Iranian peoples: Encyclopedia II - Iranian peoples - Iranian peoples defined

Iranian peoples - Iranian peoples defined

Iranian peoples are those who speak an Iranian language, in which case Iranian is an over-arching term for various peoples and their languages, many of whom share a common descent from a particular branch of the ancient Aryans (Iranians), as discerned from the relationship between their languages, as well as between some of their other inherited core cultural traits. The term is derived from the etymological term Iran which is synonymous with Aryan. Although the modern state of Iran adopted the name (after replacing its previous name of Persia in 1935), it does not have an exclusive meaning that is only applicable to either Iran or the modern Persians. The term Iranian or Iranian people is similar, in its usage, to the term Germanic, for example, which includes various peoples who happen to share related Germanic languages such as German, English, and Dutch. This type of usage can be applied in numerous other instances including the Slavic peoples category that includes Russians, Serbo-Croatians, and Poles. Thus, along these lines the Iranian peoples include not only the Persians/Tajiks of Iran, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan, but also the Pashtuns, Kurds, Ossetians, Baluchis, and other smaller groups.

Although most of the Iranian peoples are found on the Iranian plateau region, many have moved beyond and can be found from the Caucasus and Turkey to the Indus and western China. The Iranian peoples have often mingled with other populations with the notable example being the Hazaras who display a distinct Turkic-Mongol background that contrasts with most other Iranian peoples. Similarly, the Baluch have mingled to a small degree with Indian populations such as the Brahui, while the Ossetians have invariably mixed with Georgians, Russians, and other peoples with whom they live. The Kurds are an example of a very eclectic Iranian people who, although displaying many ties to other Iranian peoples, also have ethnic ties to the Caucasus and Anatolia among other regions. Even the Persians themselves have undoubtedly mixed with various invaders as well as the aboriginal peoples of the Iranian plateau including the Elamites. Thus, not unlike the previous example of Germanic peoples involving the English, who are of mixed Germanic and Celtic origin, Iranian is an ethno-linguistic group and the Iranian peoples display varying degrees of common ancestry and/or cultural traits that denote their respective identities.

Some ancient peoples such as the Scythians, Sarmatians, and Alans are also widely believed to have belonged to the Iranian group, based upon scant evidence regarding their languages and the identity of their modern-day descendants. No origin for any of these peoples or their languages in the region of the modern nation of Iran is implied, or should be construed, from this particular use of the word Iranian. The Iranian language group is itself a sub-branch of the Indo-Iranian sub-family, which is in turn a sub-branch of the Indo-European family of languages, which was formerly, although inaccurately, also referred to as Aryan – a usage academically discredited.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Iranian peoples defined", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki