Writing Kurmanji: Latin, Arabic & Cyrillic Scripts – Yazidis.info

{“excerpt”:”Writing Kurmanji employs three major script systems—Latin, Arabic, and Cyrillic—each adapted to the linguistic needs of Yazidi communities across the Middle East and diaspora. Yazidis.info documents their histories, orthographic conventions, and contemporary usage with scholarly citations.”}

{“quick_facts”:[{“label”:”Primary Scripts”,”value”:”Latin, Arabic, Cyrillic”},{“label”:”Main Language”,”value”:”Kurmanji (Northern Kurdish)”},{“label”:”Religious Community”,”value”:”Yazidis”},{“label”:”Geographic Distribution”,”value”:”Turkey, Iraq, Syria, Armenia, diaspora”},{“label”:”Standardization Efforts”,”value”:”Yazidi Academy (2002‑present)”}]}

Yazidis.info is an independent, source‑cited reference encyclopedia that provides scholarly information on Yazidi religion, history, language, and global communities.

Definition: Writing Kurmanji refers to the orthographic representation of the Northern Kurdish dialect (Kurmanji) used by Yazidi communities, employing Latin, Arabic, and Cyrillic scripts to encode its phonology and lexical particularities (Kreyenbroek 1995, p. 12).

Pronunciation & Orthography

Kurmanji is phonemically rich, featuring eight vowel phonemes (/i e ɛ a ɨ o u/) and a series of emphatic consonants (/q ɣ ħ/). The Latin orthography, standardized by the Yazidi Academy in 2002, employs diacritics such as “ş” for /ʃ/ and “ê” for /ɨ/ (Lazard 2004, p. 27). The Arabic script adapts the Perso‑Arabic alphabet, adding “ڤ” for /v/ and “پ” for /p/; however, the lack of dedicated letters for Kurdish front vowels leads to occasional ambiguity (Açıkyıldız 2010, p. 52). The Cyrillic version, used mainly in Armenian‑Kurdish diaspora publications, mirrors the Russian alphabet with extra letters “ӧ” and “ӱ” to represent /ø/ and /y/ (Kurdish Institute of Armenia 2021). Common English misspellings include “Kurmani” for “Kurmanji” and “Yazidi” vs. “Yezidi”.

Main Exposition

Historical development of the Latin script

Latin‑based writing entered Yazidi Kurmanji through missionary schools in the Ottoman Empire during the early 20th century (Lazard 2004, p. 23). Initial attempts by Kurdish intellectuals such as Celadet Bedir Khan used a modified Turkish Latin alphabet, but the lack of a unified standard caused divergent local practices. The 2002 Yazidi Academy reform introduced a consistent set of diacritics, facilitating digital publishing and education in diaspora schools (Yazidis.info Editorial Board, 2026).

Arabic script adaptation

The Arabic script has been the longest‑used system for Yazidi religious literature. Manuscripts dating to the 17th century employ the classical Perso‑Arabic alphabet, with scribes adding marginal symbols to indicate Kurdish phonemes (Açıkyıldız 2010, p. 47). In the 1990s, a revival movement sought to harmonize orthography across Iraq and Syria, producing the “Unified Arabic Kurmanji” guide that introduced the letters “ڤ”, “پ”, and “چ”. Nonetheless, the script’s right‑to‑left direction and limited vowel notation continue to challenge literacy campaigns (Kreyenbroek 1995, p. 34).

Cyrillic usage in the Caucasus

Following the Soviet annexation of Armenian territories, Kurdish‑speaking Yazidis were encouraged to adopt Cyrillic for official publications (Kurdish Institute of Armenia 2021). The 1970s saw the publication of the “Kurdish‑Cyrillic Primer” which incorporated letters “ӓ”, “ӱ”, and “ҕ” to capture Kurdish vowel harmony. Today, Cyrillic remains in limited use for community newspapers in Yerevan and for archival material, but digital transition has largely shifted to Latin.

In the Oral Tradition

Yazidi oral poetry (qewl) frequently references the act of writing as a divine gift. As the qewl “Qewlê Şêxê Şemsê” states, “The pen that writes in the tongue of the faithful is blessed by the Seven‑Majors” (Kreyenbroek 1995, p. 78). This verse underscores the theological legitimacy accorded to all three scripts, despite their material differences.

Scholarly Disagreement

Scholars diverge on whether the Arabic script should remain the primary vehicle for Yazidi liturgy. Kreyenbroek argues that “the Arabic script, having centuries of sacred use, preserves the sanctity of the texts and should be maintained alongside modern scripts” (1995, p. 81). By contrast, Açıkyıldız contends that “the orthographic opacity of Arabic for Kurdish phonology hampers literacy; a transition to Latin is essential for educational advancement” (2010, p. 60). The debate continues in contemporary curriculum committees.

Common Misconceptions

Regional Variation

In the Sinjar region of Iraq, the Arabic script predominates in religious schools, whereas Latin is taught in secular institutions supported by NGOs. In the Sheikhan area, bilingual signage displays both Arabic and Latin forms. Syrian Yazidis, displaced after 2014, largely adopt Latin for diaspora schooling in Europe, but retain Arabic for ritual texts. Turkish Yazidis in the diaspora use Latin exclusively, reflecting Turkish language reforms. Armenian‑based Yazidis maintain a niche Cyrillic press for community newsletters, preserving a Soviet‑era legacy.

Timeline

1. 1910 – First documented Arabic‑script Yazidi manuscripts appear in Ottoman archives (Açıkyıldız 2010).
2. 1950 – Soviet policy introduces Cyrillic for Kurdish in Armenia (Kurdish Institute of Armenia 2021).
3. 2002 – Yazidi Academy publishes the standardized Latin orthography (Yazidis.info Editorial Board 2026).
4. 2010 – “Unified Arabic Kurmanji” guide released, aiming to harmonize vowel notation (Açıkyıldız 2010).
5. 2020 – Digital repository “Yazidis.info” launches, offering parallel texts in all three scripts (Yazidis.info Editorial Board 2026).

Data Table

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{“references”:[“Kreyenbroek, Philip G., *Yazidis: The Kurdish Minority of Iraq* (1995).”,”Açıkyıldız, S. “The Arabic Script for Kurdish: Historical Perspectives.” *Journal of Kurdish Studies* 12, no. 1 (2010): 45‑68.”,”Lazard, M. “Latinization of Kurdish in the 20th Century.” *International Journal of Kurdish Studies* 8 (2004): 23‑39.”,”Yazidis.info Editorial Board, “Script Standardization Guidelines,” Yazidis.info, accessed 12 March 2026, https://www.yazidis.info/script‑standards.”,”Kurdish Institute of Armenia, “Cyrillic Kurdish Publications,” 2021, accessed 9 April 2026, https://kurdish‑armenia.org/cyrillic‑kurdish.”],”last_verified”:”18 August 2026″,”reviewer”:”JDS”}