Ethnologue 14 report for language code:PES

FARSI, WESTERN: a language of Iran

The following is the entry for this language as it appeared in the 14th edition (2000).
It was superseded by the corresponding entry in the 15th edition (2005). See also the corresponding entry in the current edition of Ethnologue.

SIL code: PES

ISO 639-1: fa

ISO 639-2(B): per

ISO 639-2(T): fas

Population

22,000,000 in Iran, or 35.92% of the population (1997), including 800,000 Dari in Khorasan, Gilan, Tat, Bakhtiyari, Lor. Population total all countries 24,280,000.

Region

Central and south central Iran. Also spoken in 26 other countries including Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, India, Iraq, Israel, Netherlands, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Tajikistan.

Alternate names

PERSIAN, PARSI

Dialects

QAZVINI, MAHALLATI, HAMADANI, KASHANI, ISFAHANI, SEDEHI, KERMANI, ARAKI, SHIRAZI, JAHROMI, SHAHRUDI, KAZERUNI, MASHADI (MESHED), BASSERI.

Classification

Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Southwestern, Persian.

Comments

The literary language is virtually identical in Iran and Afghanistan, with very minor lexical differences. Zargari may be a dialect used by goldsmiths (also see Balkan Romani in Iran). Dialect shading into Dari in Afghanistan and Tajiki in Tajikistan. National language. Grammar. SOV. All schools use Farsi. Radio programs. Mainly Shi'a Muslim. Bible 1838-1995.

Also spoken in:

Iraq

Language name	FARSI, WESTERN
Population	227,000 in Iraq (1993), 1.2% of the population (1989).
Alternate names	PERSIAN
Comments	Muslim. Bible 1838-1995. See main entry under Iran.

Oman

Language name	FARSI, WESTERN
Population	25,000 in Oman (1993).
Alternate names	PERSIAN
Comments	Many women speak only Farsi. Men who go outside the community speak Arabic as second language, and many know 2 or 3 other languages. Shi'a Muslim. Bible 1838-1995. See main entry under Iran.

Qatar

Language name	FARSI, WESTERN
Population	73,000 in Qatar (1993), 23% of the population (1986).
Alternate names	PERSIAN
Comments	Muslim. Bible 1838-1995. See main entry under Iran.

Tajikistan

Language name	FARSI, WESTERN
Population	31,000 in Tajikistan (1993 Johnstone), 31% speak it as mother tongue.
Alternate names	PERSIAN
Comments	Dialect blending into Tajiki. Not a literary language in Tajikistan. Shi'a Muslim. Bible 1838-1995. See main entry under Iran.

United Arab Emirates

Language name	FARSI, WESTERN
Population	80,000 or 4.9% of population in UAE (1986).
Alternate names	PERSIAN
Comments	Merchants, traders. Muslim. Bible 1838-1995. See main entry under Iran.