Southern Zaza, is one of the three primary dialects of the Zaza language, spoken by the Zaza people. The dialect is also referred to as Dımli, Dımıli or Dımılki, which are believed to be historically and linguistically derived from the words Daylam and Daylamite.
Classification Glottolog classifies Southern Zaza within the Adharic subgroup of the Northwestern Iranian languages branch of the Iranian languages. Southern Zaza consists of five sub-dialects, Dumbuli, Hazzu, Kori, Motki and Sivereki:
Northwestern Iranian Adharic Adhari (Old Azeri) Zaza (Zaza) Southern Zaza Northern Zaza Tatic (Tati-Talysh) Gurani
History Southern Zaza, its Siverek, Kori and nearby dialects, was analyzed linguistically by linguists and Karl Hadank in the early 20th century. The first religious poems (Mawluds) written in the Zaza language during the late 19th and early 20th centuries were composed in this dialect, utilizing the Arabic letters.
Speakers Southern Zaza is spoken predominantly in Siverek, Çermik, Çüngüş, Gerger, Mutki, Aksaray, Ergani, Maden and Kulp. Speakers of the Southern Zaza adhere to the doctrines of the Hanafi school of Islamic jurisprudence, similar to the Turks and Arabs in the areas where they live, but unlike the Kurds. The number of Southern Zaza speakers was estimated to be around 1.1 million people in 2016.
Grammar Southern Zaza has a more conservative (archaic) structure than other dialects of the Zaza language. The dialect differs from Northern Zaza in phonological, morphological, syntactic, and lexical aspects. The least difference is found in syntax, while the most significant differences are found in phonology. The phonological changes between š and s, g and c and k and č are noteworthy. Morphologically, the feminine suffix is realized as an unstressed /-ı/ in Southern Zaza, whereas it is realized as /-e/ in Northern Zaza. A distinctive linguistic feature of Southern Zaza, setting it apart from all other Iranian languages, is its employment of a double ezafe system.Larson, Richard K. and Hiroko Yamakido. 2006. Zazaki “double ezafe” as double case-marking. Paper presented at the Annual meeting of the Linguistic Society of America, Albuquerque, NM.
The following table provides a comparative overview of the phonological changes between Southern and Northern Zaza:
EnglishSouthern ZazaNorthern Zazamilkšıtsıthungry/thirstyveyšan/teyšanvesan/tesanhouseke, keye, kiyeče, čeyesoulgancanchickenkergıkerge
References
Bibliography