Kurds Linguistic Policies

8/14/2019 Kurds Linguistic Policies

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Kurdish LinguisticKurdish Linguistic

PoliciesPolicies

Kaitlin HorstKaitlin HorstRachel NyeRachel Nye


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HistoryHistory

The first descendents of the Kurds, amongThe first descendents of the Kurds, amongthem the Guti, Mannai, Hurrian and the Medes,them the Guti, Mannai, Hurrian and the Medes,were ruled by the Persianswere ruled by the Persians

Until from 66 to 384 CE, the large areas ofUntil from 66 to 384 CE, the large areas ofKurdish territory were under Roman controlKurdish territory were under Roman controlIn the 7In the 7thth century, the area inhabited by thecentury, the area inhabited by theKurdish people was taken over by the ArabsKurdish people was taken over by the ArabsTerm Kurdistan first coined in the 12Term Kurdistan first coined in the 12thth centurycenturyKurds bitterly oppressed in WWI by the TurksKurds bitterly oppressed in WWI by the TurksAfter WWI and the defeat of the OttomanAfter WWI and the defeat of the OttomanEmpire, the Kurds were promised a nation-stateEmpire, the Kurds were promised a nation-stateby the 1920 Treaty of Sevres; the treaty wasby the 1920 Treaty of Sevres; the treaty was

rejected for Treaty of Lausannerejected for Treaty of Lausanne


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Kurdish Nation-State Proposed bythe Treaty of Sevres


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Kurdistan becomes the territory of severalKurdistan becomes the territory of severalmodern nation-states, such as Iran, Turkey,modern nation-states, such as Iran, Turkey,Iraq and Syria.Iraq and Syria.

Revolts by Kurds in Turkey in 1925 and 1930Revolts by Kurds in Turkey in 1925 and 1930were put down forcibly; Kurds werewere put down forcibly; Kurds wereslaughtered by the Turkish government inslaughtered by the Turkish government in1937-381937-38

Iranian Kurds rebelled in the 1920sIranian Kurds rebelled in the 1920s

Leads to a brief Soviet-backed KurdishLeads to a brief Soviet-backed Kurdishrepublic at the end of WWIIrepublic at the end of WWII


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Language InformationLanguage Information

An Indo-European language, inAn Indo-European language, in

the Irano-Aryan groupthe Irano-Aryan group

Many words that are cognates inMany words that are cognates inKurdish and other Indo-EuropeanKurdish and other Indo-European

languages such as Avestan,languages such as Avestan,

Persian, Sanskrit, German,Persian, Sanskrit, German,English, Latin and GreekEnglish, Latin and Greek


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DialectsDialects

Northern Kurdish Northern Kurdish known as Kurmanjiknown as Kurmanjiand Badinaniand Badinani

Central Kurdish -Central Kurdish -known as Soraniknown as Sorani

Southern KurdishSouthern Kurdish
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Kurdish_86.jpg


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Writing SystemWriting System

Three different writing systemsThree different writing systems Arabic alphabet in Iran and IraqArabic alphabet in Iran and Iraq

Latin alphabet in Turkey and SyriaLatin alphabet in Turkey and Syria

Cyrillic alphabet in former USSRCyrillic alphabet in former USSR


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Kurdish literaryKurdish literary

traditiontradition Difficult to date the originDifficult to date the origin

Most famous poet Melaye JeziriMost famous poet Melaye Jeziri

Greatest period of KurdishGreatest period of Kurdish

literature end of WWIIliterature end of WWII

Works are published in Iran, butWorks are published in Iran, but

literary life suffers heavily in Iraq.literary life suffers heavily in Iraq.


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Kurds in SyriaKurds in Syria

Largest ethnic minority; 10% of population or 2Largest ethnic minority; 10% of population or 2million peoplemillion people

Most are Sunni MuslimMost are Sunni Muslim

Allowed to speak Kurdish in public, though thereAllowed to speak Kurdish in public, though thereare bans on its useare bans on its use No political parties allowedNo political parties allowed Cannot register children with Kurdish namesCannot register children with Kurdish names Kurdish place names replaced with Arabic namesKurdish place names replaced with Arabic names

Businesses must have Arabic namesBusinesses must have Arabic names No Kurdish private schools allowedNo Kurdish private schools allowed Kurdish flag is bannedKurdish flag is banned Books and other materials written in KurdishBooks and other materials written in Kurdish

prohibitedprohibited


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Oppression of SyrianOppression of Syrian

KurdsKurds Nov. 1962, Syrian government declared 100,000Nov. 1962, Syrian government declared 100,000

Kurds were not citizens; number has grown to moreKurds were not citizens; number has grown to morethan 200,000than 200,000

