Zazaki, Southern

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A language of Turkey

ISO 639-3
diq
Alternate Names
Dimili, Dimli, Southern Zaza, Zaza, Zazaca
Population

1,500,000 (Paul 1998), decreasing. A few elderly monolinguals. No census made. Ethnic population: 3,000,000–4,000,000 see themselves as Zaza (Paul 1998).

Location

East-central, Diyarbakir, Elazig and Bingö provinces. Mainly Cermik, Gerger, Egil, Siverek, Dicle, Palu, Bingöl, and Hani cities.

Language Status

4 (Educational).

Classification
Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Northwestern, Zaza-Gorani
Dialects

Dersimki, Dumbuli (Dumbeli), Eastern Zazaki (Central Zazaki), Hazzu (Hazo), Kori, Motki (Moti), Sivereki. Dialects differ slightly, but mutually intelligible. Zaza most closely related to Gurani [hac]; also related to Gilaki [glk], Mazanderani [mzn], and Balochi [bal].

Typology

SOV; noun head initial; numerals, demonstratives, and quantifiers precede head; 2 genders; 3 cases: nominative, oblique, vocative; content-question word position in situ; split ergative system

Language Use

In urban areas children still learn only L1 at home. Home, neighborhood, friends. All ages. Increasingly positive attitudes. About 80% also use Turkish [tur]; about 20% Kurmanji-Kurdish [kmr].

Language Development
Poetry. Magazines. Newspapers. New media. Radio programs. Films. TV. Videos. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible portions.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Zazaki, Southern
Writing
Latin script.
Other Comments

Muslim (Sunni).