Between the 14th and 15th editions this language code was retired from use.
Reason: The speech varieties denoted by the code were split into two or more distinct languages.
Remedy:
Change each instance of KDB to one of:
- Interim SIL code: CKB > Kurdish, Central [ckb]
- Interim SIL code: SDH > Kurdish, Southern [sdh]
The following is the entry for this language as it appeared in the 14th edition (2000).
| Population |
2,785,500 in Iraq, 18% of population including all Kurdish in Iraq, most of whom speak Kurdi (1986). Population total all countries 6,036,000. All Kurd speakers in all countries: 11,000,000 (1999 WA). |
| Region |
In and around Sulamanya. Also spoken in Iran, USA. |
| Alternate names |
KURDY, SOUTHERN KURDISH, SORANI, SURANI |
| Dialects |
ARBILI, KHUSHNAW, PIZHDAR, MUKRI, GARRUSI (BIJBRI), ARDAIÂNI (SANANDAJI), SULAYMÂNI (SULEIMANIYE), WARMÂWA, GARMIYÂNI, KOLYÂ'I, ZANGANA, KIRMÂNSHÂHI. |
| Classification |
Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Northwestern, Kurdish. |
| Comments |
Sorani is mainly in Iraq. Official language. Literacy rate in second language: 27%. Other reports are that many are well educated. Sunni and Shi'a Muslim; Ahl-e-haqq groups in 3 districts in south and southeast Kurdistan, mainly around Kermanshah and Kerkuk; 50,000 Yezidis in northern Iraq near Mosul and in the Sinjar Hills. NT 1994. |
