DimiliZazaki

Dimili, also known as Zazaki, is an Indo‑Iranian language of the Northwestern Iranian branch, spoken primarily in eastern Turkey. It is related to Kurdish and Persian but is distinct from both, forming its own linguistic subgroup. Estimates of native speakers vary between 1.5 and 3 million, most of whom live in the provinces of Tunceli, Erzincan, Sivas, Bingöl, Erzurum, and Diyarbakır. The language is traditionally divided into three main dialect groups: Northern (Kurmanji‑influenced), Central (the most widely used literary form), and Southern (also called Dimili).

Zazaki’s earliest written records date to the 16th century, though oral tradition extends much farther back. The language uses a Latin‑based alphabet introduced in the 1990s, replacing previous attempts with Arabic script. Despite its sizable speaker base, Zazaki lacks official status in Turkey and is often classified as a minority language. It faces pressures from Turkish and Kurdish languages, leading to language shift in younger generations.

Efforts to revitalize Zazaki include academic research, publishing of textbooks, radio programming, and cultural festivals. Organizations such as the Zaza Language Association promote literacy and standardization, while scholars document its phonology, grammar, and folklore to preserve its linguistic heritage.