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Sun, 06 Sep 2020 11:15:04

Language

The Kurdistan Region’s official languages for government purposes are Kurdish and Arabic.

The two most widely spoken dialects of Kurdish are Sorani and Kurmanji. Other dialects spoken by smaller numbers are Hawrami (also known as Gorani) and Zaza.

The Sorani Kurdish dialect uses Arabic script while the Kurmanji Kurdish dialect is written in Latin script. Sorani is spoken in Erbil and Slemani governorates, while Kurmanji is spoken in Duhok governorate and some parts of Erbil governorate. As the Region’s Kurdish-language media has developed and the population has moved, today nearly all people in the Kurdistan Region can speak or understand both of the major dialects. The Kurdistan Regional Government’s policy is to promote the two main dialects in the education system and the media.

Arabic is also an official language and is widely spoken or understood. Assyrian Neo-Aramaic, Chaldean Neo-Aramaic and Turkmani are also spoken by their respective communities.

The Kurdistan Regional Government promotes linguistic diversity and rights, and schools have been established that teach mainly in Assyrian Neo-Aramaic, Chaldean Neo-Aramaic, Turkmen and Arabic.

Council of Ministers convenes on reopening schools and universities

Wed, 02 Sep 2020 20:12:33

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (GOV.KRD) - Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Wednesday chaired a cabinet meeting on safely reopening schools and universities.

Head of DFR receives new DSRSG/RC/HC for Iraq

Mon, 24 Aug 2020 15:35:12

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (DFR.GOV.KRD) – Head of the Department of Foreign Relations (DFR), Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Minister Safeen Dizayee on Sunday received Ms. Vojackova-Sollorano, the incoming Deputy Special Representative, in the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) and Resident/ Humanitarian Coordinator along with OCHA representative in Iraq.

Head of DFR receives outgoing Netherlands Consul-General in the Kurdistan Region

Mon, 24 Aug 2020 15:32:28

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (DFR.GOV.KRD) – Head of the Department of Foreign Relations (DFR), Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Minister Safeen Dizayee on Sunday received Mr. Willem Nicolaas Cosijn, Consul General of Netherlands to say farewell at the end of his tenure in the Kurdistan Region.