Lishán Didán
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A language of Israel
ISO 639-3
Alternate Names
Galihalu, Lakhlokhi, Lishanid Nash Didán, Lishanán, Persian Azerbaijan Jewish Aramaic
Population
6,230 (2005 J. Leclerc). Total users in all countries: 6,450.
Location
HaMerkaz and Jerusalem districts: Jerusalem city, Tel-Aviv areas.
Language Status
7 (Shifting).
Dialects
Northern Cluster Lishán Didán (Anatolia, Salmas, Urmi), Southern Cluster Lishán Didán (Mahabad, Naghada, Ushno). 60%–70% intelligibility of Hulaulá [huy] and Lishanid Noshan [aij], but not of other Aramaic languages. The Urmi variety of Lishán Didán is different from the Urmi variety of Assyrian Neo-Aramaic.
Language Use
Older adults. Also use Hebrew [heb], as L2, some due to intermarriage.
Language Development
Grammar. Bible portions: 1986–1988.
Language Resources
Writing
Hebrew script [Hebr].
Many loanwords from Kurdish, Turkish [tur], Arabic, Eastern Farsi [prs] or Western Farsi [pes], Hebrew [heb], and several European languages. Sometimes erroneously called ‘Judeo-Kurdish’ or ‘Azerbaijani Kurdish’. Originally from Iranian Azerbaijan and southeast Turkey. Jewish.