan="2" |[[Uvular consonant|Uvular]]
! rowspan="2" |[[Pharyngeal consonant|Pharyngeal]]
! rowspan="2" |[[Glottal consonant|Glottal]]
|-
!<small>plain</small>
![[Aspirated consonant|<small>aspirated</small>]]
!<small>plain</small>
![[Aspirated consonant|<small>aspirated</small>]]
!<small>plain</small>
![[Aspirated consonant|<small>aspirated</small>]]
!<small>plain</small>
![[Aspirated consonant|<small>aspirated</small>]]
|-
! rowspan="2" |[[Stop consonant|Stop]]
!<small>voiceless</small>
|{{IPA|p}}
|{{IPA|pʰ}}
|
|{{IPA|t̪}}
|{{IPA|t̪ʰ}}
|
|
|
|
|{{IPA|k}}
|{{IPA|kʰ}}
|{{IPA|q}}
|
|{{IPA|ʔ}}
|-
![[Voice (phonetics)|<small>voiced</small>]]
|{{IPA|b}}
|{{IPA|bʱ}}
|
|{{IPA|d̪}}
|{{IPA|d̪ʱ}}
|
|
|
|
|{{IPA|ɡ}}
|{{IPA|ɡʱ}}
|
|
|
|-
! rowspan="2" |[[Affricate consonant|Affricate]]
!<small>voiceless</small>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|{{IPA|t͡ʃ}}
|{{IPA|t͡ʃʰ}}
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
![[Voice (phonetics)|<small>voiced</small>]]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|{{IPA|d͡ʒ}}
|{{IPA|d͡ʒʱ}}
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
! rowspan="2" |[[Fricative consonant|Fricative]]
!<small>voiceless</small>
|
|
|{{IPA|f}}
|{{IPA|s}}
|{{IPA|sʰ}}
|{{IPA|ɬ}}
|{{IPA|ʃ}}
|
|
|{{IPA|x}}
|
|
|{{IPA|ħ}}
|{{IPA|h}}
|-
![[Voice (phonetics)|<small>voiced</small>]]
|
|
|{{IPA|(v)}}
|{{IPA|z}}
|{{IPA|zʱ}}
|
|{{IPA|ʒ}}
|
|
|{{IPA|ɣ}}
|
|
|{{IPA|(ʕ)}}
|{{IPA|ɦ}}
|-
! colspan="2" |[[Nasal consonant|Nasal]]
|{{IPA|m}}
|
|
|{{IPA|n̪}}
|
|
|
|
|
|{{IPA|ŋ}}
|
|
|
|
|-
! colspan="2" |[[Approximant consonant|Approximant]]
|
|
|
|{{IPA|l̪}}
|
|
|
|
|{{IPA|j}}
|{{IPA|w}}
|
|
|
|
|-
! colspan="2" |[[Trill consonant|Trill]]
|
|
|
|{{IPA|r}}
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
! colspan="2" |[[Flap consonant|Flap]]
|
|
|
|{{IPA|ɾ}}
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|}


