What languages do the people of Kashmar speak?
Persian dialects and accents, as important parts of Iran’s linguistic heritage, reflect the rich cultural and historical diversity of the country. One such dialect is the Kashmiri (or Turshizi) dialect, which is spoken in a region with a rich historical and cultural background in Razavi Khorasan. This dialect, spoken by the people of Kashmar, Khalilabad, Bardaskan, and parts of the Mahvelat district, has its own unique linguistic features, which can be examined from various aspects such as vocabulary, expressions, and grammatical structure. As one of the branches of Khorasani dialects, the Kashmiri dialect is closely related to other dialects of the region, and studying it can provide insights into the history, culture, and linguistic developments of these areas. In this article, we will attempt to explore the features and characteristics of this dialect and clarify its position among other Khorasani dialects and modern Persian.
What languages do the people of Kashmar speak?
The Kashmiri dialect (also known as the Turshizi dialect) is one of the Persian dialects spoken by the people of the Turshiz region in Razavi Khorasan province. This region includes the cities of Kashmar, Khalilabad, Bardaskan, and parts of the Mahvelat district (such as the villages of Shamsabad and Sultanabad). However, the dialect spoken in the Koohsarkh area and the Koohpayeh district of Bardaskan, which are part of Turshiz, is referred to as “Koohsarkhi.”
The Kashmiri dialect is similar to the dialects spoken in the cities of Tabriz, Nishapur, and Quchan.
The Turshiz Region
Historically, the name of the Turshiz region has appeared in various documents under different names, such as Turshiz, Kashmar, and Pasht. Geographically, this region includes the cities of Kashmar, Khalilabad, Bardaskan, Koohsarkh, and parts of the cities of Tabriz and Mahvelat.
The Origin and Background of the Kashmiri Dialect
The Kashmiri dialect is a variant of the Dari Persian language. According to “Iran Kolbasi,” it is classified as part of the Khorasani dialects and belongs to the Southwestern Iranian languages.
According to the viewpoint of Gilbert Vladimir Ivanov, a Russian oriental scholar, the Khorasani dialects are divided into three main categories:
Northern (Nishapur-Jovein)
Central (Turshiz-Gonabad)
Southern (Qaen-Tun-Birjand)
In Ivanov’s view, the Turshiz dialect, along with the Gonabad dialect, forms the central group of Khorasani dialects.
How Far is Kashmar from Mashhad?
The Turshiz Dialect
In a study conducted by the Encyclopedia of the Islamic World Library, the Kashmiri dialect (from the Turshiz region) is recognized as one of the important dialects of Khorasan. This study also confirms Ivanov’s classification of Khorasani dialects into three groups: northern, central, and southern. According to this classification, the Turshiz dialect is considered part of the central Khorasani dialects.
