Volume 30, Issue 2, 2021
DOI: 10.24205/03276716.2020.4053
A brief inquiry into the linguistic landscape vis-à-vis the official language policy of Iraqi Kurdistan
Abstract
The present study seeks in to draw a framework to share most organized and developed
landscapes of the Kurdish language and investigate the findings of local and
international conferences towards Kurdish language status in Iraqi Kurdistan and other
parts. The Kurdish language is a symbol of identity for Kurds in Middle East. Kurdish
language consists of different dialects or varieties with varying degrees of demographic
distribution in different regions of Kurdistan. Although Kurds had to wage a fierce
struggle to possess their own statehood for many centuries, they never succeeded. In
fact, Kurds reside in all countries as minority groups in the region including Iraq, Iran,
Turkey and Syria. Moreover, a huge number of Kurds as refugee immigrated to western
countries and live there. In the forefront of the struggle was a newspaper which is worth
mentioning. In April 22, 1898 in Cairo (Egypt) Miqdad Madhet Badir Khan published the
first Kurdish newspaper “Kurdistan”. The main aim of the newspaper could be framed as
a struggle to achieve Kurdistan’s freedom and independent. Hence, the editor opened
an educational door toward Kurd nation however it was a difficult job and it marked as a
brighten point of the Kurdish history. “Kurdistan” was released 3000 newspapers each
time 2000 of which were distributed in Kurdistan for free. The present study aims to
explore the attempts toward Kurdish alphabetic change inside Kurdish regions and
outside. In order to achieve this, Iraqi constitution, Iraqi Kurdistan regional and
governmental bylaws and materials of official conferences will be scrutinized. Within
this framework, the historical repertoire of Kurdish language will be discussed.
Examining the strengths and weaknesses of academic attempts will be among the scope
of this study; finally relevant recommendation will be given.
Keywords
Linguistic landscape, Language planning and policy, Alphabetic change, Kurdish Language, Iraqi Kurdistan