Tat people (Iran)

For other uses, see Tat.
Tat people of Iran
Total population
about 300,000[1]
Regions with significant populations
Northern Iran, especially in Qazvin province
Languages
Tati
Religion
Shia Islam
Related ethnic groups
Talysh people, Gilak people, and other Iranian peoples

The Tat people of Iran (Tati: Irünə Tâtün, ایرون تاتون) are an Iranian people living in northern Iran, especially in Qazvin province.

Tat speaking areas in Iran

Tats of Iran are mainly Shia Muslim and number about 300,000.[2][3][4][5][unreliable source?][verification needed]

Etymology

Starting from the Middle Ages[clarification needed], the term Tati was used not only for the Caucasus but also for northwestern Iran, where it was extended to almost all of the local Iranian languages except Persian and Kurdish.[citation needed]

Language

Tats of Iran use the Tati language, a group of northwestern Iranian dialects which are closely related to the Talysh language. Persian and Azerbaijani are also spoken.

Currently, the term Tati and Tati language is used to refer to a particular group of north-western Iranian dialects (Chali, Danesfani, Hiaraji, Hoznini, Esfarvarini, Takestani, Sagzabadi, Ebrahimabadi, Eshtehardi, Hoini, Kajali, Shahroudi, Harzani) in Iranian Azerbaijan, as well as south of it in the provinces of Qazvin and Zanjan.[6] These dialects have a certain affinity to the Talysh language, Mazanderani language and are descendants of the Old Azari language.[7]

Notable Tat people

See also

References

  1. ^ Ethnologue, Languages of the World: Tati people including Alviri-Vidari, Eshtehardi, Gozarkhani, Harzani (Population: 28.100 in 2000), Kabatei, Kajali, Karingani (Population: 17.600 in 2000), Kho’ini, Koresh-e Rostam, Maraghei, Razajerdi, Rudbari, Shahrudi, Takestani (Population: 220,000) and Taromi, Upper ethnic groups.
  2. ^ Paul, Ludwig (1998a). The position of Zazaki among West Iranian languages. In Proceedings of the 3rd European Conference of Iranian Studies, 11-15.09.1995, Cambridge, Nicholas Sims-Williams (ed.), 163-176. Wiesbaden: Reichert.
  3. ^ Andrew Dalby, Dictionary of Languages: the definitive reference to more than 400 languages, Columbia University Press, 2004, pg 496.
  4. ^ "Azari, the Old Iranian Language of Azerbaijan," Encyclopaedia Iranica, op. cit., Vol. III/2, 1987 by E. Yarshater. External link: [1]
  5. ^ it is also spoken in some villages like Vafs and Chehreghan in the central areas of Iran like Gholamhossein Mosahab's The Persian Encyclopedia
  6. ^ Языки мира. Иранские языки. Северо-западные иранские языки. с. 106-107. М., Индрик, 1999 г.
  7. ^ تات Archived 2012-03-06 at the Wayback Machine