Kumzari language
Encyclopedia
Kumzari is an Iranian language spoken by the Kumzaris (a subdivision of the Shihuh tribe) in the Kumzar
coast of Musandam Peninsula, northern Oman
. This is the only Iranian language spoken in the Arabian Peninsula
. Kumzaris can also be found in towns of Dibah and Khasab
, as well as various villages and the Larak Island
. Speakers are descendants of fishermen that inhabited the coast of Persian Gulf
and the Gulf of Oman
.
The language is a development of early Modern Persian
and is closely related to the Minabi dialect of southern Balochistan
. The majority of vocabulary, as well as the grammatical and syntactic structure of the language, is Iranian, although a large number of Arabic
words exist in the everyday speech. Despite the fact that it is spoken by the Persian Gulf fishermen, its phonology bears closer resemblance with the Persian language
dialects of Fars province in Iran and is thought to be mutually understandable by the speakers of Luri.
The number of Kumzari speakers is estimated at less than 10,000 native speakers, although the members of the tribe number at ca. 21,000 (2000 estimate). Members of the younger generation tend to learn Arabic instead of their native tongue. The language is not written and possesses no literature corpus
.
Kumzar
Kumzar , also written as Kumza, is a village located in Musandam, the northernmost province of Oman. It is the most northerly inhabited part of the country, located on the Strait of Hormuz. The village is isolated and only accessible by boat....
coast of Musandam Peninsula, northern Oman
Oman
Oman , officially called the Sultanate of Oman , is an Arab state in southwest Asia on the southeast coast of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by the United Arab Emirates to the northwest, Saudi Arabia to the west, and Yemen to the southwest. The coast is formed by the Arabian Sea on the...
. This is the only Iranian language spoken in the Arabian Peninsula
Arabian Peninsula
The Arabian Peninsula is a land mass situated north-east of Africa. Also known as Arabia or the Arabian subcontinent, it is the world's largest peninsula and covers 3,237,500 km2...
. Kumzaris can also be found in towns of Dibah and Khasab
Khasab
Khasab is a city in an exclave of Oman. It is the local capital of the Musandam peninsula. Khasab is located 500 kilometers from Muscat and is dubbed the "Norway of Arabia". The Portuguese built Khasab at the beginning of the 17th century at the height of their naval presence in the region. The...
, as well as various villages and the Larak Island
Larak Island
Larak Island is an island off the coast of Iran in the Persian Gulf which has been one of Iran's major oil export point since 1987...
. Speakers are descendants of fishermen that inhabited the coast of Persian Gulf
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
and the Gulf of Oman
Gulf of Oman
The Gulf of Oman or Sea of Oman is a strait that connects the Arabian Sea with the Strait of Hormuz, which then runs to the Persian Gulf. It is generally included as a branch of the Persian Gulf, not as an arm of the Arabian Sea. On the north coast is Pakistan and Iran...
.
The language is a development of early Modern Persian
Persian language
Persian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...
and is closely related to the Minabi dialect of southern Balochistan
Balochistan (region)
Balochistan or Baluchistan is an arid, mountainous region in the Iranian plateau in Southwest Asia; it includes part of southeastern Iran, western Pakistan, and southwestern Afghanistan. The area is named after the numerous Baloch tribes, Iranian peoples who moved into the area from the west...
. The majority of vocabulary, as well as the grammatical and syntactic structure of the language, is Iranian, although a large number of Arabic
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
words exist in the everyday speech. Despite the fact that it is spoken by the Persian Gulf fishermen, its phonology bears closer resemblance with the Persian language
Persian language
Persian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...
dialects of Fars province in Iran and is thought to be mutually understandable by the speakers of Luri.
The number of Kumzari speakers is estimated at less than 10,000 native speakers, although the members of the tribe number at ca. 21,000 (2000 estimate). Members of the younger generation tend to learn Arabic instead of their native tongue. The language is not written and possesses no literature corpus
Text corpus
In linguistics, a corpus or text corpus is a large and structured set of texts...
.