Barzani Jewish Neo-Aramaic

BJF

nearly extinct

Alternate Names: Bijil Neo-Aramaic, Lishan Didan, Lishan Dideni

Dialects: Barzan, Bijil, Shahe. Sandu is a Jewish Neo-Aramaic dialect closely related to Barzani, but several isoglosses link it with Lishana Deni ,.

Genealogy:

Afro-Asiatic
Semitic
Central
Aramaic
Eastern
Central
Northeastern

Demographics: 20 (2004 H. Mutzafi). In 1951, it was spoken among the 8 Jewish families of Bijil, a village in Iraqi Kurdistan. (1998 H. Mutzafi). Speaker who died in 1998 was over 80. Last Bijil dialect speaker died in 1998.

Language Use: All older than 70 years. Some passive users in their 50s. Also use Hebrew [heb], some also speak other Neo-Aramaic languages. Also use Kurdish [kur].

Nation of Origin: Israel

Other Comments: Originally spoken in 3 villages near Aqra, Iraq. Also in Nerim village perhaps as a separate dialect.