Western Iranian
Geographic distribution:	Southwest Asia, Central Asia, and western South Asia
Genetic classification:	Indo-European  Indo-Iranian   Iranian    Western Iranian
Subdivisions:	Northwestern Iranian Southwestern Iranian

The Western Iranian languages are a subgroup of the Iranian languages, attested from the time of Old Persian (6th century BC).

The two sub-branches are:

• Northwestern Iranian languages
• Southwestern Iranian languages

The opposition of these two dialect groups is apparent already in Old Iranian times, from the opposition of Old Persian and Median.

Contents 1 Northwestern Iranian 1.1 Northwestern 2 Southwestern Iranian 2.1 Southwestern 3 References 4 See also

[edit] Northwestern Iranian

The Northwestern Iranian languages are a branch of the Western Iranian language group, spoken by about 40-50 million people. They are classified into about 9 groups; each group in this list contains subgroups, dialects or individual languages, eventually forming 53-54 branches.

[edit] Northwestern

1. Azari* (the original Azeri language)
2. Dialects of Central Iran:
   • Tafresh: Ashtiani, Amora’i, Kahaki, Vafsi, Judeo-Hamadani, Judeo-Borujerdi, Judeo-Nahavandi, Alviri, Vidari
   • Northwestern: Mahallati, Khomeyni, Vanishani, Khunsari (Khwanshari), Judeo-Golpaygani, Judeo-Khunsari
   • Northeastern: Arani, Bidgoli, Delijani, Nashalji, Abuzaydabadi, Qohrudi, Badrudi, Kamu’i, Jowshaqani, Meyma’i, Abyana’i, Farizandi, Yarandi (Yarani), Soi (Sohi), Badi, Natanzi, Kasha’i, Tari, Tarqi, Judeo-Kashani
   • Southwestern: Gazi, Sedehi, Ardestani, Nohuji, Sajzi, Jarquya’i, Rudashti, Kafrudi, Kafruni, Judeo-Esfahani
   • Southeastern: Dari (Yazdi), Kermani, Nayini (Na’ini), Zefra’i, Anaraki, Varzenei, Judeo-Yazdi, Judeo-Kermani, Tudeshki, Keyjani, Abchuya’i
   • Kavir: Khuri, Farvi, Farroki, Mehrjani
   • Sivandi: Sivandi
3. Kurdish (Dialects: Sorani (Central Kurdish), Kurmanji (Northern Kurdish)
4. Laki
5. Zaza-Gorani languages: Gorani (Hawrami, Southern Kurdish), Bajelan, Kirmanjki (Northern Zaza), Dimli (Southern Zaza), Shabak, Sarli
6. Parthian*
7. Semnani, Sangisari, Lasgerdi, Sorkhei, Aftari, Biyabanaki
8. Median*
9. Mazandarani (Dialects: Saravi, Baboli, Amoli, Lafori;Salousi, Kelari, Shahsavari; Gorgani*, Delandi; Shahmirzadi, Kholardi, Firoozkoohi; Astarabadi, Katouli)
10. Balochi, Koroshi
11. Gilaki, Rashti
12. Talysh, Gozarkhani, Kabatei, Kajali, Karingani, Koresh-e Rostam, Maraghei, Razajerdi, Shahrudi, Tati (Dialects: Chali, Takestani, Eshtehardi, Khiaraji, Ebrahim-abadi, Sagz-abadi, Danesfani, Esfarvarini, Khoznini; Kho'ini, Balbavini, Sefid-kamari, Halabi, Sa'd-abadi; Khalkhali, Taromi; Harzandi; Dizmari, Kuhpaya'i, Rudbari, Alamuti)

[edit] Southwestern Iranian

The Southwestern Iranian languages also called the Persid group are a subgroup of the Western Iranian languages, and include some 16 (SIL estimate) closely related languages and dialects. Each subfamily in this list contains subgroups and individual languages.

[edit] Southwestern

1. Old Persian*, Middle Persian*, Modern Persian: Iranian Persian, Dari Persian, Tajik Persian, Hazaragi Persian, Dzhidi Persian (Judeo-Persian), Madaglashti Persian, Judeo-Bukharic, Khuzestani Persian, Aimaq, Darwazi Persian, Dehwari Persian, Pahlavani Persian, Dezfuli
2. Judeo-Tat, Muslim Tat
3. Fars, Judeo-Shirazi, Lari (Larestani), Bashkardi
4. Luri (dialects: Luri, Mamasani, Kohkiluyeh, Bakhtiari), Kumzari

[edit] References

• Compendium Linguarum Iranicarum, ed. Schmitt (1989), p. 99.

[edit] See also

• List of Iranian languages
• Eastern Iranian languages

v • d • e Iranian languages Old Eastern Avestan · Old Scythian Western Median · Old Persian Middle Eastern Bactrian · Khwarezmian · Ossetic · Khotanese · Tumshuqese · Scythian · Sogdian Western Parthian · Middle Persian Modern Eastern Bartangi · Ishkashmi  · Khufi · Munji · Oroshori · Ormuri · Ossetic (Iron · Digor · Jassic) · Parachi · Pashto · Roshani (Roshni) · Sanglechi · Sarikoli · Shughni · Wakhi · Vanji · Yaghnobi · Yidgha · Yazgulami · Zebaki Western Old Azari · Balochi · Bashkardi · Central Iran dialects · Dari (Zoroastrian) · Deilami · Taleshi · Gorani · Gilaki · Mazandarani · Kurdish (Sorani · Kurmanji · Southern Kurdish) · Laki  · Luri · Bakhtiari Lori · Sangsari · Persian (Dari · Tajik · Hazaragi) · Tat · Tati · Zazaki · Dialects of Fars Italics indicate extinct languages