Turoyo

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A language of Turkey

ISO 639-3
tru
Alternate Names
Surayt, Süryani, Suryoyo, Syryoyo, Turani
Population

3,000 in Turkey (1994 H. Mutzafi). Population total all countries: 62,000. Ethnic population: 50,000–70,000 (1994).

Location

Southeast, Mardin Province. Also in Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Iraq, Lebanon, Netherlands, Syria, United States.

Language Maps
Language Status

6b (Threatened).

Classification
Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, Aramaic, Eastern, Central, Northwestern
Dialects

Anhil, ’Iwardo, Kfarze, Midin, Midyat, Raite. Related to Northeastern Aramaic varieties. Turoyo subdialects divided between Town Turoyo (Midyat Turoyo), Village Turoyo, and Mixed (Village-Town) Turoyo.

Language Use

Mixed Turoyo, outside Tur ’Abdin, the language’s original location, is increasingly used mainly by youth throughout the Jacobite diaspora. All also use their national languages or local lingua francas, and some are multilingual.

Language Development
NT: 1992.
Writing
Latin script, primary usage. Syriac script.
Other Comments

Glossonym: Tûrôyo, known among scholars almost exclusively; Suryoyo, is popular. Western Syriac, refers to the Classical Western Syriac [syc] liturgy and orthography used by Turoyo speakers. Christian (Jacobite).

Also spoken in:

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