Research Article

A Critical Examination of Some Phonological and Morphological Inconsistencies in The Standardisation of Zazaki

Number: 13 June 30, 2026
TR EN KU

A Critical Examination of Some Phonological and Morphological Inconsistencies in The Standardisation of Zazaki

Abstract

This study examines a series of phonological, morphological, and syntactic inconsistencies that emerge in the standardisation of Zazaki, with particular reference to the practices adopted by the Vate Studying Group. Focusing on phenomena such as the alternation between pronoun ê/ey, the treatment of personal and demonstrative pronouns, the preservation or loss of consonants in prepositions and postpositions, and the analysis of verbal morphology, the study argues that several standardisation choices conflict with well-established grammatical rules of the language. Through detailed examples drawn from different Zazaki varieties, especially the northern one, the article demonstrates that these inconsistencies may lead to ambiguity, formal contradictions, and deviations from underlying morphological principles. The study advocates for a rule-based approach to standardisation that prioritises the preservation of lexical roots and grammatical symmetry over dialect-specific surface forms. Methodologically, the paper relies on a qualitative, rule-oriented analysis of paradigmatic forms and selected contextual examples from grammars and orthographic guides, evaluating each proposal with respect to morphological symmetry, root recoverability, and functional transparency.

Keywords

References

  1. Bedirxan, E. C., & Lescot, R. (1990). Kürtçe grameri. Paris Kürt Enstitüsü.
  2. Çem, M. (2013). Türkçe açıklamalı Kurmancca (Zazaca) gramer (2nd ed.). Deng Yayınları.
  3. Dixon, R. M. W. (1998). Ergativity. Cambridge University Press.
  4. Grûba Xebate ya Vateyî. (2012). Rastnuştişe Kirmanckî (Zazakî) (2nd ed.). Weşanxaneyê Vateyî.
  5. Grûba Xebate ya Vateyî. (2016). Ferhengê Kirmanckî (Zazakî)-Tirkî (5th ed.). Weşanxaneyê Vateyî.
  6. Ladefoged, P., & Johnson, K. (2011). A course in phonetics (6th ed.). Wadsworth Cengage Learning.
  7. Lezgîn, R. (2012). Dersê ziwanî. Weşanxaneyê Roşna.
  8. Lezgîn, R. (2013). Gramera Kirdkî (Zazakî): Ji bo Kurmancan bi awayê muqayeseyî. Weşanxaneyê Roşna.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Kurdish Language, Literature and Culture

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

June 30, 2026

Submission Date

April 7, 2026

Acceptance Date

June 10, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Number: 13

APA
Bingöl, İ., & Altınkılıç, Ü. (2026). A Critical Examination of Some Phonological and Morphological Inconsistencies in The Standardisation of Zazaki. Kurdiyat, 13, 24-34. https://doi.org/10.55118/kurdiyat.1925177
AMA
1.Bingöl İ, Altınkılıç Ü. A Critical Examination of Some Phonological and Morphological Inconsistencies in The Standardisation of Zazaki. Kurdiyat. 2026;(13):24-34. doi:10.55118/kurdiyat.1925177
Chicago
Bingöl, İbrahim, and Ümran Altınkılıç. 2026. “A Critical Examination of Some Phonological and Morphological Inconsistencies in The Standardisation of Zazaki”. Kurdiyat, nos. 13: 24-34. https://doi.org/10.55118/kurdiyat.1925177.
EndNote
Bingöl İ, Altınkılıç Ü (June 1, 2026) A Critical Examination of Some Phonological and Morphological Inconsistencies in The Standardisation of Zazaki. Kurdiyat 13 24–34.
IEEE
[1]İ. Bingöl and Ü. Altınkılıç, “A Critical Examination of Some Phonological and Morphological Inconsistencies in The Standardisation of Zazaki”, Kurdiyat, no. 13, pp. 24–34, June 2026, doi: 10.55118/kurdiyat.1925177.
ISNAD
Bingöl, İbrahim - Altınkılıç, Ümran. “A Critical Examination of Some Phonological and Morphological Inconsistencies in The Standardisation of Zazaki”. Kurdiyat. 13 (June 1, 2026): 24-34. https://doi.org/10.55118/kurdiyat.1925177.
JAMA
1.Bingöl İ, Altınkılıç Ü. A Critical Examination of Some Phonological and Morphological Inconsistencies in The Standardisation of Zazaki. Kurdiyat. 2026;:24–34.
MLA
Bingöl, İbrahim, and Ümran Altınkılıç. “A Critical Examination of Some Phonological and Morphological Inconsistencies in The Standardisation of Zazaki”. Kurdiyat, no. 13, June 2026, pp. 24-34, doi:10.55118/kurdiyat.1925177.
Vancouver
1.İbrahim Bingöl, Ümran Altınkılıç. A Critical Examination of Some Phonological and Morphological Inconsistencies in The Standardisation of Zazaki. Kurdiyat. 2026 Jun. 1;(13):24-3. doi:10.55118/kurdiyat.1925177