3 Mazandarani: Current Status and Future Prospects
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Hassan Bashirnezhad
Abstract
The present research intends to evaluate the social status and usage of Mazandarani and Persian in various domains in Mazandaran (hereto forth Mazandaran) Province. In this study, the Fishman’s (1966) domain analysis method was used, and the usage of two languages have been investigated depending on the situation, topic, and interlocutors in six domains of family, school, office, street and bazaar, religion, and art/entertainment. This has been done by using questionnaires, interviews and observations. 1200 participants from five cities in Mazandaran and in three age groups and two gender groups responded to the questionnaires. Also, the researcher recorded 240 communication situations by direct observation. Data analysis indicates that the relatively highest application of Mazandarani is related to the family domain, and its usage decreases as the domains become more formal. In school where Persian language is often compulsory Persian prevails over Mazandarani. In the streets and market domain, the speech situation or social status, age, and gender of the speaker can be determinants in language choice. The formality of the administrative domain, leads to relatively higher application of Persian. In areas such as religion, arts and entertainment, defined based on subject, application of Persian surpasses Mazandarani. In the domain of music, the majority prefer Mazandarani to Persian.
Abstract
The present research intends to evaluate the social status and usage of Mazandarani and Persian in various domains in Mazandaran (hereto forth Mazandaran) Province. In this study, the Fishman’s (1966) domain analysis method was used, and the usage of two languages have been investigated depending on the situation, topic, and interlocutors in six domains of family, school, office, street and bazaar, religion, and art/entertainment. This has been done by using questionnaires, interviews and observations. 1200 participants from five cities in Mazandaran and in three age groups and two gender groups responded to the questionnaires. Also, the researcher recorded 240 communication situations by direct observation. Data analysis indicates that the relatively highest application of Mazandarani is related to the family domain, and its usage decreases as the domains become more formal. In school where Persian language is often compulsory Persian prevails over Mazandarani. In the streets and market domain, the speech situation or social status, age, and gender of the speaker can be determinants in language choice. The formality of the administrative domain, leads to relatively higher application of Persian. In areas such as religion, arts and entertainment, defined based on subject, application of Persian surpasses Mazandarani. In the domain of music, the majority prefer Mazandarani to Persian.
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Acknowledgements V
- Foreword VII
- Contents IX
- 1 Introduction 1
-
Part I: Iranian Minority Languages
- 2 At the Crossroads: Caspian Languages through a Sociolinguistic Lens 9
- 3 Mazandarani: Current Status and Future Prospects 37
- 4 Balochi: Literary Development, Status and Vitality 61
- 5 Attitudes Towards Tati Language Among its Native Speakers in Western Iran 83
- 6 The Bakhtiari Language: Maintenance or Shift? A Diachronic Survey on the Status of Bakhtiari in the City of Masjed Soleiman between 1996–2020 111
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Part II: Non-Iranian Minority Languages
- 7 Ebb and Flow of Azeri and Persian in Iran: A Longitudinal Study in the City of Zanjan 177
- 8 Language Shift and Language Maintenance among Turkmen Speakers 205
- 9 Language Change and Maintenance among Mandaic Speakers of Iran: A Socio-linguistic Study 231
- 10 Armenian Language and Identity in Iran: The Case of Iranian Armenians of Isfahan 249
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Part III: Iranian Heritage Languages in Diaspora
- 11 Wakhi in New York: Multilingualism and Language Contact in a Pamiri Diaspora Community 273
- 12 Language Maintenance and Language Shift: A Perspective from the First- Generation and Second-Generation Pashto Speakers Living in the United States and Canada 305
- 13 Persian as a Diasporic Language in the United States: A Survey of Heritage Persian Learners at College Level 333
- Index 379
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Acknowledgements V
- Foreword VII
- Contents IX
- 1 Introduction 1
-
Part I: Iranian Minority Languages
- 2 At the Crossroads: Caspian Languages through a Sociolinguistic Lens 9
- 3 Mazandarani: Current Status and Future Prospects 37
- 4 Balochi: Literary Development, Status and Vitality 61
- 5 Attitudes Towards Tati Language Among its Native Speakers in Western Iran 83
- 6 The Bakhtiari Language: Maintenance or Shift? A Diachronic Survey on the Status of Bakhtiari in the City of Masjed Soleiman between 1996–2020 111
-
Part II: Non-Iranian Minority Languages
- 7 Ebb and Flow of Azeri and Persian in Iran: A Longitudinal Study in the City of Zanjan 177
- 8 Language Shift and Language Maintenance among Turkmen Speakers 205
- 9 Language Change and Maintenance among Mandaic Speakers of Iran: A Socio-linguistic Study 231
- 10 Armenian Language and Identity in Iran: The Case of Iranian Armenians of Isfahan 249
-
Part III: Iranian Heritage Languages in Diaspora
- 11 Wakhi in New York: Multilingualism and Language Contact in a Pamiri Diaspora Community 273
- 12 Language Maintenance and Language Shift: A Perspective from the First- Generation and Second-Generation Pashto Speakers Living in the United States and Canada 305
- 13 Persian as a Diasporic Language in the United States: A Survey of Heritage Persian Learners at College Level 333
- Index 379
