Lišana Nošan
Jewish Neo-Aramaic (Sanandaj)
Rego Parkinguist Yona Sabar — a native speaker of Lishani Dedani from Iraqi Kurdistan — divides Jewish Neo-Aramaic dialects into four major groups: 1) North-West Iraqi Kurdistan, 2) South-East Iraqi Kurdistan, 3) Iranian-Turkish Azerbaijan (Urmia), and 4) Iranian Kurdistan (including Bijar). Great Neck, with its large community of Jews from Iran — the 2015-2019 American Community Survey found 6,693 Persian speakers in Great Neck and surrounding towns, almost all of whom are Jewish — includes speakers at least from Groups 3 and 4. Distinctions between Jewish and Christian Neo-Aramaic varieties have been noted in all areas, but seem to have been more prominent in certain cases. A significant number of Jews originally connected to the Urmia region and speaking Lishán Didán came to the United States, settling in eastern Queens, Great Neck, and elsewhere following the 1979 Iranian Revolution. In December 2019, many celebrated the first-ever International Nash-Didan (Judeo-Aramaic) Day at the Center for Jewish History in Manhattan. In addition, at least six or seven families now in Great Neck include speakers of the highly endangered Jewish Neo-Aramaic of Bijar, from Iranian Kurdistan — others come from Sanandaj.