Alternate Names: Gilaki, Mazandarani, Tabri
Dialects: Gorgani, Mazanderani.
Genealogy:
Demographics: 3,270,000 (1993), decreasing. Some monolinguals in rural areas.
Language Use: Reportedly increased interest, but increasing desire for children to be educated and therefore be taught Iranian Persian [pes] as first language to better their opportunities. Home, market, work. Mainly adults. Neutral to positive attitudes. Many young people speak Iranian Persian [pes] as their first language; if one non-Mazandarani speaker is present, Iranian Persian is used.
Language Development: Literacy rate in L1: Very low. Literacy rate in L2: Very high in Persian. The educated can read Farsi [pes] well. Radio programs. Films. TV. Grammar.
Writing System: Arabic
Nation of Origin: Iran
Other Comments: Muslim (Shi’a).