Judeo-Iranian languages

Geographic distribution of Iranian languages, including Judeo-Persian languages

The Judæo-Iranian languages (or dialects) are a number of related Jewish variants of Iranian languages spoken throughout the formerly extensive realm of the Persian Empire. Judaeo-Iranian dialects are generally conservative in comparison with those of their Muslim neighbours. Judaeo-Shirazi, for example, remains close to the language of Hafiz.

Like most Jewish languages, all the Judæo-Iranian languages contain great numbers of Hebrew loanwords, and are written using variations of the Hebrew alphabet. Another name used for some Judaeo-Iranian dialects is Latorayi, sometimes interpreted by folk etymology as "not [the language] of the Torah". This refers to a form of the language in which the number of Hebrew and Aramaic loanwords is deliberately maximised to allow it to function as a secret code. In general, however, the number of such loanwords is small compared with that in other Jewish languages such as Yiddish or Judaeo-Spanish.

• Dzhidi (literary Judæo-Persian)
• Bukhori (Judæo-Bukharic, Judæo-Tajik, the Jewish language of the distinctive Jewish community centered in Bukhara)
• Judæo-Golpaygani (the Judæo-Persian language traditionally spoken in the environs of Gulpaigan and western Isfahan Province, Iran)
• Judæo-Yazdi (spoken in the environs of Yazd and elsewhere in Yazd Province, in central Iran)
• Judæo-Kermani (spoken in Kerman and elsewhere in Kerman Province, in south-central Iran)
• Judæo-Shirazi (spoken in Shiraz and elsewhere in Fars Province, in southwestern Iran)
• Judæo-Esfahani (spoken in Isfahan and environs, as well as elsewhere in central and southern Isfahan Province, Iran)
• Judæo-Hamedani (spoken in Hamadan and elsewhere in Hamadan Province, in western Iran)
• Judæo-Kashani (spoken in Kashan,^[1] Abyaneh,^[2] and elsewhere in northern Isfahan Province, in western Iran)
• Judæo-Borujerdi (spoken in Borujerd and elsewhere in Lorestan Province, in western Iran)
• Judæo-Nehevandi (spoken in Nahavand and elsewhere in northern Hamadan Province, in western Iran)
• Judæo-Khunsari (spoken in Khansar and elsewhere in far-western Isfahan Province, in western Iran)
• Juhuri (Judæo-Tat) (A Jewish-Azari dialect spoken in the Republic of Azerbaijan and previous Jewish diaspora in South Azerbaijan (Iran).
• Judæo-Kurdish (not to be confused with several Jewish Neo-Aramaic languages which are also sometimes called "Judeo-Kurdish")
• Judæo-Pathani Jewish languages that resemblance the Herat Jewish community and local society mixed at that time period at Herat's synagogue and language.
• Judæo-North West Punjabi and North West Frontier area at Pakistan ancient Jewish populations mixed with local population came from Iran, to Peshawar area, Islamabad, Rawalpindi shares the culture of synagogue of Peshawar and language.

See also

• Jews in Iran
• Jewish languages

References

• Schmidt, Rüdiger (ed.) (1989). Compendium Linguarum Iranicarum. Wiesbaden: Reichert.