About

Introduction

The Kurdish language is classified as an Indo-European language. It is the native language of the Kurdish ethnic group. The Kurdish people are an indigenous people of the Zagros Mountains, Taurus Mountains, Anatolia, Mesopotamia and the Caucasus. Ancient names for the Kurdish settlement area include “Land of Karda” in Sumerian (see Sumerian clay tablets), and “Kurda” in Hurrian and Hittite (see Mari Archives). The Kurdish language developed many thousands of years ago within Kurda.

Kurdish is not Iranic/ Iranian/ Indo-Iranian. However, many attempts have been made to erroneously consider Kurdish as an Iranic/ Iranian/ Indo-Iranian language. One example can be found when examining an early form of the Kurdish language, Hurrian, which was spoken within the Kingdom of Mitanni. A clay tablet from a man called “Kikkuli”, who claimed to be from the “land of Mitanni”, shows Indo-European numerals 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9, as “aika“, “tera“, “panza“, “satta“, “nawa” respectively (see Kikkuli Text – Clay Tablet in Hurrian and Hittite). Attempts have been made to classify this as “Indic/ Indo-Aryan” by suggesting a hypothetical Indo-Aryan ruling class. These numerals were simply from the Hurrian language of the land of Mitanni, around 1345 BC. There is no reasonable evidence for the presence of an Indo-Aryan ruling class or language in this region at the time. The oldest record of written Hurrian has been found as the Inscription of Tišatal of Urkeš from the 3rd Millennium BC. The Kurdish language existed and was spoken in this region before the arrival of Indo-Iranian languages.

It is important to note that historic variants of the Kurdish language, recognised as Indo-European, have been falsely labelled as either “Anatolian” or “Indo-Iranian”. Meanwhile, other historic variants of the Kurdish language, some examples being Hurrian, Urartian, and Kassite, that have been denied its recognition as Indo-European, have been labelled as languages belonging to extinct language families or as language isolates.

Currently, there are multiple writing systems being used for the Kurdish language. The usage of different writing systems only makes the Kurdish dialects even more separated from each other.

The Kurdish Latin Alphabet is suitable for every dialect of Kurdish. The Latin script is used for the Kurmancî and Zazakî dialects. It is becoming increasingly used in the other Kurdish dialects, including Soranî.

Using the Latin script for every dialect of Kurdish would make it easier for Kurdish to be recognised as a distinct language, and for every dialect to be recognised as dialects of the Kurdish language.

Kurmancî, Soranî, Zazakî, Hewramî, Kełhuřî and Luřî are dialects of the Kurdish language. The Kurdish language is spoken in the Kurdish settlement area. The true and most suitable name for the Kurdish settlement area is Kurda. This name was formed thousands of years ago, referring to the Kurdish settlement area.

Kurda is geographically based in the Zagros Mountains, Taurus Mountains, Anatolia, Mesopotamia and the Caucasus.

It is important to note that the indigenous Kurdish inhabited area has been heavily shrunken. Originally, Kurda had reached the Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea, Sumerian Gulf and Caspian Sea; it reached areas such as Derbent, known as the oldest inhabited city in modern Russia.

Did you know?
The city Derbent, (Kurdish: Derbend) has its name originating from the Kurdish language. Der + Bend – meaning door + barrier. Being populated by Kurdish Medes in the 1st Millennium BCE, it was founded as a city by Kurdish Sassanians in the 5th Century AD. Communities of people speaking Tati remain in Derbent. Tati is a modern form of Old Azeri. Old Azeri was a dialect of the Kurdish language that was spoken in Iran, Azerbaijan and Russia, until a few hundred years ago. Old Azeri is already believed to be a modern form of Median, an ancient form of the Kurdish language.

Did you know?
Old Azeri was spoken in a region known in English as Atropatene or Media Atropatene. This is located by the Caspian Sea and the Caucasus. Its etymology can be traced back to the word Aterepāta in Avestan Kurdish, meaning ‘fire-protected‘.
It is also found as “Hatarbāda” in Late Elamite. Later in time, it was “Āturpātakān“/ “⁠Ādurbādagān” in Pahlawani.
Aterepāta consists of two parts, “Ater” and “Pāta“.
“Ātar” means fire in Avestan Kurdish. The word is also seen in Hurrian Kurdish as “Tari“.
“Pāta” in “Aterepāta” means ‘protected‘. It also has the same meaning in Median Kurdish.

