Western Iranian languages
Branch of the Iranian languages
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Western Iranian languages or Western Iranic languages are a branch of the Iranian languages, attested from the time of Old Persian (6th century BC) and Median.
distributionSouthwest Asia, Central Asia, Caucasus, and western South Asia
- Indo-Iranian
- Iranian
- Western Iranian
- Iranian
| Western Iranian | |
|---|---|
| Western Iranic | |
| Geographic distribution | Southwest Asia, Central Asia, Caucasus, and western South Asia |
| Linguistic classification | Indo-European
|
| Subdivisions | |
| Language codes | |
| Glottolog | nort3177 (Northwestern Iranian)sout3157 (Southwestern Iranian) |
Languages
The traditional Northwestern branch is a convention for non-Southwestern languages, rather than a genetic group. The languages are as follows:[2][3][4]
Old Iranian period
The Old Iranian period languages consisted of the following languages:
- Northwest: Median†
- Southwest: Old Persian†
Middle Iranian period
The Middle Iranian period languages consisted of the following languages:
- Middle West Iranian
- Northwest: Parthian†
- Southwest: Middle Persian†
Modern period (Neo-Iranian)
Glottolog proposes a detailed linguistic classification of Iranian languages, encompassing many subgroups and dialects:
Northwestern Iranian
- Adharic[5]
- Adhari (Old Azeri)†
- Zaza[6]
- Tatic (Tati-Talysh)[7]
- Alamuti
- Central Tatic (Khalkhali (Kajali, Karanic [Diz, Gandomabi, Hezarrudi Karan (Khoresh-e Rostam) Karnaq, Kelasi, Lerd, Nowkiani], Shahrudi -Southern Talysh ([Shali-Kolur, Shandermani, Southern Talysh, Massali Masulei]), Khoini, Maraghei [Dikini], North-Central Talysh (Central Talysh [Asalemi, Hashtpari], Northern Talysh [Astara, Lenkoran, Lerik], Taromic [Kabate, Kalasi, Upper Taromi],
- Northern Tatic: Harzandi-Kilit (Harzandi, Kilit†), Karingani-Kalasuri-Khoynarudi (Karingani, Kalasuri-Khoynarudi),
- Southern Tatic: Alviri-Vidari (Alviri, Vidari), Vafsic (Ashtiani [Amorei, Kahaki, Nuclear Ashtiani, Tafresh], Vafsi), Ramand-Karaj: Eshtehardi, Razajerdi,Takestani (Khalkhal, Kharaqani, Ramandi, Tarom, Zanjan))
- Gurani[8]
- Balochic[9]
- Eastern Balochi (Bugti, Kasrani, Leghari, Marri, Mazari, Upper Sindhi Balochi)
- Southern-Western Balochi
- Southern-Western Balochi-Koroshi
- Koroshi (Coastal Koroshi, Inland Koroshi)
- Southern Balochi (Coastal Balochi [Kechi, Barahuwi, Bashgaadi, Huuti Karachi Balochi Makrani], Kechi)
- Western Balochi
- Lashari (Bampuri, Iranshahr)
- Rakhshani (Kalati Balochi, Panjguri, Sarhaddi Balochi [Afghanistan Balochi, Sistani Balochi, Turkmenistan Balochi])
- Southern-Western Balochi-Koroshi
- Caspian[10]
- Gorgani†
- Gilaki-Rudbari
- Gilaki
- Western Gilaki (Anzali, Fumani Rashti)
- Eastern Gilaki (Lahijani, Langerudi, Machiani)
- Galeshi
- Rudbari
- Gilaki
- Mazandarani-Shahmirzadi
- Mazandarani (Central Caspian, Gachsari, Galeshi of Mazanderan, Nuclear Mazanderani, Velatru)
