Hawrami dialects

Horami (ھۆرامی; Horamî) also known as Avromani, Awromani or Owrami, is one of the main groups of dialects of the Gorani language, a subgroup of Northwestern Iranian languages. Like all other Gorani dialects, it has some phonological features which distinguish it from Kurdish dialects, though it is surrounded by Kurdish dialects and has been affected by them.^[4]

Etymology

It is regarded as the most archaic of the Gorani group.^[5] Several Zazaki scholars regard Horami as one of the oldest dialects of the Goran–Zaza languages. Some scholars claim that the name Horami has close links to the "Zoroastrian faith" and assert that the name actually originated from God's name in Avesta, Ahuraman, (see Ahura Mazda).

Dialects

The Horami dialects are:

• Lahuni (Lehûnî)
• Tekhti (Textî)
• Basarani (Bêsaranî)
• Halabjayi (Helebceyî)
• Shaykhani (Şeyxanî)

Demographics

According to a survey carried out by the Summer Institute of Linguistics in 1996 there were 200,000 speakers of Horami in the world.^[6]

It is mostly spoken in the Hawraman region, a mountainous region located in western Iran (Iranian Kurdistan) and northeastern Iraq (Iraqi Kurdistan). The key cities of this region are Pawe in Iran and Halabja in Iraq. Horami is sometimes called Auramani or Horami by people foreign to the region.

Generally, the majority of Horami speakers can also speak Sorani Kurdish, and Arabic or Persian, in order to communicate with other people in neighboring cities.

Siya Cheman

Both the Dersim (Zazaki) people and the Gorani, adhere to a form of Yazdanism. These people are called under the various names, such as Ali-Ilahis and Ahl-e Haqq. Groups with similar beliefs also exist in all parts of Kurdistan.

See also

• Gorani language
• Kurdish people

References