Mazanderani

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A language of Iran

ISO 639-3
mzn
Alternate Names
Gilaki, Mazandarani, Tabri
Population

3,270,000 (1993), decreasing. Some monolinguals in rural areas.

Location

North near Caspian Sea, south half of Mazanderan Province.

Language Status

7 (Shifting).

Classification
Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Northwestern, Caspian
Dialects

Gorgani, Mazanderani. Related to Gilaki [glk]. Qadikolahi (Ghadikolahi) and Paliyan [pcf] may be dialects.

Language Use

Reportedly increased interest, but increasing desire for children to be educated and therefore be taught Iranian Persian [pes] as first language to better their opportunities. Home, market, work. Mainly adults. Neutral to positive attitudes. Many young people speak Iranian Persian [pes] as their first language; if a non-Mazandarani speaker is present, Iranian Persian is used.

Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: Very low. Literacy rate in L2: Very high in Persian. The educated can read Farsi [pes] well. Radio programs. Films. TV. Grammar.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Mazanderani
Writing
Arabic script.
Other Comments

Muslim (Shi’a).