The Department of Linguistics at Cihan University-Sulaimaniya has released the ninth issue of the Journal of Linguistics. This issue is dedicated to the grammar, orthography, history, and literature of the Hawrami dialect, and was printed and published in accordance with the orthographic and grammatical rules specific to this dialect.
The editorial of this issue, authored by Prof. Dr. Omid Rafiq Fatah, President of Cihan University-Sulaimaniya, stated: “Paying attention to the dialects of the Kurdish language is not merely a linguistic gesture to ensure a dialect’s survival; rather, it is an endeavor to revive the culture and historical memory of a region in Kurdistan that shares many common traits. From a certain perspective, it might be perceived that writing in and focusing on a specific dialect could be interpreted as reviving that dialect at the expense of the standard language, potentially harming it.”
Elsewhere in the editorial, the University President wrote: “An objective scientific approach confirms that focusing on dialects—beyond enriching the official language culturally in terms of vocabulary and structures—simultaneously reinforces a sense of support and national belonging. From this scientific standpoint, writing, speaking, and prioritizing dialects can be adopted as the foundation for a cultural policy within the framework of the state’s general and official policies. Attention to cultural policy in any nation can deepen the national spirit while highlighting distinct characteristics and diversities. Furthermore, this encourages writers capable of writing in these dialects and motivates them to strive for the dialect’s continuity. If a dialect is not documented in writing and its culture is not recorded, it will fade from the memory of its speakers and eventually disappear.”
The editorial also noted that the Hawrami dialect, due to the cohesion of its speaker community and the limited geographic scope of the region, has enjoyed greater protection compared to other dialects and has remained within its geographic boundaries. However, these factors alone are insufficient to ensure its survival and protection regarding its anthropological dimension and symbolic significance. Therefore, the Journal of Linguistics at Cihan University-Sulaimaniya, through a group of writers, has sought to present research, studies, and writings on the importance and cultural value of the Hawrami dialect. Through this effort, we hope to have filled a gap in Hawrami literature, culture, and dialect studies.
