Tat, Muslim

TTT

shifting

Alternate Names: Muslim Tat, Mussulman Tati, Tati

Dialects: Absheron, Aruskush-Daqqushchu (Khyzy), Balakhani, Devechi, Lahyj, Malham, Qonaqkend, Quba, Qyzyl Qazma, Surakhani. Difficult intelligibility of Judeo-Tat ,. Reportedly similar to Farsi ,. Balakhani are recent exiles from Iran. Lahyj dialect may be a separate language.

Status Notes: De facto language of provincial identity in Quba, Shabran, Siazan.

Genealogy:

Indo-European
Indo-Iranian
Iranian
Western
Southwestern
Tat

Demographics: 18,000 in Azerbaijan (1989 census). Population total all countries: 28,010. Ethnic population: 22,000 (1990 A. Kibrik).

Language Use: Rapidly shifting to Azerbaijani (Salminen 2007). Community. Few children. Positive attitudes. Lahyj use Northern Azerbaijani [azj] as literary language.

Language Development: Taught in primary schools. Poetry. Radio programs. Dictionary. Grammar.

Writing System: Cyrillic, Latin

Nation of Origin: Azerbaijan

Other Comments: Different from Takestani , of Iran. Muslim (Shi’a).