Iranian languages

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This article deals with the language family. For languages spoken on the territory of Iran, see Languages of Iran.

Iranian
Geographic distribution:	Southwest Asia, Central Asia, and western South Asia
Genetic classification:	Indo-European Indo-Iranian Iranian
Subdivisions:	Western Iranian Eastern Iranian
ISO 639-2:	`ira`
Geographic distribution of the modern Iranian languages: Persian (yellow), Pashto (purple), Balochi (light green), and Kurdish (Green), as well as smaller communities of other Iranian languages (User-created map)

The Iranian languages are a branch of the Indo-European language family and its subfamily, Indo-Iranian mainy spoken by the Iranian Peoples. Avestan is the oldest recorded Iranian language.

Today, there are an estimated 150-200 million native speakers of Iranian languages.^[1] The 2005 SIL enumerates 87 varieties of Iranian languages, per number of native speakers, the largest are Persian (ca. 70 million), Pashto (ca. 40 million), Kurdish (35 million) and Balochi (ca. 7 million); to compare these numbers against those for other languages, see list of languages by number of native speakers.

1 Name
2 Early Iranian languages
3 Middle Iranian languages
4 Arab conquest of Persia
5 Classification
6 Comparison table
7 See also
8 Bibliography
- 8.1 Footnotes
- 8.2 Notations
9 External links

[edit] Name

The 'Iranian' languages branch is so named because its principal member languages, including Persian, have been spoken in the area of the Iranian plateau since ancient times, however, as a linguistic classification, 'Iranian' implies no relation with the country of Iran, for which see Languages of Iran.

[edit] Early Iranian languages

Historical distribution in 100 BC: shown is Sarmatia, Scythia, Bactria and the Parthian Empire.

The Indo-Iranian languages are thought to have originated in Central Asia. The Andronovo culture is the suggested candidate for the common Indo-Iranian culture ca. 2000 BC.

Together with the other Indo-Iranian languages, the Iranian languages are descended from a common ancestor, Proto-Indo-Iranian. This language split up into:

Indo-Aryan languages, including Sanskrit, attested from the 2nd millennium BC; this group includes the Dardic languages of the northwestern Indian subcontinent
Nuristani languages in northeast Afghanistan
Iranian languages, including Avestan (dated to roughly 1000 BC) and Old Persian (attested from 519 BC onwards).

Proto-Iranian thus dates to some time after Proto-Indo-Iranian breakup, or the early second millennium BC, as the Old Iranian languages began to break off and evolve separately as the various Iranian tribes migrated and settled in vast areas of southeastern Europe, the Iranian plateau, and Central Asia.

Linguistically, the Old Iranian languages are divided into two major families and sub classes:

The eastern group
The western group
- The southwestern group
- The northwestern group

The eastern group includes the Sogdian, Khwarezmian, Saka, and Avestan, (formerly also known as Zend or Old Bactrian). The northwestern branch includes Median, Parthian and Kurdish. The southwestern group includes Persian.

Avestan is mainly attested through the Avesta, a collection of sacred texts connected to the Zoroastrian religion. Old Persian is attested through inscriptions in the Old Persian cuneiform script.

[edit] Middle Iranian languages

What is known in Iranian linguistic history as the "Middle Iranian" era is thought to begin around the 4th century BCE lasting through the 9th century. Again, geographically, one can classify these into two main families, Western and Eastern.

The former family includes the languages of Parthian (Arsacid Pahlavi) and Middle Persian, while Bactrian, Sogdian, Khwarezmian, Saka, and Old Ossetic (Scytho-Sarmatian) fall under the latter category. The two languages of the western group were linguistically very close to each other, but quite distinct from their eastern counterparts. On the other hand, the Eastern group retained some proximity to Avestan. They were inscribed in various Aramaic-derived alphabets, which had evolved from the Achaemenid Imperial Aramaic.

Middle Persian (Pahlavi), was the official language of the Sassanids. It was in usage from the 3rd century until the beginning of the 10th century. Pahlavi and Parthian were also the language of the Manichaeans, whose texts also survive in various non-Iranian languages, from Latin to Chinese. The Imperial Aramaic script used in this era experienced significant maturation.

[edit] Arab conquest of Persia

Dark green: Countries where Iranian languages are official. Teal: Regional co-official/de facto status.