Kurdish is classified as an Indo-European language. It is known to be a language which developed many thousands of years ago within Kurda. Kurdish is not Iranic/ Iranian/ Indo-Iranian. However, many attempts have been made to erroneously consider Kurdish as an Iranic/ Iranian/ Indo-Iranian language. Furthermore, some dialects of Kurdish such as Zazakî, Hewramî, and Luřî are often falsely separated from the other dialects to be considered as independent Iranian languages. It only becomes easier for this to occur when different writing systems and foreign vocabulary are used.

The standardization of the Kurdish language could unify its dialects and allow its recognition as a stand-alone language belonging to the Indo-European language family. As the Kurdish language is Indo-European, not Indo-Iranian, the diagram illustrated here would be much more accurate than almost any other language tree with regards to the classification of the Kurdish language. As Kurdish language standardization progresses, the classification of the language and the way it is presented/ illustrated may develop further.

Approach

There can be an almost countless number of approaches to the standardization of Kurdish. Any content in this website is not new to the Kurdish language. Rather, the website contains the Kurdish Alphabet, and Kurdish vocabulary that already exists.

A detailed approach that this website provides is stated below.

Standardization of the Kurdish alphabet

The Hawar Alphabet is a Latin alphabet that was produced by Celadet Alî Bedirxan in 1932. This alphabet consists of 31 letters and has successfully become the standard alphabet for the Kurmancî and Zazakî dialects. In the other Kurdish dialects, there are a few sounds that are used in speech, which do not correspond to a letter in the Hawar alphabet. Additional letters were added to form the Kurdish Latin Alphabet in 2014. This alphabet can be accessed online by finding the following page: Kirmaşanî Alphabet and Pronunciation Guide. This alphabet appears to successfully standardize Kurdish writing as it preserves and develops the Hawar alphabet whilst being considerate to every dialect of Kurdish.

Awareness and preservation of Kurdish vocabulary

Kurdish is a distinct language with many dialects. Yet, many Kurdish speakers have used words from other languages when speaking Kurdish, particularly words from Arabic, Persian, Turkish, and English. Many of these words have slightly changed in spelling and pronunciation when used in Kurdish, yet they come from languages other than Kurdish. An example is the Arabic word “جامعە” which has often been used in Soranî Kurdish. This word means “university” in English. The Kurdish word “Zanko” can be used instead. By using Kurdish words when speaking Kurdish, any ideas of Kurdish being a form of Arabic, Turkish, or Iranian would become diminished. An approach of this website is to provide a library of words that will preserve and build awareness of Kurdish vocabulary.

The only way to protect and preserve Kurdish vocabulary is by removing every loan-word from written and spoken Kurdish. The Kurdish language is being suffocated by loan-words.

Addressing misconceptions about the Kurdish language

Although the Kurdish language has been preserved, speakers and writers of Kurdish often use an immense amount of non-Kurdish vocabulary and grammar. This website aims to present the authentic Kurdish language by exposing the foreign aspects that have sneaked their way into the language. It is also a way to clearly present that Kurdish is a distinct Indo-European language, one that is not Iranic/ Iranian/ Indo-Iranian.

Awareness of the individual

It can easily be assumed that the standardization of a language mainly depends on discussions and agreements made between people who have studied languages and have a certain position of authority. However, standardization can start from any individual. For example, if one person communicates in the Kurdish (Latin) alphabet, in contexts where it is appropriate to do so, it may encourage more people to do the same. Awareness and familiarity could reach more people until the alphabet becomes a standard form of written communication. This may lead to other aspects, such as foreign vocabulary and grammar that are used in the Kurdish language, to become recognised and addressed. This website aims to bring awareness, regarding the standardization of Kurdish, to any individual.

Adding more languages and dialects to the website

The full website is now available in English.

More features may be added in the future:

• Full websites in Kurmancî and Soranî.
• A temporary website in Soranî using the Abjad script – for speakers of Soranî who may have less familiarity with the Latin writing system.
• Along with Soranî, a library of words in Kurmancî within the Vocabulary page.
• Full websites in other Kurdish dialects and other languages.

