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The Western Iranian languages
The Western Iranian languages are a branch of the Iranian language family, which itself is part of the larger Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European language family. These languages are spoken in a vast region that spans Southwest Asia, Central Asia, the Caucasus, and parts of western South Asia. They have historical roots dating back to the Old Persian and Median languages, with evidence of their existence from the 6th century BC. The Western Iranian languages are traditionally divided into two main subgroups: Northwestern Iranian and Southwestern Iranian. The Northwestern Iranian languages include languages such as Gilaki, Mazandarani, Talysh, and various Kurdish dialects. These languages are spoken in regions like the…
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Eastern Iranian languages
Eastern Iranian languages are a subgroup of the Iranian languages, which themselves belong to the Indo-European language family. These languages have a rich history, emerging during the Middle Iranian period, roughly from the 4th century BC to the 9th century AD. The development of Eastern Iranian languages was distinct from that of Western Iranian languages, particularly in terms of phonetic evolution. One of the key differences is that Eastern Iranian dialects preserved word-final syllables, which were lost in many Western Iranian languages during the same period. The Eastern Iranian language family includes a variety of ancient and modern languages. Among the most notable ancient languages are Avestan and Sogdian, which…
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The Iranian peoples
The Iranian peoples, also known as Iranic peoples, are a diverse group of ethnolinguistic communities who primarily speak Iranian languages, a branch of the Indo-Iranian languages within the Indo-European family. The origins of the Iranian peoples date back to the early 2nd millennium BC in Central Asia, with the Proto-Iranians believed to have emerged around this period. Over the centuries, they spread across a vast region that included the Eurasian Steppe, parts of Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and the Iranian Plateau. In ancient history, Iranian peoples were known for their significant influence on the development of various civilizations. Among the most notable ancient Iranian groups were the Medes, Persians, Parthians,…