Following the Islamic Conquest of Persia (Iran), there were important changes in the role of the different dialects within the Persian empire. The old prestige form of Middle Iranian, also known as Pahlavi, was replaced by a new standard dialect called Dari as the official language of the court. The name Dari comes from the word darbar (دربار), which refers to the royal court, where many of the poets, protagonists, and patrons of the literature flourished (See Persian literature). The Saffarid dynasty in particular was the first in a line of many dynasties to officially adopt the new language in 875CE. Dari is believed to have been heavily influenced by regional dialects of eastern Iran, whereas the earlier Pahlavi standard was based more on western dialects. This new prestige dialect became the ancestor of modern Standard Persian. Medieval Iranian scholars such as Abdullah Ibn al-Muqaffa (8th century) and Ibn al-Nadim (10th century) associated the term "Dari" with the eastern province of Khorasan, while they used the term "Pahlavi" to describe the dialects of the northwestern areas between Isfahan and Azerbaijan (see Ancient Azari language), and "Parsi" ("Persian" proper) to describe the dialects of Fars. They also noted that the unofficial language of the royalty itself was yet another dialect, "Khuzi", associated with the western province of Khuzestan.

The Islamic conquest also brought with it the adoption of Arabic script for writing Persian, Pashto and Balochi. All three were adapted to the writing by the addition of a few letters. This development probably occurred some time during the second half of the 8th century, when the old middle Persian script began dwindling in usage. The aforementioned script remains in use in contemporary modern Persian. Tajik script was first Latinised in the 1920s under the then Soviet nationality policy. The script was however subsequently Cyrillicized in the 1930s under plans by USSR's government in Central Asia.

The geographical area in which Iranian languages were spoken was pushed back in several areas by newly neighbouring languages. Arabic spread into some parts of Western Iran (Khuzestan), and Turkic languages spread through much of Central Asia, displacing various Iranian languages such as Sogdian and Bactrian in parts of what is today Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. Sogdian barely survives in a small area of the Zarafshan valley east of Samarkand, and Saka (as Sariqoli) in parts of southern Xinjiang as well as Ossetic in the Caucasus. Various small Iranian languages in the Pamirs survive that are derived from Eastern Iranian. Turkic also displaced the Persian language spoken in Azerbaijan.

[edit] Classification

Main article: List of Iranian languages

Iranian languages are divided into Eastern and Western subfamilies, totalling about 84 languages (SIL estimate). Of the most widely-spoken Iranian languages, Kurdish, Persian, and Balochi are all Western Iranian languages, while Pashto is an Eastern Iranian language.

