February 21 was the International Mother Language Day and, again, I thought on my own mother language, Azeri Turkish.
Half of the world’s 6,700 languages are in danger of disappearing before the century ends. “A language is endangered when its speakers cease to use it, use it in fewer and fewer domains, use fewer of its registers and styles, and/or stop passing it on to the next generation” (UNESCO).
I know, Azeri Turkish is not one of those 3,500 or more of endangered languages spoken by small communities, which UNSCO calls the public to protect. Azeri Turkish is spoken in Iran by 15-20 million (out of 66 m. total population of the country) plus by eight million people in the Republic of Azerbaijan where it is the state language. Azeri Turkish is a Turkic language, similar to, but not the same like Turkey’s Turkish. It is distinct from Persian, Iran’s state and official language.
Sure, nobody forbids us to speak Azeri Turkish at home or on the street. Even in mosques of Azeri populated Iranian provinces (Eastern and Western Azerbaijan, Ardabil, Zanjan), mullahs pray in Azeri Turkish and the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, himself a half-Azeri, occasionally speaks in Azeri Turkish to warn of “enemies’ attempts” to dismember the country. This was also a concern of the Shah regime that was overthrown by the Islamic Revolution 30 years ago.
مطلب را به بالاترين بفرستيد:
{ 10 comments }
