Home » Kurdish Culture and Language
Play Video
This webinar is for users of language services and all service providers who have contact with Kurdish clients.
Australia has recently seen a number of Kurdish refugees and immigrants settle in Australia, but there is often confusion about who the Kurds are, and their relation to the countries in which they reside – mainly Turkey, Iraq and Iran. Most are Islamic, but one distinct group which largely speak Kurdish Kurmanji – the Yazidi (Ezidi) – are not.
The Kurdish language is also not one language, but has several distinct varieties which may cause confusion, particularly when organising language services.
A panel of practising Kurdish interpreters and a language specialist will look at the distinct cultural and linguistic features of this group, and how service providers can best meet their needs.
Topics covered:
- Background to Kurdish immigration to Australia
- Cultural variation among Kurdish populations
- The varieties of Kurdish language
- Implications of linguistic diversity for language services
Learning Goals:
- Knowledge of:
- The varieties of the Kurdish language and the correct identification of language and interpreting needs of this population.
- Familiarity with the cultural, religious and social variations in the Kurdish population
- Skills to:
- Be able to more appropriately identify languages and respond to the needs of Kurdish clients
Presented/Facilitated by:
- Dr Uldis Ozolins, with assistance from Kurdish interpreters Shirin Badpa, Dr Shorsh Ahmad and Shabboo Shariati.
- Dr Uldis Ozolins is a prominent teacher and researcher on Interpreting and Translation in Australia.
- Shirin Badpa and Shaboo Shariati are practising interpreters in Melbourne
- Dr Shorsh Ahmad is a leading Kurdish educator and former Principal