Kovara Kurdinameyê ya Navnetewî Jimar: 2 Nîsan 2020 International Journal of Kurdiname Issue: 2 April 2020 eISSN-2687-5438 Translation – Werger KURDISH LANGUAGE, ITS FAMILY AND DIALECTS * ZIMANÊ KURDÎ, MALBAT Û ZARÊN WÎ Hewa Salam KHALID 1 Abstract Kurdish belongs to the Iranian language group within Indo-European language family. So, there are many similarities between Kurdish and other Iranian languages. such similarities among various languages lead to categorizing languages within some families. Kurdish is unstandardized language, and it has four main dialects. In this arena, there is a huge gap and it has had negative effects on Kurds in general. Kurdish language is very linked with Kurdish identity on the same time. So, the invaders of Kurdistan work hard to deform Kurdish, then destroy Kurdish identity. The assimilation process affected many areas of Kurdistan intensively, for example; the number of Kurdish speakers has decreased significantly in Northern Kurdistan, and Turkish language has taken its place. Thus, we as a linguist try to clarify the Kurdish language situation linguistically. In this study, we discuss Kurdish language family, Kurdish dialects, mutual understanding between Kurdish dialects, and analyzing the current situation. This would be done by reviewing various sources and publishing a questionnaire among students at Koya University. With support of the student responses, we have designed a model to illuminate mutual understanding between Kurdish dialects in Southern Kurdistan. Key words: Kurdish Language, Northern Kurdish, Central Kurdish, Southern Kurdish, Gorani, Zazaki, Hawrami. Kurte Zimanê Kurdî yek ji zimanên Îranî ye, ku ser bi malbata Hînd û Ewropî ye. Lewma hevbeşiyên zehf di navbera Kurdî û zimanên din ên Îranî de hene. Ev wekyekî û nêzîkiya navbera hinek zimanên dinê, bûye hokara destnîşankirina malbatên zimanan. Lê belê, dema yek dibêje Kurdî, dîsa ne xuya ye, ku mebesta wê kîjan zarê Kurdî ye. Çimkî zimanê Kurdî, zimanekî ne-sitandard bûye û ji çar şaxên sereke pêk tê. Ew şax jî bi zar tên binavkirin. Ji vî aliyî valatiyeke mezin heye û bandora vê valatiyê jî li ser tevahiya Kurdan çêbûye. Zimanê Kurdî girêdirayî nasnameya gelê Kurd e. Lewma neteweyên dagîrker û hukimdarên axa Kurdistanê, ji bo têkbirina Kurdî hewl didin, heta bikaribin nasnameya Kurdan jî têk bibin. Ev pirosêsa esîmîlasiyonê, li gelek cihên Kurdistanê bandoreke mezin çêkiriye. Minak, li bakurê Kurdistanê jimara Kurdî axêvan kêm bûye û zimanê Tirkî di gelek * This is a translated article from Kurdish into English. Article details are: KHALID, H. S. (2019). Zimanê Kurdî, malbat û zarên wî (Kurdish language, its family and dialects. Kurdiname, (1), 3-16. Retrieved from https://dergipark.org.tr/en/pub/kurdiname/issue/50233/637080 1 PhD in Kurdish language and culture, Lecturer, Kurdish language department, Koya University, Kurdistan Region - Iraq