INTRODUCTION
After tire second gull' war many international humanitarian organizations started tlieir activities in Iraqi Kurdistan, a land and language previously unfamiliar to most of their staff. Naturally when one travels to an unknown land the first tiling of concern will be the tongue 01' tlie people. In such circumstances need of a book to teach foreigners Kurdisli will be eminent. Ver؛' few attempts have been made in tliis direction.
The present book is a phrase book; it aims to provide the reader with the most practical ؛md popular Kurdisli words and sentences. We have tried to cover most daily situations, events and ceremonies and avoid unnecessary ones tmd sopliisticated grammatical rules.
Kurdisli is written mainly in two scripts; Roman and Arabic. Kurds of Turkey use a modified Latin alphabet and Kurds of Iraq and Iran use a modified Arabic Alphabet. The former can be easily remembered by readers familiar with European languages and the latter for readers familiar witli Arabic alphabet.
In this book we depend on botli alpliabets to let the reader choose wliatever is appropriate 1'or liim. It is encouraging to mention that, compared to Englisli. Kurdisli pronunciation is easy and straightforward. Almost all letters give only one sound and are always pronounced. So as soon as you leani the letters you can easily read Kurdish.
Aram Qaradaghy
A like arm, ban؛ c like jack; ç like chair; e like agly, fun; ê like end, hen; i like chin; Î like bee, Islam; j like French joli; ş like shool; û like baot ooze; X like Gennan nach
Introducing Kurdish Alphabet
The following table shows Kurdish letters in both modified Roman and modified Arabic alphabets with equivalent pronunciation in English sample words:
Kurdish character (Roman) / Kurdish character (Arabic)/ Phonetic pronunciation A, a / It / Like a in arm, bad B. b / ى ٠ ب / Like b in bed c, c / ج'ج / Like j in jack Ç, ç / ج'ج / Like ch in chair D, d / د / Like d in dad E, e / م٠ذ / Like u in agly, fun Ê, ê / لى-ى‘-ن / Like e in end, hen F, f / ف،ذ / Like f in food G, g / ك.ك / Like gin ،'as H, h / ه / Like h in /rave I, I /ى‘ي / Likeا in ch/'n but even shorter Î٠î / ى‘-ي / Like ee in bee, / in Islam J, j / ز / Like su in pleaare, French j in joli
A like arm, ban؛ c like jack; ç like chair; e like agly, fun; ê like end, hen; i like chin; Î like bee, Islam; j like French joli; ş like shool; û like baot ooze; X like Gennan nach |