The Status of the Kurdish Language in the Multilingual Environment of Kirkuk City: A Field Study"

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the current status of the Kurdish language in the city of Kirkuk from the perspective of its Kurdish inhabitants. The researchers adopted a descriptive methodology, employing both survey and correlational approaches. The research population was defined as Kurdish citizens residing in the center of Kirkuk city in 2025. A primary sample of 384 Kurdish citizens, aged 18-60 years, was selected. To develop the study’s questionnaire, the sample was divided into three sub-groups: (pilot study, construction, and final application).

To gather the necessary data, a questionnaire was designed to assess the status of the Kurdish language in Kirkuk. Following the completion of the construction process in accordance with scientific procedures, the final version of the questionnaire was administered to the final application sample. Subsequently, the data were extracted and statistically analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Based on the results, the researchers reached the following conclusions:

- The high scores achieved in the questionnaire regarding the status of the Kurdish language in Kirkuk indicate that the language maintains a dynamic and strong presence in the daily lives of the city's citizens.

- The results demonstrate that the media sector serves as one of the most robust pillars supporting the dissemination, use, and advancement of the Kurdish language.

- There is a notable inconsistency and inequality between the growth of the Kurdish language in social and academic sectors compared to its level of official and administrative representation.