The Yagnobi language
 
Group Iranian (with Persian, Kurdish etc.), Northeast Iranian (with Ossetic, Sogdian etc.)
Geography & History This is the relict descended from the ancient Sogdian language, and now some call it New Sogdian. Today only nearly 2,500 people speak it on the territory of Tadjikistan. Still, it is divided into two dialects having differences mainly in phonetics.Yagnobi is used also among Tadjiks as a "secret", "taboo" language, and the roots for this tradition go far in the history. 
Phonetics Yagnobi has 8 vowels: 5 long and 3 short ones; and 27 consonant sounds. Dialectal differences include the following: the western Yagnobi -t is the eastern -s (met - mes 'day'); western -ay is -e in the east. 
Morphology Yagnobi morphology is distinguished by a combination of inflected and analytical forms - both for the verbs and the nominal parts of speech. A lot of grammar models were borrowed from the similar forms of Tadjik
Lexicon The vocabulary is full of Tadjik borrowed words and lexical constructions, and the original Sogdian lexicon is preserved mostly in verbs and pronouns. 
Writing No writing
Close Contacts Tadjik, Dari
Picture Yagnobi river valley
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