In this episode, we compare some of the many similarities between Kurdish and Luri (Bakhtiari dialect), with Zehra and Baha as the Kurdish speakers representing both the Sorani and Kurmanji dialects, and Koorosh and Ali, as the Luri Bakhtiari speakers, comparing a list of words and sentences.
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Kurdish and Luri are both classified as Western Iranian languages within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European language family. It should be noted that both are divided into different dialects. In this video, both the Northern Kurdish (Kurmanji) and Central Kurdish (Sorani) dialects are represented.
The Kurdish language (Kurdî / کوردی) is mainly divided into three groups. Northern Kurdish (Kurmanji) is the largest, spoken in Turkey, Syria, northern Iraq, and northwest and northeast Iran. Central Kurdish (Sorani) is primarily spoken in Iraqi Kurdistan and the Iranian Kurdistan Province. Southern Kurdish (Pehlewani) is, for the most part, spoken in Kermanshah and Ilam provinces of Iran and in the Khanaqin district of eastern Iraq.
Literary Kurdish works have been written extensively in Kurmanji and Sorani, as well Pehlewani, Zaza, and Gorani (Hawrami), with many famous poets, such as Mela Huseynê Bateyî, Malaye Jaziri (Nîşanî), Faqi Tayran (Feqiyê Teyran), Ahmad Khani (Ehmedê Xanî‎), and Mahmud Bayazidi who wrote in the Kurmancî dialect; Nalî (نالی‎), Haji Qadir Koyi (Hacî Qadirî Koyî), Sheikh Riza Talabani (شێخ ڕەزای تاڵەبانی), Mahwi (مەحوی) who wrote in the Sorani dialect.
Luri (لٛۏری / لُرِی) is a Southwestern Iranian language and is considered the closest living language to Archaic and Middle Persian. It is divided into different dialects, Central Luri, Bakhtiari, and Southern Luri. In this video, we are focusing on the Bakhtiari (بختیاری) dialect. Northern Luri is primarily spoken in the Iranian province of Luristan, as well as parts of Hamadan, Ilam, Markazi provinces. Central Luri (Bakhtiari) is used by Bakhtiari people in Luristan, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province, significant regions of the Khuzestan province, and some parts of the Isfahan province. Southern Luri is spoken in the province of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad, some parts of the provinces of Fars, Bushehr, and Khuzestan. It is important to note that while these are the main areas where Luri is spoken, there are significant communities residing in other parts of Iran.