Why has this website been made

Many languages are known to be endangered, which could mean that these languages are at a risk of undergoing changes until parts of them become diminished. The Kurdish language, with all of its dialects, could be an example. As many foreign words, issues with grammar, and different writing systems are currently seen, it suggests that not much attention has been given to the Kurdish language and its standardization, relative to many other languages. Also, many false ideas have been presented regarding the Kurdish language. Erroneous ideas such as Kurdish being a sub-group of Iranian languages can be destructive to its standardization and development. Meanwhile, there appears to be a lack of easily accessible resources for learning the Kurdish language. There seems to be even less resources available for learning the Zazakî, Hewramî, Kełhuřî and Luřî dialects of Kurdish. Furthermore, many websites present false ideas about the Kurdish language, even websites that provide resources for learning the Kurdish language. This website grants an opportunity for recognition of the Kurdish language as a distinct language with all of its dialects. It aims to show the authentic aspects of the language and to provide clear-cut solutions for Kurdish language standardization.

We have noticed that many people wish to learn the Kurdish language but cannot find many resources to do so. Learning Kurdish is often limited to certain dialects, such as Kurmancî, because not all of the dialects have many accessible resources to learn them. The standardization of the Kurdish language is a solution that already exists, however there is currently little agreement on how to achieve this. At Kurdish Writing, we aim to compile resources through our research on the Kurdish language to present practical ways to standardize the language.

Here is a list of strategies we believe can help to standardize Kurdish:

• Use of the Latin Alphabet

The ancient Kurdish language has been written in a number of scripts including Cuneiform and Linear Elamite. These should be further researched and revived.

Meanwhile, usage Abjad script for Kurdish is detrimental to the Kurdish language. To protect and preserve the Kurdish language, the Abjad script must not be used any longer. The Abjad script does not belong to the Kurdish language, and it is giving a false image of the Kurdish language that certainly does not represent its character and history. The Kurdish language must return to its original writing scripts, such as Cuneiform and Linear Elamite.

Before this can be achieved, every dialect of the Kurdish language must be united. Out of every modern script in current-use, only through the Latin script can this be achieved. Currently, the dialects of Kurmancî and Zazakî are officially written in the Latin script. The Latin script is becoming increasingly used in other dialects of the Kurdish language. Furthermore, the Latin script does not give a false identity to the Kurdish language, hence it does not pose a threat to its existence.

• Identification and removal of loan-words

There are numerous cases where Kurdish vocabulary is no longer used and even becoming lost due to loan-words acting as a replacement. Hence, loan-words must be removed in order to save the Kurdish language. We also see this as a way to make Kurdish language resources more accessible.

• Reclassification of the Kurdish language
  

Kurdish is an Indo-European language.

The Kurdish language and culture are not Iranic, Iranian or Indo-Iranian.

Our research proves to us that classifying Kurdish as Indo-Iranian is inaccurate in every way and makes it more challenging to standardise the Kurdish language. It contradicts the history and development of the Kurdish language. The Kurdish language has been spoken by the indigenous people of Kurda for thousands of years. Kurdish vocabulary and grammar are Kurdish. They should not be falsely re-named as Indo-Iranian/ Iranian/ Iranic/ Persian.

The etymology of Kurdish vocabulary have been heavily manipulated to make them appear “Iranian” or Persian, when they are certainly not “Iranian” or Persian.

An example is the word “gund” in the Kurdish language, meaning village. This word is related to the word “gond” in the ancient Luwian language where it carries the same meaning. Furthermore, the Luwians referred to the Kurdish settlement area as “Gondwana”, meaning “land of the villages”. However, it has been falsely claimed that the word comes from Iranian languages, as “xund/ ghund” is one of the words that could be used for “village” and has been borrowed in Persian. Meanwhile, the Luwian etymology has often been disregarded. This is the general theme that is seen in a countless number of other Kurdish words, in order to give Kurdish a false “Iranian” identity. Truly, the borrowing of a language feature would have no impact on the identity on the language that had been borrowed from.

Truly, vocabulary and any other feature from the Kurdish language is not Iranic/ Iranian/ Indo-Iranian. Other attempts have been made to falsely suggest that the Kurdish language was not initially Indo-European, but became “Indo-Europeanized”, causing the ancient Kurdish language to become replaced with an “Iranian” one. Furthermore, the word “Iranic” is a manipulation of the word “Iranian”, being another attempt to give the Kurdish language a false Iranian identity.

Other important features seen in the Kurdish language include grammatical gender, ergativity, pronouns and phonology. We see that Kurdish fits best in its own branch of Indo-European languages. Our research along with background knowledge shows us that Kurmancî, Soranî, Zazakî, Hewramî, Kełhuřî, Luřî are dialects of the Kurdish language. We find it fascinating to discover the similarities and differences between each of the dialects.

