UNESCO has listed Assyrian as one of the “definitely endangered languages” of the world. It is one of the oldest languages in the Middle East and a dialect of ancient Aramaic.
But the number of Assyrian speakers fell sharply throughout the years due to internal politics, conflicts, migration and oppression in the region.
A recent decision by the Turkish education ministry aims to help preserve the Assyrian language and culture through opening of private schools that will teach in Assyrian. Assyrian community schools were closed 85 years ago.
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