The Gorani community of the Nineveh Plain
MEDS has begun linguistic and sociolinguistic research activities aimed at helping another language community in Iraq preserve their unique Gorani language and develop literacy in their own mother language.
Even more than with the Shengali, this language does not yet have an agreed orthography and the project will involve developing word lists and a dictionary and writers’ workshops.
The Gorani project aims to benefit a long neglected community on the Nineveh Plain around Mosul. The linguistic tools, the publications published and all other possible linguistic outcomes of the project are being designed in a way that as many people as possible from the community can use and benefit from them.
Special consideration will be given to the young generation, that is children and students. They are the future of the Gorani speaking community, and their actions and language choices will determine whether it will remain a living language or not. All activities of the project will be designed in a way so that they are relevant to the young generation. Among other things, this will include thinking about digital solutions wherever possible and reasonable. Special consideration will also be given to the women of the language community. The women have few job opportunities outside of their home and are often marginalised. However, as with other minority languages of the region, they tend to preserve their own mother-tongue better than men, as their daily lives often take place within their own language community only. It is hoped to integrate as many women as possible in the activities.