Welcome & Xêr Ameyî
Hi, my name is Mahîr. I am a Kurdish linguist.
About me
I am a PhD candidate in General Linguistics at the University of Bamberg, specializing in Iranian languages, particularly the languages spoken by Kurds. My primary focus is on Zazakî (also called Kirmanckî, Dimilî, or Kirdkî), an under-researched and endangered variety traditionally spoken in the northern Kurdish regions of modern Turkey.
My research encompasses various areas of general linguistics as well as sociolinguistics, language documentation, language planning and policy, corpus linguistics, and the complex issues of language naming, classification, and nomenclature. My work is primarily synchronic, empirical, and data-driven.
In addition to my research, I am also involved in language teaching, with a passion for sharing knowledge and fostering linguistic understanding.
Research fields and Projects
Zazakî
A linguistic underdog
Zazakî is spoken by approx. 3 million people. With its distinc linguistic features, it holds a unique position within Iranian languages.
Analysis
Decoding the language
Many aspects of Zazakî remain under-researched. My goal is to address some of these gaps through rigorous analysis. Explore and see what I’ve uncovered so far.
Documentation
Transcription and Archiving
Through fieldwork, I collect invaluable data from native speakers of Zazakî. The material is carefully transcribed, annotated, and glossed, and ultimately integrated into a searchable corpus for future linguistic research.
Teaching
Keeping the language alive
In addition to my research, I have been teaching Zazakî for over a decade. If you’re interested in learning Zazakî, feel free to contact me!