Lost rights to practice medicine or engineering, workLost rights to practice medicine or engineering, workat government or state-owned agenciesat government or state-owned agencies Not permitted to own land, housing or businessesNot permitted to own land, housing or businesses Cannot legally marry a Syrian citizenCannot legally marry a Syrian citizen Do not have the right to vote in elections or run forDo not have the right to vote in elections or run for

public officepublic office Stripped of passports and other international travelStripped of passports and other international travel

documents, therefore may not legally leave ordocuments, therefore may not legally leave orreturn to Syriareturn to Syria


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Kurds in TurkeyKurds in Turkey

Approximately 10 million Kurds, makingApproximately 10 million Kurds, makingup 20% of populationup 20% of population

Turks suppressed by Kemal AtaturkTurks suppressed by Kemal Ataturkafter WWIIafter WWII

Estimated 350,000 1 million IDPs fromEstimated 350,000 1 million IDPs fromthe 1984-99 Kurdistan Workers Partythe 1984-99 Kurdistan Workers Party

(PKK) and Turkish military wars(PKK) and Turkish military wars


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Oppression of TurkishOppression of Turkish

KurdsKurds Kurdish language banned until 1991Kurdish language banned until 1991 To ease entry in EU; Kurdish wasTo ease entry in EU; Kurdish was

allowed to be taught privately andallowed to be taught privately and

broadcast on television and radio inbroadcast on television and radio in2003 as part of a language reform2003 as part of a language reformmovementmovement

Centers have since closed down due toCenters have since closed down due to

lack of interest and financial difficultieslack of interest and financial difficulties Kurdish banned in state institutions,Kurdish banned in state institutions,official affairs and commerceofficial affairs and commerce

Kurdish not taught in schoolsKurdish not taught in schools


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IraqIraq

15% - 20% of Iraq15% - 20% of Iraq

Kurdish is the official language inKurdish is the official language in

Kurdish regionsKurdish regions Al-Anfal Campaign 1986 1989,Al-Anfal Campaign 1986 1989,

then uprising by Kurds in 1992then uprising by Kurds in 1992

Cooperated with the US and backingCooperated with the US and backingthe new governmentthe new government


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IranIran

7% Kurd, 7.6 million speakers7% Kurd, 7.6 million speakers Kurdistan is a province in IranKurdistan is a province in Iran

Have the right to teach the language inHave the right to teach the language inschools and have publications, but theseschools and have publications, but theserights are not often respected.rights are not often respected.

Censored, but still thrivesCensored, but still thrives Kurdish language chairs established inKurdish language chairs established in

universities in 1997universities in 1997


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ConclusionConclusion

The Kurds have historically beenThe Kurds have historically beenoppressed by every great power in theoppressed by every great power in the

region, but have managed to keepregion, but have managed to keeptheir language alive and maintain atheir language alive and maintain athriving literary traditionthriving literary tradition

Recent events in Iraq, Iran, and TurkeyRecent events in Iraq, Iran, and Turkey

have lessened the oppression.have lessened the oppression.


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BibliographyBibliography

Bodnarchuk, Kari J.Bodnarchuk, Kari J. Kurdistan, Region Under Siege.Kurdistan, Region Under Siege. Minneapolis:Minneapolis:Learner Publications Company, 2000.Learner Publications Company, 2000.

Izady, Mehrdad.Izady, Mehrdad. The Kurds: A Concise Handbook.The Kurds: A Concise Handbook. Washington,Washington,DC: Taylor & Francis: 1992.DC: Taylor & Francis: 1992.

CIA World Fact BookCIA World Fact Book http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/sy.htmlhttp://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/sy.html http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ir.htmlhttp://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ir.html http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/tu.htmlhttp://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/tu.html

WikipediaWikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurdish_language#Dialectshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurdish_language#Dialects http://www.institutkurde.org/en/language/http://www.institutkurde.org/en/language/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraqhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_Kurdistanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_Kurdistan

http://www.bartleby.com/65/ku/Kurds.htmlhttp://www.bartleby.com/65/ku/Kurds.html
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/sy.htmlhttp://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/sy.htmlhttp://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ir.htmlhttp://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ir.htmlhttp://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/tu.htmlhttp://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/tu.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurdish_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurdish_languagehttp://www.institutkurde.org/en/language/http://www.institutkurde.org/en/language/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraqhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraqhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_Kurdistanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_Kurdistanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_Kurdistanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraqhttp://www.institutkurde.org/en/language/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurdish_languagehttp://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/tu.htmlhttp://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ir.htmlhttp://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/sy.html

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Kurds Linguistic Policies