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Index / Languages
  Iraq /
Languages
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Languages
Figures in 1000. Last column %. |
Arabic
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20,200
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80.8%
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Mesopotamian
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11,500
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46.0%
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Mesopotamian, North
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7,300
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29.2%
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Najdi
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900
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3.6%
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Egyptian
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450
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1.8%
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Gulf
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40
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0.2%
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Kurdish
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3,300
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13.2%
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Persian
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300
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1.2%
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Zaza-Gorani
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240
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1.0%
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Gorani
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150
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0.6%
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Bajelani
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50
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0.2%
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Shabak
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20
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0.1%
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Sarli
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20
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0.1%
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Turkmen
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230
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0.9%
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Aramaic
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195
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0.8%
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Chaldean Neo
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150
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0.6%
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Assyrian Neo
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40
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0.2%
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Turoyo
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3
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< 0.1%
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Koy Sanjaq Surat
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0
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< 0.1%
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Armenian
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60
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0.2%
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Circassian
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30
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0.1%
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Adyghe
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30
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0.1%
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Turkish
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3
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< 0.1%
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Updated: Apr 24, 2009
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The languages situation of Iraq is very complex, trade routes, the rivers, the valleys and the wild mountains are among the main reasons for lack of cohesion. The Iraqi territory has proven ideal to allow certain peoples to keep up their lifestyles and identity, and with that, language. Iraq has also a tradition of tolerance, which has allowed the survival of minority identity even cities with one dominating majority.
The main forms of Arabic in Iraq are Mesopotamian and North Mesopotamian. These are the languages in the main populated areas of Iraq, North Mesopotamian belongs to the lands north of Baghdad. Both these two variants continue into Syria, where actually Mesopotamian is larger than North Mesopotamian. Mesopotamian is even the largest Arabic dialect in Iran.
None of the two above enters Saudi Arabian lands, the Arabic spoken close to Saudi Arabia is Najdi. Gulf Arabic is spoken close to the border to Kuwait. The presence of Egyptian Arabic is mainly a result of modern-day immigration to Iraq. Due to the conflicts over recent decades, the number of Egyptian speakers my be much lower than the estimates given here.
Kurdish in Iraq are mainly divided between Central and Northern dialects. Northern is spoken in the regions around the Great Zab river, and the provinces of Dahuk and Mosul. Central is spoken south of the Great Zab river, in the provinces of Sulaymaniyah, Irbil, Kirkuk, Khanaqin and Mandali.
Aramaic is found in four main dialects. Chaldean Neo-Aramaic was originally spoken in central western and northern Iraqi Kurdistan and continuing up to the borders to Turkey, but modern days' turmoil have made the speakers move to Mosul, Baghdad and Basra, and a few across southeastern Iraqi Kurdistan.
The highly confusing group called Zaza-Gorani is in Iraq represented by 4 language types. The largest, Gorani, is mainly spoken in the Halabja region, but also found in pockets between Mosul and Khanaqin. Bajelani largely belongs to the region north of Khanaqin. Shabak is spoken in small pockets largely north of Mosul. Sarli is also found north of Mosul, as well as near Kirkuk.
Persian is spoken by ethnic Persians, who happened to live on the other side, when borders between Iraq and Iran were finally drawn.
Circassian is spoken by Circassians immigrating here in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Domari is the language of the Doms, a nomadic people of Indian origins, who seem to have formed small, settled communities in in and near the largest cities and towns of Iraq.
Information about Turkmen is limited and uncertain. Turkey makes a claim on the Turkmens, and could be exaggerating their presence in Iraq. Iraqi sources may, on the other hand, count their numbers too low. The information seem to agree that Turkmen is spoken in Mosul, continuing on to the border of Turkey.
Armenian in Iraq is mainly spoken by Armenians immigrants of the late 19th and early 20th century, living in the very largest cities, mainly then Baghdad.
© Copyright 1996-2009 LookLex Ltd. All rights reserved
By: Tore Kjeilen
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