- Shahmirzadi
- Komisenian[11]
- Semnani-Biyabuneki[12]
- Semnani
- Biyabuneki
- Central Iran-Kermanic[13]
- Kavir (Farvi, Garme'i, Khuri, Mihrijan)
- Nuclear Central-Kermanic
- Gazic (Judeo-Esfahani, Ardestani, Gazi, Jarquya'i, Kafrudi, Kuhpa'i, Nohuji, Rudashti, Sedehi, Zefra'i)
- Judeo-Hamedani-Borujerdi (Judeo-Hamedani, Judeo-Borujerdi)
- Kashanic
- Natanzic (Abyane'i, Badi (Median), Badrudi, Bidhandi, Farizandi, Hanjani, Natanzi, Yarandi)
- Soic (Abuzaydabadi, Arani-Bidgoli, Delijani, Jowshaqani, Judeo-Kashani, Soi)
- Khunsaric (Judeo-Khomeini, Judeo-Khunsari, Khunsari, Mahallati, Vaneshani)
- Judeo-Kermani-Nayini
- Nayinic (Abchuya'i, Anarak, Keyjani, Nayini, Tudeshki)
- Zoroastrian Yazdi (Gabri [Iranian], Judeo-Yazdi-Kermani, Parsi [Zoroastrian], Zoroastrian Dari)
- Sivandi
- Laki-Kurdish[14]
- Kurdish
- Northern Kurdish (Northern Kurmanji, Southeastern Kurmanji, Southern Kurmanji, Western Kurmanji)
- Central Kurdish (Mukri, Sine'i, Sorani)
- Southern Kurdish (Ilami, Lakic Southern Kurdish, Peripheral Kermanshahic)
- Laki
- Kurdish
Southwestern Iranian
- Bashkardi[15]
- Northern Bashaka (Garmsiri, North Bashkardi)
- Southern Bashaka (Garahven, Gwafr, Parmont, Pirou, Shahbavek)
- Fars dialects[16] (Ardakani, Buringuni, Davani, Judeo-Shirazi, Kalati, Kondazi, Masarmi, Papuni, Somghuni, Xullari, Heshnizi, Gavbandi, Dashtini, Kangani, Jami, Bardesuni (Bardestani)
- Farsic-Caucasian Tat[17]
- Caucasian
- Judeo-Tat (Central Judeo-Tat, Northern Judeo-Tat, Southern Judeo-Tat)
- Muslim Tat (Absheron, Mədrəsə, Northern Muslim Tat, Şirvan Muslim Tat, Xızı)
- Farsic
- Judeo-Persian
- Persian (Western Farsi)
- Central Persian (Esfahani, Kermani Persian)
- Eastern Persian (Khorasan Persian, Sistani Persian)
- Northern Persian (Tehrani, Araki (Iran), Gorgani Persian, Karbalai, Kermanshahi Persian, Ketabi (Literary), Mahalati Malayeri, Perso-Tabaric [Damavandi, Lower Jajrudi, Shemiran, Taleqan-Karaj], Qazvini Persian, Qomi Persian, Savei)
- Southern Persian (Bandari [Bandar Abbasi, Hajiab, Khamiri, Lengei, Qeshmi], Bushehri [Bahraini, Dashtestani, Dashti, Jami, Nuclear Bushehri, Tangestani], Fars Persian [Abadei, Basseri, Jahromi, Kazeruni, Old Shirazi, Shirazi], Khuzestani [Abadani, Ahvazi, Behbahani, Ramhormozi])
- Caucasian
There is also a recently described, and as yet unclassified, Batu'i language that is presumably Western Iranian.[2] Extinct Deilami is sometimes classified in the Caspian branch. An Iranian Khalaj language has been claimed, but does not exist; the Khalaj speak a Turkic language.
Many of the languages and dialects spoken in Markazi and Isfahan provinces are giving way to Persian in the younger generations.[21]
It is to note that the Caspian languages (incl. Adharic), the central dialects, Zaza and Gorani languages are likely descended from a later form of Median with varying amounts of Parthian substrata,[22] whereas the Semnani languages were likely descended from Parthian.[23]