Alternate Names: Chaldean, Fallani, Fellihi, Kaldaya, Kildani, Lishana Kaldaya, Modern Chaldean, Neo-Chaldean, Soorath, Soorith, Suras, Sureth
Dialects: Alqosh, Bartille, Dihok, Mangesh, Shirnak-Chizre (Bohtan), Tel Kepe, Tisqopa. High intelligibility of Lishana Deni , and Ashirat , (western dialect group of Assyrian Neo-Aramaic); little or no intelligibility with other Northeastern Aramaic varieties. A member of macrolanguage Syriac ,.
Status Notes: Recognized language (2005, Constitution, Article 4(1)), constitutional term: Syriac. Unevenly recognized except in Kurdistan Region.
Genealogy:
Demographics: 100,000 in Iraq (1994 H. Mutzafi). Population total all countries: 206,000.
Language Development: NT: 2006.
Writing System: Syriac
Nation of Origin: Iraq
Other Comments: Ethnic group distinct religiously from other Northeastern Aramaic varieties; separated from the Assyrian in 16th century. The names Chaldean and Assyrian sometimes used in a popular sense to include both groups. Originally located in central western and northern Iraqi Kurdistan and some in bordering Turkey. Christian.