Western Iranian languages
The Western Iranian languages or Western Iranic languages are a branch of the Iranian languages, attested from the time of Old Persian and Median.
Languages
The traditional Northwestern branch is a convention for non-Southwestern languages, rather than a genetic group. The languages are as follows:Old Iranian period
- Northwest: Median†, etc.
- Southwest: Old Persian†, etc.
Middle Iranian period
- Northwest: Parthian†, etc.
- Southwest: Middle Persian†, etc
Modern period (Neo-Iranian)
- Northwestern Iranian
- * Caspian
- ** Gorgani†
- ** Daylami†
- ** Gilaki
- ** Mazandarani
- *Semnani
- ** Semnani
- ** Sangisari
- ** Lasgerdi-Sorkhei
- * Adharic
- **Old Adhari†
- *** Gorani
- **** Gurani
- **** Shabaki
- *** Tatic
- ****Talysh
- ****Gozarkhani
- ****North: Harzandi, Karingani
- ****Kho'ini
- ****South
- *****Alviri-Vidari
- *****Ashtiani, Vafsi
- *****Razajerdi, Eshtehardi, Takestani
- ****Central
- *****Khalkhalic: Kajali, Koresh-e Rostam, Shahrudi
- *****Maraghei
- *****Upper Taromi, Kabatei
- ***Zaza
- ****Southern Zaza : Dumbuli, Hazzu, Kori, Motki, Sivereki
- ****Northern Zaza : Tunceli, Varto
- * Kurdic
- ** Kurdish
- *** Northern Kurdish
- *** Central Kurdish
- *** Southern Kurdish
- *** Laki
- *** Kurdali
- * Balochi
- ** Western Balochi
- ** Southern Balochi
- ** Eastern Balochi
- ** Koroshi
- *Khuri
- Central Plateau
- * Sivandi
- * Judeo-Hamadani, Judeo-Borujerdi
- * NW = Khunsari
- * NE = Kashanic: Soi, Natanzi
- * SW = Gazi
- * Southeastern: Zoroastrian Dari, Nayini
- Southwestern Iranian
- *Persid/Persic
- ** Persian
- ** Luri
- ** Shushtari–Dezfuli
- ** Kuhmareyi
- **
- *Bashkardi
- *Garmsiri
- *Kumzari
- *Achomi
- *Caucasian Tat : Tat, Judeo-Tat
- * Fars, Khenesiri, Bordekhuni, Dashtiyati, Tangesiri, Khormuji, Khayizi, Ahrami, Bushehri, Bandar Rig, Genaveyi, Deylami †, Dashtesuni
An Iranian Khalaj language has been claimed, but does not exist; the Khalaj speak a Turkic language.
Many of the languages and dialects spoken in Markazi and Isfahan provinces are giving way to Persian in the younger generations.
It is to note that the Caspian languages, the central dialects, and the Zaza-Gorani languages are likely descended from a later form of Median with varying amounts of Parthian substrata, whereas the Semnani languages were likely descended from Parthian.