Central Iran languages

Central Iran
Geographic distribution:	Iran
Linguistic classification:	Indo-European Indo-Iranian Iranian Western Central Iran
Subdivisions:	—

Central Iranian, or Central Iran, is a group of Western Iranian languages spoken in villages and towns of central Iran, mostly in Markazi and Isfahan provinces. They are typically considered "dialects" of Persian, and many are giving way to Persian among the younger generations.

Listing

They include the following subgroups (according to Lecoq 1989):

• Tafresh: Ashtiani*, Amora’i, Kahaki, Vafsi*, Judeo-Hamadani, Judeo-Borujerdi, Alviri, Vidari
• Northwestern: Mahallati, Vanishani, Khunsari (Khwanshari)*, Judeo-Golpaygani, Judeo-Khunsari
• Northeastern: Arani, Bidgoli, Delijani, Nashalji, Abuzaydabadi, Qohrudi, Badrudi, Kamu’i, Jowshaqani, Meyma’i, Abyana’i, Farizandi, Yarandi (Yarani), Soi (Sohi)*, Badi, Natanzi*, Kasha’i, Tari, Taqi, Judeo-Kashani
• Southwestern: Kafroni, Gazi*, Sedehi, Ardestani, Nohuji, Sajzi, Jarquya’i, Rudashti, Kafrudi, Judeo-Esfahani
• Southeastern: Dari (Yazdi)*, Kermani, Nayini (Na’ini)*, Zefra’i, Anaraki, Varzenei, Judeo-Yazdi, Judeo-Kermani, Tudeshki, Keyjani, Abchuya’i
• Kavir: Khuri, Farvi, Farroki, Mehrjani
• Sivandi: Sivandi*

*Recognized as distinct languages by Ethnologue 16, along with Northwestern Fars, Parsi, Parsi-Dari.

See also

• List of Northwestern Iranian languages

References

1. Lecoq P. Les dialectes du centre de l'Iran // Compendium Linguarum Iranicarum. Wiesbaden, 1989.

Further reading

• Bailey H. W. Iranian Studies IV // Bulletin of the School of Oriental Studies, 1933–1935, vol. 7.
• Borjian, Habib, "Geography of the Median Central Dialects of Isfahan", in Encyclopædia Iranica, vol. XIV, fasc. 1, pp. 84–93.
• Morgenstierne G., Neu-iranische Sprachen // Handbuch der Orientalistik. Iranistik. Linguistik. Leiden; Köln, 1958, Abt. I, Bd. 4, Abschn. 1.
• Расторгуева В. С., Мошкало В. В. Диалекты Центрального Ирана // Основы иранского языкознания. Новоиранские языки: Северо-западная группа. М., 1997.
• Stilo, Don. "Isfahan. Provincial Dialects", in Encyclopædia Iranica, vol. XIV, fasc. 1, pp. 93 ff.
• Windfuhr, Gernot. "Central Dialects", in Encyclopædia Iranica.

External links

• A Description of the Northwest Iranian Project at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology