Western Iranian languages

File:Distribution of Iranian Languages.png

Distribution of the Iranian languages in and around the Iranian plateau. Western Iranian languages are indicated in the key.

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.

Languages

The traditional Northwestern branch is a convention for non-Southwestern languages, rather than a genetic group. The languages are as follows:

Old Iranian period

• Northwest: Median†, etc.
• Southwest: Old Persian†, etc.

Middle Iranian period

• Northwest: Parthian†, etc.
• Southwest: Middle Persian†, etc

Modern period (Neo-Iranian)

• Northwestern Iranian
  • Caspian
    • Gorgani†
    • Daylami†
    • Gilaki (incl. Rudbari)
    • Mazandarani (incl. Tabari, Shahmirzadi, Ilikaei, katuli)
  • Semnani
    • Semnani
    • Sangisari
    • Lasgerdi-Sorkhei (incl. Aftari)
  • Adharic (Azaric)
    • Old Adhari†
      • Tatic
        • Talysh (north-central)
        • Gozarkhani (Alamuti)
        • North: Harzandi, Karingani (Kalasuri, Khoynarudi)
        • Kho'ini
        • South
          • Alviri-Vidari (Alviri, Vidari)
          • Ashtiani (Amora’i, Kahaki, Tafreshi), Vafsi
          • Razajerdi, Eshtehardi, Takestani (Ramandi, Kharaqani)
        • Central
          • Khalkhalic: Kajali, Koresh-e Rostam (Karani), Shahrudi (incl. southern Talysh)
          • Maraghei
          • Upper Taromi, Kabatei
  • Kurdic (acc. Anonby)
    • Kurdish
      • Northern Kurdish (Kurmanji)
      • Central Kurdish (Sorani)
      • Southern Kurdish
      • Laki
      • Kurdali
    • Zaza–Gorani
      • Zazaki
      • Gorani (incl. Hawrami, Sarli, Shabaki, Bajalani)
  • Balochi
    • Western Balochi (Rakhshani)
    • Southern Balochi (Makrani)
    • Eastern Balochi
    • Koroshi
  • Khuri (Kavir)

• Central Plateau
  • Sivandi
  • Judeo-Hamadani, Judeo-Borujerdi
  • NW = Khunsari (Judeo-Khunsari, Judeo-Khomeini, Vanishani, Mahallati, Vanishani, Judeo-Golpaygani, etc.)
  • NE = Kashanic: Soi (incl. Abuzaydabadi), Natanzi
  • SW = Gazi (many dialects)
  • Southeastern: Zoroastrian Dari (Zoroastrian Yazdi, Judeo-Kermani), Nayini

• Southwestern Iranian
  • Persian (dialects: Iranian Persian & Judeo-Persian, Dari (incl. Madaglashti), Tajik & Judeo-Bukharic, Hazaragi, Aimaq, Sistani, Pahlavani Persian†)
  • Persid
    • Shushtari–Dezfuli
    • Luri (incl. Bakhtiari)
    • Kuhmareyi (incl. Davani)
    • (see also Persid dialects of Khuzestan)
  • Bashkardi (Southern Bashkardi)
  • Garmsiri (Bandari) (Northern Bashkardi, Bandari, Minabi/Minowi–Hormozi: Hormozgan)
  • Kumzari
  • Achomi (Larestani)
  • Caucasian Tat (SW Tat): Tat, Judeo-Tat
  • Fars (numerous SW Fars dialects: Heshnizi, Gavbandi, Dashtini, Kangani, Jami, Bardesuni (Bardestani), Khenesiri, Bordekhuni, Dashtiyati (Dashti), Tangesiri (incl. Delvari), Khormuji, Khayizi, Ahrami, Bushehri, Bandar Rig (Fars of Bandar Rig), Genaveyi, Deylami (Liravi)†, Dashtesuni (Dashtestani), Judeo-Shirazi, etc.)

There is also a recently described, and as yet unclassified, Batu'i language that is presumably Western Iranian. 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.

It is to note that the Caspian languages (incl. Adharic), the central dialects, and the Zaza-Gorani languages are likely descended from a later form of Median with varying amounts of Parthian substrata, whereas the Semnani languages were likely descended from Parthian.

See also

• Eastern Iranian languages

Bibliography

• Pierre Lecoq. 1989. "Les dialectes caspiens et les dialectes du nord-ouest de l'Iran," Compendium Linguarum Iranicarum, ed. Rüdiger Schmitt. Wiesbaden: L. Reichert Verlag, 1989; p. 99.

Further reading

• Kontovas, Nicholas. "Contact and the diversity of noun-noun subordination strategies among Western Iranic languages."
• Hanaway Jr, William L. "Gernot L. Windfuhr. Persian and West Iranic: History and State of Research: Part One: Persian Grammar. The Hague: Mouton, 1979.[Trends in Linguistics: State-of-the-Art Reports, No. 12." Review of Middle East Studies 16.1 (1982): 56-58.