Tirbespiyê: language of other, bridge to fraternity, cultural mosaic strengthening social cohesion

In the neighborhoods and markets of Tirbespiyê in the Jazira region, the linguistic intermingling of its diverse communities is clearly evident. Kurdish residents speak Syriac, while Syriac residents use Kurdish when conversing with their neighbors. Similarly, some Arab residents speak Kurdish, and Kurds and Syriacs speak Arabic. Members of different communities frequently converse in each other's languages.

This linguistic exchange reflects decades of coexistence, social interaction, and mutual respect for the cultural and linguistic heritage of each group. The language of the other has become a means of daily communication and a bridge strengthening relationships among the city's inhabitants. In this context, Haji Farhan, a Kurdish citizen from Tirbespiyê, told our agency: “We grew up in neighborhoods where Kurdish, Syriac, and Yazidi homes intertwined in the village of Shlomiya in the Tirbespiyê countryside. We learned our neighbors’ Syriac language from a young age and never felt discriminated against.”

He added: “For us, learning Syriac is not just a means of communication, but a way to respect the heritage of this community and a part of our shared identity in this land. It breaks the policies of assimilation and denial that the languages ​​of the region’s peoples suffered for many years from the exclusion and cultural assimilation policies imposed by chauvinistic regimes.”

He continued: “With the launch of the July 19 Revolution and the implementation of the philosophy of democratic confederalism, all communities were able to revive their languages ​​and cultures and manage themselves through communes and councils. For 14 years, these have been a bulwark against all attempts to divide and control the region, and this is a model that should be the foundation for building the future of Syria.” In the city's markets, the use of different languages ​​is not unusual. A Kurdish shopkeeper might greet his customers in Syriac, while a Syriac resident might speak to his Kurdish or Arab neighbor in Kurdish or Arabic, a scene that reflects the nature of the social relations that have developed among the region's inhabitants over decades.

Syriac resident Issa Lahdo affirmed that when his Kurdish neighbor speaks to him in his mother tongue, he feels safe and proud, and he, in turn, speaks to him in Kurdish. He pointed out that this social cohesion is the strongest weapon protecting the city.

He said, "We share joys, sorrows, and holidays; from Newroz to Akito. This social cohesion is the rock upon which conspiracies shatter, and linguistic and cultural cohesion strengthens civil peace and makes the city's community a strong internal front capable of thwarting all external attacks and threats."

He emphasized that the enduring unity among the peoples is the guarantee of stability and the building of a democratic, pluralistic Syria for all its citizens. In this context, the experience of Tirbespiyê stands out as a reflection of the linguistic and cultural diversity that has been linked to the daily lives of the inhabitants, where knowing the language of the other has transformed from a mere means of communication into a space for rapprochement, interaction, and preserving the distinctiveness of the components, at a time when the city continues to maintain its diverse character.

ANHA