Iranian languages are a part of the Indo European language family. The Iranian language group is part of the larger Indo-Iranian language subfamily, and accounts for some of the oldest recorded Indo-European languages. Indo-Iranian languages originated around modern Afghanistan, and split into the Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Dardic, and Nuristani language groups as the speakers of proto-Indo-Iranian moved west, east, and south.
Iranian languages:
I. Eastern Iranian
A. Northeastern
1. Avestan*
2. Chorasmian (Khwarezmian)
3. Bactrian*
4. Sogdian* (Dialects: Christian, Buddhist, Manichaean), Yaghnobi
5. Scythian*, Sarmatian*, Alanian*, Ossetian (Dialects: Iron, Digor)
B. Southeastern
1. Munji, Sanglechi, Ishkashmi, Zebaki, Sarikoli, Shugni, Rushani,
Yazgulami, Wakhi, Yidgha
2. Saka* (Dialects: Khotanese and Tumshuqese), Pashto, Waneci
II. Western Iranian
A. Northwestern
1. Ormuri, Parachi
2. Yazdi (spoken by Zoroastrians), Kermani (spoken by Zoroastrians), Qohrudi,
Abuzeda badi, Abyanei, Tari, Ardestani, Anaraki, Varzenei, Badrudi, Gazi,
Vafsi, Khunsari, Natanzi, Nayini, Sivandi, Soi, Ashtiani, Farizandi,
Yarani, Mahallati, Khuri, Kohrudi, Judeo-Golpaygani, Judeo-Yazdi,
Judeo-Kermani, Judeo-Shirazi, Judeo-Esfahani, Judeo-Hamedani, Judeo-Kashani,
Judeo-Borujerdi, Judeo-Nehevandi, Judeo-Khunsari
3. Median*, Kurdish (Dialects: Kurdi, Kurmanji, Kermanshahi)
4. Gorani, Kirmanjki (Northern Zaza), Dimli (Southern Zaza)
5. Parthian*, Semnani, Sangisari
6. Gilaki, Mazanderani, Rashti, Shahmirzadi
7. Balochi, Bashkardi
8. Talysh, Harzani
B. Southwestern
1. Old Persian*, Middle Persian* (Dialects: Pahlavi, Manichaean) Persian (Farsi),
Dari, Tajik, Hazaragi, Dzhidi (Judeo-Persian), Judeo-Bukharic
2. Judeo-Tat, Muslim Tat
3. Fars, Lari
4. Luri, Bakhtiari, Feyli, Kumzari
(* indicates extinct languages no longer spoken)
