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Index / Languages / Iranian / Zaza-Gorani
Zazaki
Also called: Dimli
Indo-European Iranian language (Northwestern), spoken by between 1.5 and 2.5 million in Turkey. The language is used by practically all Zazas, in the regions of central-eastern Anatolia.
The adjective of Zazaki, is Zazaish.
There is some confusion to what name should be used for Zazaki. Some sources make Zazaki the main category, Dimli a dialect, other sources, make it the opposite.
Zazaki has earlier been classified under Kurdish. Similar to the Dimli language (mainly Iran), Zazaki's relation to Kurdish is clear, though, but influences from other languages and an independent history have set them apart.
The vocabulary of Zazaki is mainly of Indo-European or Iranian origins, but with many loan words from Arabic and Persian. It is classified together with the Caspian languages, showing most similarities with Gilaki, but also with Mazandarani, Gorani and Talysh.
The first forms of written Zazaki used Arabic script, dating back to 1899. In recent decades, with Zazaki emigrants to Europe, Zazaki has gained a standardized form in the Latin alphabet. In recent years, Zazaki language programs have been introduced on Turkish national TV, much as part of Turkey's attempt to join the European Union.
There are two main forms of Zazaki dialects, although some sources make it three, the third then being Central Zazaki.
Kirmanjki (Northern Zazaki)
This dialect is spoken by 300,000 to 400,000 in a large area with cities like Erzurum and Sivas. It has a lexical similarity with Dimli at 70%.
Central Zazaki
This is used in an area with cities like Elazig and Bingöl.
Dimli (Southern Zazaki)
This dialect is spoken by the all other Zazas, between 1 and 2 million. Its region has Sanliurfa and Diyarbakir as the main cities.
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By: Tore Kjeilen
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