== Dialects ==
== Dialects ==
Line 281: Line 56:
* '''Northwestern Kurmanji''', spoken in the [[Kahramanmaraş Province|Kahramanmaraş]] (in Kurmanji: ''Meraş''), [[Malatya Province|Malatya]] (''Meletî'') and [[Sivas Province|Sivas]] (''Sêwaz'') provinces of [[Turkey]].
* '''Northwestern Kurmanji''', spoken in the [[Kahramanmaraş Province|Kahramanmaraş]] (in Kurmanji: ''Meraş''), [[Malatya Province|Malatya]] (''Meletî'') and [[Sivas Province|Sivas]] (''Sêwaz'') provinces of [[Turkey]].
* '''Southwestern Kurmanji''', spoken in the [[Adıyaman Province|Adıyaman]] (''Semsûr''), [[Gaziantep Province|Gaziantep]] (''Entab'') and [[Şanlıurfa Province|Şanlıurfa]] provinces of Turkey and the [[Aleppo Governorate]] of [[Syria]].
* '''Southwestern Kurmanji''', spoken in the [[Adıyaman Province|Adıyaman]] (''Semsûr''), [[Gaziantep Province|Gaziantep]] (''Entab'') and [[Şanlıurfa Province|Şanlıurfa]] provinces of Turkey and the [[Aleppo Governorate]] of [[Syria]].
* '''Northern Kurmanji''' or '''Serhed''' , spoken mainly in the [[Ağrı Province|Ağrı]] (''Agirî''), [[Erzurum Province|Erzurum]] (''Erzerom'') and [[Muş Province|Muş]] (''Mûş'') provinces of Turkey, as well as adjacent areas.
* '''Northern Kurmanji''' or '''Serhed Kurdish''', spoken mainly in the [[Ağrı Province|Ağrı]] (''Agirî''), [[Erzurum Province|Erzurum]] (''Erzerom'') and [[Muş Province|Muş]] (''Mûş'') provinces of Turkey, as well as adjacent areas.
* '''Southern Kurmanji''', spoken in the [[Al-Hasakah Governorate]] in Syria, the [[Sinjar]] distinct in Iraq, and in several adjacent parts of Turkey centering on the [[Mardin Province|Mardin]] and [[Batman Province|Batman]] provinces.
* '''Southern Kurmanji''', spoken in the [[Al-Hasakah Governorate]] in Syria, the [[Sinjar]] distinct in Iraq, and in several adjacent parts of Turkey centering on the [[Mardin Province|Mardin]] and [[Batman Province|Batman]] provinces.
* '''Southeastern Kurmanji''' or '''Badînî''', spoken in the [[Hakkâri Province|Hakkâri]] province of Turkey and [[Dohuk Governorate]] of [[Iraqi Kurdistan]].
* '''Southeastern Kurmanji''' or '''Badînî''', spoken in the [[Hakkâri Province|Hakkâri]] province of Turkey and [[Dohuk Governorate]] of [[Iraqi Kurdistan]].
* '''Anatolian Kurmanji''' is spoken in [[central Anatolia]], especially in [[Konya]], [[Ankara]], [[Aksaray]], by [[Kurds of Central Anatolia|Anatolian Kurds]]
* '''Anatolian Kurmanji''' is spoken in [[central Anatolia]], especially in [[Konya]], [[Ankara]], [[Aksaray]], by [[Kurds of Central Anatolia|Anatolian Kurds]]


The most distinctive{{clarify|date=March 2017}} of these is ''Badînî''.<ref>
The most distinctive of these is ''Badînî''.<ref>
for [[Bahdinan]], a historical Kurdish principality, paralleling use of [[Sorani Kurdish|Sorani]], also the name of [[Soran Emirate|a historical principality]], for southern dialects. See [http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/bahdinan-kurdish-region-river-dialect-group-and-amirate BAHDĪNĀN] in ''[[Encyclopedia Iranica]]'' by A. Hassanpour, 1988 (updated 2011): "The majority of the population are Kurds (see figures in Edmonds, [''Kurds, Turks and Arabs'', London, 1957,] p. 439) and speak Kurmanji, the major Kurdish dialect group, also called Bādīnānī (see, among others, Jardine [''Bahdinan Kurmanji: A Grammar of the Kurmanji of the Kurds of Mosul Division and Surrounding Districts'', Baghdad, 1922] and Blau [''Le Kurde de ʿAmādiya et de Djabal Sindjar: Analyse linguistique, textes folkloriques, glossaires'', Paris, 1975])."</ref>
for [[Bahdinan]], a historical Kurdish principality, paralleling use of [[Sorani Kurdish|Sorani]], also the name of [[Soran Emirate|a historical principality]], for southern dialects. See [http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/bahdinan-kurdish-region-river-dialect-group-and-amirate BAHDĪNĀN] in ''[[Encyclopedia Iranica]]'' by A. Hassanpour, 1988 (updated 2011): "The majority of the population are Kurds (see figures in Edmonds, [''Kurds, Turks and Arabs'', London, 1957,] p. 439) and speak Kurmanji, the major Kurdish dialect group, also called Bādīnānī (see, among others, Jardine [''Bahdinan Kurmanji: A Grammar of the Kurmanji of the Kurds of Mosul Division and Surrounding Districts'', Baghdad, 1922] and Blau [''Le Kurde de ʿAmādiya et de Djabal Sindjar: Analyse linguistique, textes folkloriques, glossaires'', Paris, 1975])."</ref>


Line 292: Line 67:
{{Portal|Kurdistan|Languages}}
{{Portal|Kurdistan|Languages}}
* [[Kurdish alphabets]]
* [[Kurdish alphabets]]
* [[Central Kurdish dialects]]
* [[Central Kurdish]]
* [[Southern Kurdish dialects]]
* [[Southern Kurdish]]
* ''[[Kurmancî (magazine)|Kurmancî]]'', a Kurdish linguistic magazine
* ''[[Kurmancî (magazine)|Kurmancî]]'', a Kurdish linguistic magazine


Revision as of 22:21, 19 March 2019

Northern Kurdish
Kurmanji
Kurmancî, کورمانجی, Кӧрманщи
Kurdiya Jorîn, کوردیا ژۆرین, Кӧрдьйа Жорин, Êzdîkî
Regionautochthonous to Kurdistan, Kurdish diaspora[1]
Native speakers
15 million (2009)[2]
Dialects
  • Subdialects
    Botani
  • Marashi
  • Ashiti
  • Bayezidi
  • Hekari
  • Shemdinani
  • Shikaki
  • Silivî
  • Mihemedî[1]
Naskh Arabic script in Iran, Iraq, Syria and Lebanon,
Latin script in Turkey and Syria,
Cyrillic script in Russia and Armenia.[1]
Official status
Official language in
 Kurdistan Region[1]
Recognised minority
language in
 Armenia (Educational)[1]
 Azerbaijan (Statutory language of provincial identity in five districts, as abided by the constitution)[1]
Language codes
ISO 639-3kmr
Glottolognort2641
Linguasphere58-AAA-a
Geographic distribution of the Kurdish languages spoken by Kurds

Kurmanji, (synonym for Kurdish),[3][4][5][6] also classified as Northern Kurdish[7] is the northern dialect of the Kurdish language, spoken in southeast Turkey, northwest and northeast Iran, northern Iraq, northern Syria and the Caucasus region. It is the most spoken Kurdish dialect and mother tongue to other ethnic minorities in the region as well.[8]

The earliest textual record of Kurmanji Kurdish dates back to approximately the 16th century and many prominent Kurdish poets like Ahmad Khani (1650-1707) wrote in this dialect as well.[9][5] Kurmanji Kurdish is also the common and ceremonial dialect[10][11] of Yezidis. Their sacred book Mishefa Reş and all prayers are written and spoken in Kurmanji, which the Yezidis call Ezdiki.[12]

Phonology

Further information: Kurdish phonology

Dialects

Northern Kurdish forms a dialect continuum of great variability. Loosely, five dialect areas can be distinguished:[13]

The most distinctive of these is Badînî.[14]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Ethnologue - Kurmanji Kurdish". Archived from the original on 23 January 2018. Retrieved 3 February 2018. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ Northern Kurdish at Ethnologue (19th ed., 2016) Closed access icon
  3. ^ Captain R. E. Jardine (1922). Bahdinan Kurmanji - A grammar of the Kurmanji of the Kurds of Mosul division and surrounding districts of Kurdistan. Baghdad: Government Press. p. ii.
  4. ^ Ayfer Gokalp (August 2015). "Language and Literacy Practices of Kurdish Children Across Their Home and School Spaces in Turkey:" (PDF). Arizona State University: 146. Retrieved 19 March 2019. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  5. ^ a b Paul, Ludwig (2008). "Kurdish language I. History of the Kurdish language". In Yarshater, Ehsan (ed.). Encyclopædia Iranica. London and New York: Routledge. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
  6. ^ Georg Krotkoff (1997). Humanism, Culture, and Language in the Near East. p. 299.
  7. ^ "Ethnologue - Kurdish". Retrieved 19 March 2019.
  8. ^ Aşiretler raporu (1st ed.). İstanbul: Kaynak Yayınları. 2000. ISBN 9753432208.
  9. ^ Sebastian Maisel (2018). The Kurds: An Encyclopedia of Life, Culture, and Society. p. 164-165.
  10. ^ "Yazidis i. General". Retrieved 19 March 2019.
  11. ^ YEZIDIS in Armenia. "People Armenia Travel, History, Archeology & Ecology TourArmenia Travel Guide to Armenia". www.tacentral.com.
  12. ^ Arakelova, Victoria (2001). "Healing Practices among the Yezidi Sheikhs of Armenia". Asian Folklore Studies. 60 (2): 319–328. doi:10.2307/1179060. As for their language, the Yezidis themselves, in an attempt to avoid being identified with Kurds, call it Ezdiki.
  13. ^ Öpengin, Ergin; Haig, Geoffrey (2014), "Regional variation in Kurmanji: A preliminary classification of dialects", Kurdish Studies, 2, ISSN 2051-4883
  14. ^ for Bahdinan, a historical Kurdish principality, paralleling use of Sorani, also the name of a historical principality, for southern dialects. See BAHDĪNĀN in Encyclopedia Iranica by A. Hassanpour, 1988 (updated 2011): "The majority of the population are Kurds (see figures in Edmonds, [Kurds, Turks and Arabs, London, 1957,] p. 439) and speak Kurmanji, the major Kurdish dialect group, also called Bādīnānī (see, among others, Jardine [Bahdinan Kurmanji: A Grammar of the Kurmanji of the Kurds of Mosul Division and Surrounding Districts, Baghdad, 1922] and Blau [Le Kurde de ʿAmādiya et de Djabal Sindjar: Analyse linguistique, textes folkloriques, glossaires, Paris, 1975])."

External links

Kurdish edition of Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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