Why use the Latin Script

The Kurdish language has its own ancient writing scripts and systems. However, there is currently little information that is accessible concerning these. The historical presence of the Kurdish language itself has often been replaced by false names of independent languages. A few examples, which have also been given a false Iranic/ Iranian/ Indo-Iranian identity, are “Median”, “Avestan”, “Parthian”, “Pahlavi”.

Overwhelming historic evidence shows that the Kurds were also known as the Medes, Parthians and Sassanians. Median is the Kurdish language that was spoken during the Median Empire. This has been falsely classified as a “north-western Iranian” language called “Median”. The Kurdish language spoken during the Parthian Empire is known as (Old) Palawani/ Palawanig/ Arsacid Pahlawani. This has been falsely classified as a “north-western Iranian” language called “Parthian” or “Arsacid Pahlavi”. The Kurdish language spoken during the Sassanian Empire is known as (New) Palawani/ Sassanian Pahlawani. This has been falsely classified as a “north-western Iranian” language called “Pahlavi” or “Middle Persian”. The word Palawani/ Palawanig remained as the word Palewan (Kurmancî)/ Pałewan (Soranî) in the modern Kurdish language, which roughly translates to ‘champion’ or ‘wrestler’, carrying the same meaning that it did throughout history.

Meanwhile, the distortion of history relating to the denial of Kurdish existence has added even more ambiguity to the history and origin of the Kurdish language; the Kurdish language is not Indo-Iranian/ Iranian/ Iranic. Alongside the Latin script, the Kurdish language could have its own writing script/s and system/s used. This can be done by discovering the ancient Kurdish writing scripts and systems. For ultimate standardisation, final modifications of a writing script/system for use in the modern-day may be acceptable as long as these are essential, minimal and carried out carefully.

Before carrying out the discovery, preservation and development of the ancient Kurdish writing systems and scripts, the Kurdish language needs to be standardised through the Latin script. The Latin writing system is used in the Kurmancî and Zazakî dialects. It is becoming increasingly used in the other Kurdish dialects, including Soranî. Not only does it generally appear to be the preferred system to use in the Kurdish language, the Kurdish Latin Alphabet has been developed at various points during recent history which has made it suitable for all dialects of the Kurdish language. Furthermore, the Latin writing system is used in a large number of modern-day languages, many of which are also Indo-European languages.

You can standardize the Kurdish language

Anyone can standardize the Kurdish language.

Some ways to standardize:

• Create media (e.g. documents, videos) that present the Kurdish Latin Alphabet.
• Communicate with others online using the Kurdish Latin Alphabet.
• Teach the Kurdish Latin Alphabet.
• Add the Kurdish language to libraries/ translators, ensuring that any vocabulary comes from the Kurdish language
• Use the Kurdish Latin Alphabet when adding Kurdish Soranî to libraries/ translators. For example, Soranî is being added to Google Translate in the Abjad script. It would be incorrect to use the Abjad script because the standardization of the Soranî dialect would require the Latin script, which is used for the Kurmancî and Zazakî dialects.

Suggestions

There are possible ways, other than this website, to standardize the Kurdish language.

Revision of the letter Q

The letter Q in Kurdish is present in many foreign words. The letter Q represents the same sound as the letter “ق” in Arabic. It seems likely that the sound, just like the sounds represented by the letters “غ” and “ع” and “ح“, could have been introduced from Arabic. As the standardization of Kurdish involves replacing foreign words with Kurdish vocabulary, a result may be the letter Q being used much less in the language. Hence, it makes sense to consider the removal of the sound represented by the letter Q from the language. Once this aspect is removed, the letter Q should be removed from the Kurdish Alphabet as long as it cannot provide a useful role in the language.

The words displayed on the Vocabulary page on this website have had foreign vocabulary filtered out. It can be seen that the letter Q is not present within any of the Kurdish words. This provides further evidence that the sound represented by the letter Q could have been introduced from another language, hence not being from the Kurdish language.

Etymology in the Kurdish language

Discovering the etymology of words that are used within the various dialects of Kurdish would allow us to discover which words are from the Kurdish language and which words are loan-words. Ultimately, this can allow all the Kurdish dialects to be recognised as dialects of the Kurdish language that share Kurdish vocabulary.