SORGUL ŞÊXO

Qamishlo- Efforts for the development and spread of the Kurdish language in North and East Syria continue. The Kurdish Language Institute (SZK) has carried out many studies to develop and spread the Kurdish language in North and East Syria since its foundation. NuJINHA spoke to Gulê Hesen, a member of the institute, about the master’s program offered by the Department of Kurdish Language and Literature at Rojava and Kobanê Universities.

 “The idea of starting a master’s program at the Department of Kurdish Language and Literature began in 2020,” Gulê Hesen said, “The Democratic Society Education Committee (KPC-D) applied to the Rojava University and Kobanê University for starting a master’s program at their department of Kurdish Language and Literature. Then, the Kobanê University launched a preparation program and 28 students attended the program; however, our number decreased in time and 20 students, mostly women, attended the four-month preparation program. We studied language, grammar, linguistics, literature, Kurdish dialects such as Kirmanci, Dimilkî and Sorani, English and methodology. All students had to obtain above 60 marks in all the subjects.”

Master’s program

After completing the preparation program, all students decided to study which area that they wanted to specialize for the master’s program. 10 students decided to study literature while others decided to study linguistics. Gulê Hesen, one of these students, decided to study linguistics. “The students, who decided to study literature, will study Kurdish literature and folklore. The university decided that each student would study in two stages; each of them would last four months. At the beginning of June, the second stage of the master’s program will end.”

‘Students will choose their thesis topic’

Speaking about the process of the master's thesis, Gulê Hesen said, “After completing the program, students will choose their thesis topic. After writing our master’s thesis, we will submit our thesis. When our thesis will be approved, we will be able to be academics at universities. Now, the Democratic Society Education Committee works on starting master’s degrees at the department of sociology. The department of history has already offered a master’s degree. But the master’s degree is the first offered by the Department of Kurdish Language and Literature.”

Language revolution after the revolution in Rojava

 “The language revolution started following the revolution in Rojava that took place on July 19, 2012,” Gulê Hesen said, “Many Kurdish universities opened. These universities opened the department of Kurdish Language and Literature. Offering a master’s degree at the department of Kurdish Language and Literature was a must for us because we need more people, who carry out research and studies on the Kurdish language and literature.”

 ‘The aim is to preserve and promote the Kurdish language’

Gulê Hesen studies Dimilkî, a dialect of the Kurdish language. This dialect, the oldest dialect of the Kurdish language, is spoken by 3.5 million people in Northern Kurdistan. “The Rojava University decided to offer the Sorani and Dimilkî dialects to the students as optional subjects. Each student has to know at least two or three dialects. The aim of this master’s degree is to preserve and promote the Kurdish language. As master’s degree students, we want to play an important role in the development of the Kurdish language and provide different resources. For instance, we can translate good scientific books into our Kurmanji dialect. We also want to develop our universities in the future by creating a better education system for students.”