The Kurdish population is estimated to be between 30 and 45 million, and together they form the largest population group in the world without their own state. Due to these special political circumstances, the Kurdish language has also developed in a special way in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.

In this lecture, first the different dialects and literary traditions of Kurdish will first be briefly discussed, followed by the complex linguistic situation in contemporary Turkey and Iraq in particular. Kurdish has long been banned in Turkey, and its use is still hampered in many ways today. Kurdish is recognized as an official language in Iraq and has developed in a special way in the federal region of Kurdistan due to the political situation.

Speaker: Michiel Leezenberg
Moderator: Diederik Burgersdijk/Lieke Rademakers

This lecture is in Dutch, and will take place on 10 February 2023, at Muiderstraat 24. You can register below.

If you’re a (higher education) student, the ticket price is only 5 euros. Register by sending an email to info@taalhuisamsterdam.nl

Image by Nóra Bartóki-Gönczy, via Wikimedia Commons

Our heart goes out to all Kurdish, Turkish and Syrian people affected by the devastating earthquake and we will donate the income of todays lecture to giro 7244. 

This lecture is full.