Kurdish Language Attrition and Its Influence on Intergenerational Communication in Turkey

Year 2026, Volume: 12 Issue: 1, 51 - 63, 21.03.2026

Suleyman Kasap , Nazim Işık

https://doi.org/10.21600/ijoks.1788166

https://izlik.org/JA26PL87DB

Abstract

Language serves as a crucial link between individuals and their cultural heritage, especially within families. In multilingual societies like Van, Turkey, where Kurdish and Turkish languages coexist, language attrition can deeply affect familial bonds and cultural identity. This study investigates how language attrition impacts communication between Kurdish-speaking grandparents and their Turkish-dominant grandchildren. Using semi-structured interviews with 21 grandparents and 22 grandchildren, the research explores the changes in language use, communication challenges, and emotional and cultural implications of language loss within families. The findings reveal that language attrition not only disrupts communication but also weakens intergenerational relationships and diminishes cultural transmission. Grandparents often experience feelings of sadness and disconnection as their heritage language fades, while grandchildren struggle with identity and emotional ties to their cultural roots. The study highlights the urgent need for preserving minority languages to maintain cultural continuity and familial bonds.

Keywords

Language Attrition , Intergenerational Communication , Kurdish Language , Cultural Identity

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