Western Iranian languages
| Western Iranian | |
|---|---|
| Geographic distribution | Southwest Asia, Central Asia, Caucasus, and western South Asia |
| Linguistic classification | Indo-European
|
| Subdivisions |
|
| Glottolog | west2794 |
The Western Iranian languages are a branch of the Iranian languages, attested from the time of Old Persian (6th century BC) and Median.
Languages
The traditional Northwestern branch is a convention for non-Southwestern languages, rather than a genetic group. The languages are as follows:[1][2]
- Old Iranian
- Southwest: Old Persian†
- Northwest: Median†
- Middle Iranian
- Southwest: Middle Persian†
- Northwest: Parthian†
- Neo-Iranian
- Northwestern I (Windfuhr 2009[page needed])
- Northwestern II
- Balochi: Balochi, ?Koroshi
- Khuri (Kavir)
- Tatic
- Talysh
- Tati/Azari: Old Azeri†, Harzandi, Karingani, Kho'ini, Khalkhal, Upper Taromi, Rudbari, Southern Tati, Eshtehardi, dialects N/NE of Qazvin
- ? (Talysh? Tati?): Gozarkhani, Kajali, Koresh-e Rostam, Maraghei, Razajerdi, Shahrudi
- Tafresh (transitional): Ashtiani (Amora’i, Kahaki), Vafsi, Alviri-Vidari (Alviri, Vidari), ?Judeo-Hamadani
- Central / Central Plateau (Kermanic)[3]
- Northwestern: Khunsari, Mahallati, Vanishani, Judeo-Golpaygani
- Southwestern: Gazi, Sedehi, Ardestani, Nohuji, Sajzi, Jarquya’i, Rudashti, Kafrudi, Kafruni, Judeo-Esfahani
- Northeastern: Arani, Bidgoli, Delijani, Nashalji, Abuzaydabadi, Qohrudi, Badrudi, Kamu’i, Jowshaqani, Meyma’i, Abyana’i, Soi, Badi, Natanzi, Kasha’i, Tari, Tarqi, Judeo-Kashani
- Southeastern: Zoroastrian Dari, Nayini, Zefra’i, Varzenei, Tudeshki, Keyjani, Abchuya’i
- Southwestern (cf. dialects of Fars)
- Persian (dialects: Iranian Persian, Dari Persian (Madaglashti), Tajik Persian, Hazaragi Persian, Aimaq, Sistani, Pahlavani Persian†, Dzhidi Persian (Judeo-Persian), Judeo-Bukharic), Muslim/Christian Tat, Judeo-Tat
- Persid
- Khuzestani/Dezfuli
- Luri (dialects: Luri, Mamasani, Kohkiluyeh, Bakhtiari)
- Sivandi
- Northwestern Fars
- Kuhmareyi (incl. Davani)
- Larestani–Gulf
- Lari (Larestani), Judeo-Shirazi
- Gulf: Bashkardi, Kumzari, Bandari, Minabi
- Semnani: Semnani, Sangisari, Lasgerdi–Sorkhei (incl. Aftari)
- Caspian: Gilaki (incl. Taleqani), Mazandarani, Gorgani†, ?Deilami
Also Khalaj (incertae sedis)
The dialects of Central Iran are a geographic rather than genetic grouping. They are spoken mostly in Markazi and Isfahan provinces. Many of them are giving way to Persian in the younger generations.[3]
Sanglechi is unclassified. It is probably a variety of Persian but is not readily intelligible to speakers of standard Iranian Persian.
See also
References
- ^ Gernot Windfuhr, 2009, "Dialectology and Topics", The Iranian Languages, Routledge
- ^ Languages preceded by question marks, and many of the varieties of Persian, are from other sources. The dialects of the Central Plateau are from the source provided there.
- ^ a b Central dialects, Encyclopedia Iranica
Bibliography
- Compendium Linguarum Iranicarum, ed. Rüdiger Schmitt. Wiesbaden: L. Reichert Verlag, 1989; p. 99.