The authors conducted field research across various areas of the Caspian region, located to the north of Iran, during the period 2010–2014. The regions surveyed – Gilan, Mazandaran, and Gorgan – include districts where the following languages are spoken: Shamirzadi and Velatru, as well as Talysh (in the Fuman, Masal, and Astara shahrestans) and Tati (in Rudbar shahrestan). This research enabled the authors to evaluate and clarify the current sociolinguistic situation associated with these languages. Additionally, supplementary data are provided concerning the behavioral culture and mentality of contemporary Iranians, viewed within the historical context of the formation of their identity. The article introduces a novel classification of Iranian languages, which opens new avenues for interpreting the similarities and differences among the languages of the Caspian region. Furthermore, the article presents materials regarding multiscript possibilities based on Arabic and Latin alphabets, alongside specialized techniques for recording texts in the Mazandarani and Gilaki languages. These languages currently lack officially approved scripts and standardized written norms. Comparable issues are also discussed for Talysh and Tati. The study includes information on an electronic corpus comprising Mazandarani and Gilaki texts in both audio format and written transcription – utilizing Iranian international transcription and the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) – with translations into Russian and line-by-line annotations.
Ivanov et al. (Wed,) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: