The status of Kumzari and its speakers: A local language of the Musandam Peninsula of Oman

The Kumzari language, with approximately 3,000 speakers in the Musandam Governorate of Oman, is an Iranian language spoken in the Arabian Peninsula. Although Kumzari speakers have lived along the Persian Gulf for hundreds of years, little research has been conducted on this language community. Issues related to constructing a systematic approach for analyzing language minority groups are considered in the context of the Kumzari language and community. In addition, factors and degrees of endangerment suggested in the 2003 UNESCO document entitled “Language Vitality and Endangerment” as well as classifications proposed by other researchers are addressed. Finally, the future status of this endangered language community is discussed.