Mandaic

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A language of Iran

ISO 639-3
mid
Alternate Names
Mandāyì, Mandɔyí, Mandaayi, Mandaean, Mandi, Mandini, Modern Mandaic, Neo-Mandaic, Raṭnā, Sabe’in, Sabean, Subbi
User Population

100 in Iran (2017). Ethnic population: 23,000.

Location

Khuzestan province: Hoveiseh, other towns.

Language Status

8a (Moribund).

Classification
Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, Aramaic, Eastern, Mandaic
Dialects

Ahwaz (Ahvaz), Shushtar (Shustar), Khorramshahr. Iraqi Neo-Mandaic became extinct during the 20th century. Shushtar dialect may have no remaining speakers. The Khorramshahr and Ahwaz dialects are mutually intelligible.

Typology

SVO; 2 genders (masculine, feminine); 3 voices (active, middle, passive); 2 aspects (perfective, imperfective); 28 consonants, 6 vowels and 5 diphthongs; triliteral roots.

Language Use

Ethnic group of 5,000 in Khuzestan, Iran, speak Iranian Persian [pes] (1994 H. Mutzafi). Older adults only. Positive attitudes. Most shifted to Iranian Persian [pes]. Most shifted to Mesopotamian Spoken Arabic [acm].

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Mandaic
Writing

Mandaic script [Mand].

Other Comments

Mandaean.

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