لادانێن زمانى د قه‌ولێن ئێزدیاندا

Abstract

Abstract:

Linguistic Deviation in Yazidi Qewls

Yazidi Qewls (Religious texts) are among the most significant texts in Yazidi religious literature, as they address the Yazidi philosophy concerning the Creator, angels, the universe, nature, and humanity. Structurally, these texts were composed using special techniques, particularly by linking sections through words and sentences with various stylistic methods. Linguistically, most of these Qewls were formulated in the Kurdish language, specifically in the Northern Kurmanji dialect. They were created in the spoken dialect of the Margah region (Lalish Temple and its surrounding areas), as the Qewlvan (creators of the Qewls) were born and lived in Lalish and nearby villages. However, despite this, the Qewls contain a significant number of borrowed words, particularly from Arabic. In the Qewl texts, the Qewlvan used unique words and employed techniques such as inversion, paradox, and displacement, reflecting the local dialects of different Yazidi regions. They frequently resorted to linguistic deviation to maintain harmony in meter, rhyme, and rhythm. Additionally, since the Qewls are religious texts, they use symbolic language when referring to sexual matters, as these topics are presented in a respectful and coded manner. Linguistic deviation appears at multiple levels: sound, word, sentence, and even meaning. These deviations in the Qewls contributed to establishing a distinctive style unique to these texts and their creators.