[edit] Comparison table

English	Zazaki	Kurdish	Pashto	Balochi	Mazandarani	Persian	Middle Persian	Parthian	Old Persian	Avestan
beautiful	rind	rind/delal/cûwan	ṣhkulae/khkulae, ṣhayista/khayista	sharr, soherâ	ṣəmxâl/ Xəş-nəmâ	zibâ/ xuš-chehreh	hučihr, hužihr	hužihr	naiba	vahu-, srîra
blood	goyni	xwîn	wina	hon	xun	xūn	xōn	xōn		vohuni
bread	non	nan	ḍoḍəy	nân, nagan	nûn	nân	nân	nân
bring	ardene	anîn/hênan	rāwṛəm	âvardan	biyârden	âvardan	âwurdan, āwāy-, āwar-, bar-	āwāy-, āwar-, bar-	bara-	bara, bar-
brother	bıra	bira	wror	barādar	birâr	barādar	brād, brâdar	brād, brādar	brâtar	brâtar-
come	amaene	hatin	rātəm	áhag, âmadan	Biyamona, enen	âmadan	âmadan, awar	awar, čām	ây-, âgam	âgam-
cry	berbaene	girîn	zhāṛəm/jāṛəm	taukh	bərmə/ qâ	geristan	griy-, bram-
dark	tari	tarî	tyārə	thár	siyo	târîk	târīg/k	târīg, târēn		sâmahe, sâma
daughter	çena	keç/kîj/kenîşk/dot	lur	mind	kijâ/ dether	doxtar	duxtar	duxt, duxtar		duxδar
day	roce	roj	wraż/wraz	roshe	rezh	rûz	rōz		raucah-
do	kerdene	kirin/kirdin	kawəm	khandagh	hâkerden	kardan	kardan	kartan	kạrta-	kәrәta-
door	çeber	derge/derî	war	gelo	bəli	dar	dar	dar, bar	duvara-	dvara-
die	merdene	mirin	mṛəm	mireg	mərnen	murdan	murdan		mạriya-	mar-
donkey	her	ker	khar	her	xar	xar	xar
egg	hak	hêk	hagəi	heyg	merqâna	toxm	toxmag, xâyag	taoxmag, xâyag		taoxma-
earth	êrd (Arabic)	herd/erd (Arabic)	zməka/məzəka	zemin	zemi	zamin	zamīg	zamīg	zam-	zãm, zam, zem
evening	shund	êvar/êware	māṣhām/mākhām	begáh	nəmâşun	begáh	sarshab	êbêrag
eye	çım	çav	stərga	ch.hem, chem	bəj, Çəş	chashm	chašm	chašm	čaša-	čašman-
father	pi	bav/bawk	plār	pyt, abbâ	piyer	pedar	pidar	pid	pitar	pitar
fear	ters	tirs	vera	terseg	təşəpaş	tars	tars	tars	tạrsa-	tares-
fiancé	washte	dezgîran, destgirtî	numzād	nām zād	xasgar	nâm-zad	-	-
fine	weş	xweş/baş	ṣha/kha	hosh	xaar	xosh	dârmag			srîra
finger	gisht	til/qamik	gwəṭa	lenkwk, mordâneg	angoos	angošt	angust			dišti-
fire	adır	agir	wōr	âch, âs	tesh	âtaš, âzar	âdur, âtaxsh	ādur	âç-	âtre-/aêsma-
fish	mosa	masî	kab	mâhi	mahi	mâhi	mâhig	mâsyâg		masyô, masya
food / eat	werdene	xwarin	khoṛə / khwrəm	warag, vereg	Xərak/ xəynen	Gaza / xordan	parwarz / xwâr, xwardīg	parwarz / xwâr		hareθra / ad-, at-
go	şiyaene	çûn	żəm	jwzzegh	shunen / burden	raftan	raftan, shudan	ay-	ai-	ay-, fra-vaz
god	heq	xwedê	khwdae	hwdâ	homa, xəda	khodâ	bay, abragar		baga-	baya-
good	rınd	baş, çak	ṣhə/khə	jawáin, šarr	xâr	xub / nîuū	xūb, nêkog		vahu-	vohu, vaŋhu-
grass	vash	giya, riwek, şênkatî	wāṣhə/wākhə	rem		sabzeh, giyâh	giyâ	dâlūg		urvarâ
great	gırs / pil	gir, mezin, gewre	loy	mastar	gat, belang, pila	bozorg	wuzurg, pīl		vazraka-	uta-, avañt
hand	dest	dest/lep	lās	dast	dess	dast	dast	dast	dasta-	zasta-
head	ser	ser	sar, kaparae	saghar	kalə	sar, kalleh	sar
heart	zerre	dil	zṛə	dil, hatyr	dil	del	dil	dil		aηhuš
horse	astor	hesp	ās	asp	istar	asp, astar	asp, stōr	asp, stōr	aspa	aspa-
house	çé(ké)	mal	kōr	log	səre	xâneh	xânag			demâna-, nmâna-
hunger	vêşon	birçîtî/birsiyetî	lwəẓha/lwəga	shudhagh	veyshna	gorosnegi	gursag, shuy
language (Also Tongue)	zıwan / zon	ziman	zhəba/jəba	zevân	ziwân	zabân	zuwân	izβân	hazâna-	hizvâ-
laugh	huyaene	kenîn	khandā	khendegh, hendeg		xandidan	xandīdan		karta	Syaoθnâvareza-
life	jewiyaene	jiyan/jîn	zhwandūn	zendegih		zendegi	zīndagīh, zīwišnīh	žīwahr, žīw-		gaêm, gaya-
man	merd	mêr/piyaw	saṛae/nər	merd	merd	mard	mard	mard	martiya-	mašîm, mašya
moon	ashmê	heyv/mang	spoẓhmae/spogmae	máh	mithra	mâh	māh	māh	mâh-	måŋha-
mother	mae	dayik	mōr	mât, mâs	mâr	mâdar	mādar	mādar	mâtar	mâtar-
mouth	fek	dev/dem	khwlə	daf		dahân	dahân, rumb			åŋhânô, âh, åñh
name	name	nav	num	num	num	nâm	nâm		nâman	nãman
night	şewe	şev	shpa	shaw, šap	sheow	shab	shab		xšap-	xšap-
open	akerdene	vekirin	khlās	božagh	vâ-hekârden	bâz-kardan	abâz-kardan		būxtaka-	būxta-
peace	kotpy	aştî	rogha	ârâm		âshti, ârâmeš, ârâmî	âštih, râmīšn	râm, râmīšn	šiyâti-	râma-
pig	xoz	beraz	khug/seḍar	khug	xi	xūk	xūk			varâza (wild pig)
place	ja	cih/şûn	żae	hend		jâh/gâh	gâh	gâh	gâθu-	gâtu-, gâtav-
read	wendene	xwendin	lwalawəm	wánagh	baxinden	xândan	xwândan
say	vatene	gotin/wutin	wāyəm	gushagh	baotena	goftan, gap(-zadan)	guftan, gōw-, wâxtan	gōw-	gaub-	mrû-
sister	wae	xweşk	khōr	gwhâr	xâxer	xâhar/xwâhar	xwahar
small	qıc	piçûk	kuchnae, waṛukae	lekem	pətik, bechuk, perushk	kuchak, kam, xurd, rîz	kam, rangas	kam	kamna-	kamna-
son	qıj	kur	zoe	pisar, phusagh	pisser	pesar, pûr, baça	pur, pusar	puhr	puça	pūθra-
soul	gan	giyan				ravân	rūwân, gyân	rūwân, gyân		urvan-
spring	usar	bihar	sparlae/pusarlae		wehâr	bahâr	wahâr		vâhara-	θūravâhara-
tall	berz	bilind/berz	jəg	bwrz		boland / bârez	buland, borz	bârež		barez-
three	hire	sê	dre	se	se	se	sê	hrē	çi-	θri-
village	dewe	gund, dê	kəlae	helk	deh	deh, wis	wiž	dahyu-	vîs-, dahyu-
want	waştene	xwestin/wîstin	ghwāṛəm	lotagh	bexanen	xâstan	xwâstan
water	owe	av	ōbə	âf	ab	âb/aw	âb	âb	âpi	avô-
when	key	kengê	kəla	ked		kay	kay	ka		čim-
wind	va	ba	bād	gwáth	wâ	bâd	wâd			vâta-
wolf	verg	gur	lewə/shermuṣh	gurkh	varg	gorg	gurg		varka-	vehrka
woman	ceniye	jin/afret	ṣhəza/khəza	jan	zhənya	zan	zan	žan		hâīrīšī-, nâirikâ-
year	serre	sal	kāl	sâl		sâl	sâl		θard	ýâre, sarәd
yes / no	ya / né	erê / na	ho (wo) / na, ya	ere / na		hâ (âre) / na	hâ / ney	hâ / ney	yâ / nay, mâ	yâ / noit, mâ
yesterday	vizêri	duh/dwênê	parun	zí	direz	diruz	dêrûž
English	Zazaki	Kurdish	Pashto	Balochi	Mazandarani	Persian	Middle Persian	Parthian	Old Persian	Avestan

[edit] See also

[edit] Bibliography

[edit] Footnotes

^ Gordon, Raymond G., Jr. (ed.) (2005). "Report for Iranian languages". Ethnologue: Languages of the World. Dallas: SIL International.

[edit] Notations

Schmitt, Rüdiger (ed.) (1989). Compendium Linguarum Iranicarum. Wiesbaden: Reichert. ISBN 3-88226-413-6.
Sims-Williams, Nicholas (1996). "Iranian languages". Encyclopedia Iranica 7. Cosa Mesa: Mazda. 238-245.
Yarshater, Ehsan (ed.) (1996). "Iran". Encyclopedia Iranica 7. Cosa Mesa: Mazda.
Frye, Richard N. (1996). "Peoples of Iran". Encyclopedia Iranica 7. Cosa Mesa: Mazda.
Windfuhr, Gernot L. (1995). "Cases in Iranian languages and dialects". Encyclopedia Iranica 5. Cosa Mesa: Mazda.
Lazard, Gilbert (1996). "Dari". Encyclopedia Iranica 7. Cosa Mesa: Mazda.
Henning, Walter B. (1954). "The Ancient language of Azarbaijan". Transactions of the Philological Society. doi:10.1111/j.1467-968X.1954.tb00282.x.
Rezakhani, Khodadad (2001). The Iranian Language Family.

[edit] External links

erani.tk Lists of many similarities between some Iranian languages, in English and Turkish
Society for Iranian Linguistics
[1] Iranian EFL Journal

v • d • e

Iranian languages

Old

W	Median · Old Persian

E	Avestan · Old Scythian

Middle

W	Parthian · Middle Persian

E	Bactrian · Khwarezmian · Ossetic · Saka (Sacian) · Scythian · Sogdian

Modern

W	Old Azari · Balochi · Bashkardi · Central Iran · Dari (Zoroastrian) · Gilaki · Gorani · Kurmanji · Laki · Luri · Bakhtiari Lori · Mazandarani · Ormuri · Sangsari · Parachi · Persian · Sorani · Taleshi · Tajik · Tat · Tati · Zazaki

E	Bartangi · Hindukush Group · Ishkashmi · Karakoram Group · Khufi · Munji · Oroshori · Ossetic · Parachi · Pashto · Roshani (Roshni) · Sanglechi · Sarikoli · Shughni · Wakhi · Vanji · Yaghnobi · Yidgha · Yazgulami · Zebaki

W = Western · E = Eastern · Italics indicate extinct languages

v • d • e

Iranian-speaking nations and autonomous entities

Afghanistan • China (Taxkorgan)¹ • Georgia ( South Ossetia²) • Iran • Iraq ( Kurdistan) • Russia ( North Ossetia-Alania) • Pakistan (North-West Frontier Province and Balochistan) • Tajikistan • Uzbekistan (1.3 million^[1] to 11 million^[2] Tajiks)

(1) Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County, officially recognised minority in the People's Republic of China.
(2) South Ossetia is a self-proclaimed republic within the internationally recognized borders of Georgia. It is presently not recognized by any country.