Language and Dialects

Overview

Kurdish is a West Iranian language with several major dialect groups. The largest are Kurmanji (Northern Kurdish) and Sorani (Central Kurdish), with Southern Kurdish (often grouped under Pehlewani) also widely spoken.

Kurmanji is commonly written in Latin-based scripts in Turkey and parts of Syria, while Sorani is typically written in a modified Perso-Arabic script in Iraq and Iran. Script choice varies by region and community.

Dialect Diversity

Dialect boundaries are not strict lines on a map. They often blend across regions and cities, and many speakers are comfortable navigating multiple varieties depending on family background and location.

Practical Notes

• Record both the script and dialect when collecting texts.
• Keep original spellings alongside transliterations.
• Avoid mixing scripts in a single document unless you explain the reason.