Status of the Talysh language

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From: MINELRES moderator <[email protected]>
Date: Wed, 23 May 2001 14:19:59 +0300 (EEST)
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Subject: Status of the Talysh language

From: MINELRES moderator <[email protected]>

Original sender: Ataxan Abilov" <[email protected]>

Status of the Talysh language



TALYSH HUMAN RIGHTS PROJECT

Baku
Azerbaijan Republic                    16.05.2001

Information on the condition of the Talyshi language.

Talyshi language being a member of the family of Irani languages
belongs to the Indo-European language group. The specialists consider
this language as a related language to the old Avesta language.

Historically, Talyshi language has been the native language of the
people who live in the Talyshi region--south east of the Republic of
Azerbaijan, the provinces of Gilan, Ardabil and others of Zenjan and
Gazvin of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

According to unofficial information more than one million people in
the Republic of Azerbaijan use Talyshi language at the level of
every-day life. 

Talyshi language is referred to repressed languages in the Post-Soviet
territory. Talishi language was prohibited in 1930-s, during the
Stalin regime, then the schools in Talyshi language were closed,
newspapers and other media were suspended.

Even after Azerbaijan gained its independence, Talyshi language was
not rehabilitated and the work done in this direction is not
satisfactory. Though Talyshi language was ordered for teaching at the
elementary schools in the districts of Masalli, Astara, Lenkaran,
Lerik proper text-books were not printed and not distributed and this
work is halted.

We feel pity that today there is no newspaper, television and radio in
Talyshi language in Azerbaijan and the use of this language in the
mass-media is in fact prohibited.

Yours Sincerely,

ALI HASIR
Director of the TALYSH HUMAN  RIGHTS PROJECT in Azerbaijan

Tel:+994-503408299

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