Achomi language

There are different ways to refer to this language.

• Achomi: Native speakers often refer to their language as Achomi.[12] There are different reasons for this name. One of them is the language's frequent usage of the [tʃ] consonant.[13] The second reason originates from when Arabs began trading with Achomis.[13] This because Arabs called Achomis 'Ajam', which means non-Arab.[13] Therefore, Achomi is a variation of Ajam.[13] Additionally, Achomi can be linked to Achom, which means 'I go' in the language.[12]

• Khodmooni: In Arab states surrounding the Persian Gulf, Achomis are referred to as Khodmooni'.[3] This translates to "of our own kind".[3]

• Larestani: UNESCO mentions Larestani as a name for Achomi.[14] This name comes from Larestan, where the language's speakers reside.[3] Etymologically, 'Lar' comes from 'Lad' which means "the origin of everything".[15]

• Lari: This language is sometimes called Lari.[14][1] To reiterate, 'Lar' originates from 'Lad' which means "the origin of everything".[15]It is also important to note that Lari can be used to refer to a dialect or a language.[12]

The Achomi language can be considered a descendant of the Sassanid Persian language or Middle Persian.[16]

Achomi language and its various local dialects such as Lari, Evazi, Khonji, Gerashi, Bastaki, etc., is the branch of the Middle Persian (Pahlavi) language of the Sassanid Empire.

Today, the language is known as an endangered language.[14] In particular, UNESCO refers to it as a "definitely endangered" language with approximately 80,000 speakers.[14] It also does not have official language status in Iran. This is because Iran only recognizes Persian as an official language. However, Iran allows the use of minority languages, such as Achomi, in the media and the education system (alongside Persian).[17] Nevertheless, Achomi remains an endangered language with many dialectal differences gradually disappearing because of the domination of Persian.[14][18]

Many Iranians moved to Arab States in order to pursue better economic opportunities.[19] This included Achomis.[3] These Achomis are often multilingual.[3] Achomi migrants still speak this language in their homes, however, this variety has been influenced by the Arabic language a little but is mutually intelligible with standard Persian.

The language is a branch of the Pahlavi language.[20] This means that it shares the ergative structure of Pahlavi.[20] It is also an analytical language.[12] This can be linked back to its membership in the southwestern branch of Middle-Iranian languages.[12][20]

With the exception of the regional accent, pronunciation of certain words, and a slight variation in grammar, this old language has been the common language of the Southwestern Pars Province and parts of Hormozgan Province for nearly 1,800 years despite the various conquests of the region since the fall of the Sassanid Empire.

Achomi has many dialects.[18][13][20] These dialects correspond to Larestan's different towns.[20] Examples of these dialects include Lari, Evazi, Gerashi, Khonji and Bastaki.[18]These dialectical variations may present themselves through pronunciation.[20][13] There may also be grammatical and word differences between the dialects.[18] Hence, if the speaker is from Evaz, they are referred as speaking Evazi, and if they are from Bastak their dialect is known as Bastaki.[3]

An example of a dialectal variation: in some particular regions, Achomi people say raftom for "I went" (very similar to the Persian raftam), but in some other regions, just as Lar people, they say chedem (Kurdish: dichim or dechim) instead.