Lishán Didán is a Neo-Aramaic language traditionally spoken by the Jewish community of Urmia in northwestern Iran. Part of the North Eastern Neo-Aramaic language group, Lishán Didán developed from Aramaic, a language that was once widely spoken across the ancient Near East. Today, the language is considered severely endangered, with most speakers living in diaspora communities after leaving their ancestral homeland during the twentieth century.
Unlike many other languages, Lishán Didán was primarily an oral language and has little written documentation. As older generations pass away, preserving the language has become increasingly important. This course was created using recordings from Angel Mordekhay, a native speaker from a family of Lishán Didán speakers from Iran. While many Neo-Aramaic-speaking families stopped passing the language to their children in an effort to assimilate, Angel chose to continue teaching it to her family. Through documentation, education, and community efforts, Lishán Didán speakers and learners are helping ensure that this unique part of Jewish linguistic heritage is not forgotten.