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2. Linguistique
2.2. Langues vivantes et dialectes
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Anousha Sedighi (ed.). Iranian and Minority Languages at Home and in Diaspora

Saloumeh Gholami
Référence(s) :

Anousha Sedighi (ed.). Iranian and Minority Languages at Home and in Diaspora. Berlin: De Gruyter Mouton, 2023, 379 p. (The Companions of Iranian Languages and Linguistics [CILL] 1), ISBN: 9783110694277 (eBook), 9783110694130 (Hardcover)

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1The book Iranian and Minority Languages at Home and in the Diaspora aims to fill significant gaps in the sociolinguistic study of languages within Iran and its neighbouring regions, focusing particularly on minority and endangered languages. Historically, linguistic research about Iranian languages has centred on structural descriptions, often lacking the social dimensions of language. This volume seeks to fill that gap by offering a comprehensive examination of language use, language policy, and the challenges faced by minority languages both within the region and in the diaspora.

2The book covers various topics, including urban dialectology, linguistic variation, multilingualism, language attitudes, language shift, language maintenance, and the effects of migration and globalisation on language use. It also discusses the preservation and transformation of Iranian heritage languages within the diaspora, exploring how they are maintained or altered in new cultural contexts.

3Organised into three main parts, the volume first examines sociolinguistic aspects of Iranian minority languages such as Mazandarani, Gilaki, Balochi, Tati, and Bakhtiari. The chapters discuss the challenges faced by these languages in the context of modernisation and the dominance of Persian. They explore issues such as language shift, the impact of social and educational systems, and the role of cultural activities and social media in their preserving. The chapters also highlight ongoing efforts within these communities to maintain their linguistic and cultural identities despite the various challenges they face, such as societal expectations, economic needs, and particularly political pressures.

4The second part focuses on non-Iranian minority languages spoken in Iran, including Azeri, Turkmen, Mandaic, and Armenian. It underscores issues of language shift and maintenance, and the role of cultural and social factors in their preservation or decline. The analysis points out the influence of Persian as the dominant language and its impact on the language use of these communities, with a particular emphasis on how formal and informal domains, gender roles, generational differences, and governmental support (or lack thereof) shape the future of these languages.

5The final part addresses Iranian heritage languages such as Wakhi, Pashto, and Persian abroad, particularly in the United States and Canada. It examines the challenges and efforts related to their preservation, focusing on the linguistic, social, and cultural factors that influence their maintenance and potential shift.

6While the book’s broad scope and detailed descriptions of each language’s sociolinguistic context are among its strengths, they also present challenges. The inclusion of such a diverse range of languages and contexts under a single title sometimes leads to the book appearing to cover too much without a unifying framework. Additionally, the volume’s descriptive approach provides valuable information, but it could benefit from including broader theoretical frameworks and contemporary sociolinguistic debates to enhance its scholarly contribution. The methodological diversity across the chapters, ranging from quantitative surveys to qualitative interviews, reflects the complexity of the subject matter. Some chapters offer robust data and analysis, while others could be more transparent in methodology to increase the reliability of their findings. The book’s scope is broad, though readers might have liked to see more comparative analysis, particularly of the sociolinguistic dynamics of the various minority languages spoken in Iran and their diasporic counterparts. Such comparisons could have strengthened the volume’s overall impact.

7Despite these challenges, the book makes a significant contribution to the field of sociolinguistics, particularly by shedding light on under-represented languages and their general sociocultural contexts. It serves as a valuable resource for scholars and students seeking to explore the complex dynamics of language, identity, and social change in Iran and its neighbouring regions.

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Saloumeh Gholami, « Anousha Sedighi (ed.). Iranian and Minority Languages at Home and in Diaspora »Abstracta Iranica [En ligne], Volume 45 | 2023, document 11, mis en ligne le 30 décembre 2024, consulté le 14 janvier 2026. URL : http://journals.openedition.org/abstractairanica/56944 ; DOI : https://doi.org/10.4000/14ar8

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