March 2, 2019
An Iranian linguist has warned that nearly half of the living languages and dialects in Iran face varying degrees of endangerment and risk of extinction.
Speaking to IRNA on Saturday, March 2, 2019, Faryar Akhlaqi, head of the Language and Dialect Research Group at the Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization of Iran, stated, “The data provided in sources like UNESCO's Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger regarding the number and names of endangered languages in Iran is not entirely accurate. For instance, the atlas estimates 25 endangered languages in Iran, but this list is not considered acceptable by experts."
Causes of Language Extinction
Explaining the reasons behind language extinction, Akhlaqi said, “The primary function of a language is to facilitate communication among its speakers. When a language loses this utility and people no longer use it to communicate, we say the language is dead. In contrast, living languages are those still spoken and used for communication. Endangered languages are those that still have speakers but are at risk of extinction and losing their communicative function for various reasons.”
Most Regions in Iran Are Bilingual
Akhlaq noted, “In most regions of Iran, people are bilingual, meaning they learn and use a second language, often the national language, alongside their native language. In such situations, the scope of use for the native language may gradually shrink, while the use of the dominant language expands. In other words, the dominant language increasingly takes over the functional domains of the subordinate language, pushing it to the margins. Another factor is migration, which undoubtedly reduces the use of native languages. In some countries, political pressures also contribute to the decline of indigenous languages.”
Factors Leading to Language Death
Discussing the factors influencing language extinction, Akhlaqi stated, “According to available data, there are 76 living languages in Iran. Of these, approximately half are endangered to varying degrees. UNESCO identifies six degrees of endangerment for languages and considers nine factors influencing this process. Two factors are particularly significant: the number of speakers and intergenerational transmission, which UNESCO refers to as the ‘golden factor.’ If parents do not pass their native language on to their children—perhaps due to the perceived higher status of another language—the parental generation becomes the last speakers of the language, and with their passing, the language dies out.”
Degrees of Language Endangerment
Akhlaq outlined the levels of language endangerment according to UNESCO:
- Safe: Languages that are being transmitted across generations and are not at risk.
- Vulnerable: Languages where most children still speak the language, but its use is limited to certain domains, such as the home, with no presence in educational settings.
- Definitely Endangered: Languages no longer learned by children in their homes.
- Severely Endangered: Languages spoken only by grandparents, understood but not spoken by parents, and not used by children. When the grandparents pass, the language disappears.
- Critically Endangered: Languages spoken only by grandparents, with even parents no longer understanding it.
- Extinct: Languages with no remaining speakers.
Examples of critically endangered languages in Iran include Mandaic in Khuzestan, Koroshi in Fars, and Kumzari in Hormozgan.
Strategies for Preserving Indigenous Languages
Regarding strategies to preserve native and indigenous languages, Akhlaqi emphasized, “While having a national language is important, the first step in preserving Iran’s indigenous languages is motivating families to speak their native language with their children. No language is superior to another, and the national language should not replace native ones. All languages are valuable and none should be deemed superior.”
He continued, “Raising awareness among children is another critical measure. Schools and media can teach children to value linguistic diversity as part of their national heritage, discouraging ridicule or devaluation of these languages. When children view their native language positively, they won’t feel inferior or pressured to change it. All these efforts fall under cultural education to prevent the loss of beautiful linguistic varieties.
“Governments and relevant institutions must also take action by planning preservation efforts, organizing meetings among specialists, and implementing measures to protect these linguistic treasures.”
Linguistic Diversity in Iran
Iran is home to a rich linguistic and dialectical diversity, but half of these languages are endangered. While precise statistics are unavailable, some of the languages and dialects at risk include: Talyshi (Gilan), Tati (Qazvin), Senaya (Tehran), Natanz, Naeini, Khunsari, and Gezi (Isfahan), Hawrami (Kurdistan), Sivandi and Koroshi (Fars), Larestani (Hormozgan), Sui (Sistan and Baluchistan), Beh-dinan or Gabri (Yazd), Vafsi (Markazi), Mandaic (Khuzestan), Khalaj (Markazi), and Ashtiani (Markazi).
The link to the original article in Farsi on IRNA:
كدام زبانها و گویشهای ایرانی در معرض خطر نابودی هستند؟