Home Linguistics & Semiotics 5 Attitudes Towards Tati Language Among its Native Speakers in Western Iran
Chapter
Licensed
Unlicensed Requires Authentication

5 Attitudes Towards Tati Language Among its Native Speakers in Western Iran

  • Ehsan Majidifard , Mohammad Mahdi Hajmalek and Saeed Rezaei
Become an author with De Gruyter Brill
Explore this Subject How to publish with us
Iranian and Minority Languages at Home and in Diaspora
This chapter is in the book Iranian and Minority Languages at Home and in Diaspora

Abstract

This chapter presents the sociolinguistic profile of Tati language in Western Iran. In order to do so, at the first stage previous studies on language attitude with a specific focus on minority languages in Iran are reviewed. Thereafter, we offer an overview of the research on Tati language by both local and international scholars. Following this historical review, the rest of this chapter will deal with Tati in Western Iran. The main focus is on the attitudes of Tati native speakers towards Tati language as their mother tongue. To explore this issue, 188 male and female Tati speakers completed an online questionnaire. These voluntary participants were from a broad range of locales where Tati native speakers inhabit, including southern Qazvin and Eshtehard, Takestan, Esfarvarin, Zanjan, Boein Zahra, Sagz Abad, Vafs, Khalkhal, Klowr, Kejal, Danesfahan, Asalem, and Tarom. Futher to that, 10 participants were interviewed to further explore how Tati native speakers perceive their mother tongue. This chapter closes by discussing the findings from a sociolinguistic perspective and the importance of research on minority and endangered languages is also highlighted. Finally, some suggestions for future research in this regard are provided.

Abstract

This chapter presents the sociolinguistic profile of Tati language in Western Iran. In order to do so, at the first stage previous studies on language attitude with a specific focus on minority languages in Iran are reviewed. Thereafter, we offer an overview of the research on Tati language by both local and international scholars. Following this historical review, the rest of this chapter will deal with Tati in Western Iran. The main focus is on the attitudes of Tati native speakers towards Tati language as their mother tongue. To explore this issue, 188 male and female Tati speakers completed an online questionnaire. These voluntary participants were from a broad range of locales where Tati native speakers inhabit, including southern Qazvin and Eshtehard, Takestan, Esfarvarin, Zanjan, Boein Zahra, Sagz Abad, Vafs, Khalkhal, Klowr, Kejal, Danesfahan, Asalem, and Tarom. Futher to that, 10 participants were interviewed to further explore how Tati native speakers perceive their mother tongue. This chapter closes by discussing the findings from a sociolinguistic perspective and the importance of research on minority and endangered languages is also highlighted. Finally, some suggestions for future research in this regard are provided.

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Acknowledgements V
  3. Foreword VII
  4. Contents IX
  5. 1 Introduction 1
  6. Part I: Iranian Minority Languages
  7. 2 At the Crossroads: Caspian Languages through a Sociolinguistic Lens 9
  8. 3 Mazandarani: Current Status and Future Prospects 37
  9. 4 Balochi: Literary Development, Status and Vitality 61
  10. 5 Attitudes Towards Tati Language Among its Native Speakers in Western Iran 83
  11. 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
  12. Part II: Non-Iranian Minority Languages
  13. 7 Ebb and Flow of Azeri and Persian in Iran: A Longitudinal Study in the City of Zanjan 177
  14. 8 Language Shift and Language Maintenance among Turkmen Speakers 205
  15. 9 Language Change and Maintenance among Mandaic Speakers of Iran: A Socio-linguistic Study 231
  16. 10 Armenian Language and Identity in Iran: The Case of Iranian Armenians of Isfahan 249
  17. Part III: Iranian Heritage Languages in Diaspora
  18. 11 Wakhi in New York: Multilingualism and Language Contact in a Pamiri Diaspora Community 273
  19. 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
  20. 13 Persian as a Diasporic Language in the United States: A Survey of Heritage Persian Learners at College Level 333
  21. Index 379
https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110694277-005

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Acknowledgements V
  3. Foreword VII
  4. Contents IX
  5. 1 Introduction 1
  6. Part I: Iranian Minority Languages
  7. 2 At the Crossroads: Caspian Languages through a Sociolinguistic Lens 9
  8. 3 Mazandarani: Current Status and Future Prospects 37
  9. 4 Balochi: Literary Development, Status and Vitality 61
  10. 5 Attitudes Towards Tati Language Among its Native Speakers in Western Iran 83
  11. 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
  12. Part II: Non-Iranian Minority Languages
  13. 7 Ebb and Flow of Azeri and Persian in Iran: A Longitudinal Study in the City of Zanjan 177
  14. 8 Language Shift and Language Maintenance among Turkmen Speakers 205
  15. 9 Language Change and Maintenance among Mandaic Speakers of Iran: A Socio-linguistic Study 231
  16. 10 Armenian Language and Identity in Iran: The Case of Iranian Armenians of Isfahan 249
  17. Part III: Iranian Heritage Languages in Diaspora
  18. 11 Wakhi in New York: Multilingualism and Language Contact in a Pamiri Diaspora Community 273
  19. 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
  20. 13 Persian as a Diasporic Language in the United States: A Survey of Heritage Persian Learners at College Level 333
  21. Index 379
Sign up now to receive a 20% welcome discount
Institutional Access
How does access work?
Have an idea on how to improve our website?
Please write us.
© 2026 De Gruyter Brill
Downloaded on 5.2.2026 from https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.1515/9783110694277-005/html?lang=en
Scroll to top button