Good afternoon to the readers. This guide follows another series of guides I want to create about characters of unusual ethnicity. The intention, clearly, is to provide enough information to further refine and sustain your character in the development plan.
Main
Religion
Language
I think that was it, I hope you enjoyed it!
Sincerely,
Mozart.
Credits to the appropriate websites where the information was taken.
Main
- Azerbaijani culture arises as a result of many influences, from the Soviet era, from the time when it was one of the republics of the Union, to its Turkish, Persian, Islamic and Central Asian roots. Western influences are being felt today, including the consumer culture stemming from globalization.
Religion
- About 93% of the Azerbaijani population is Muslim, while 5% is Orthodox. In most Muslims, religious dress is not taken very seriously, and Muslim identity tends to be based more on ethnicity and religious culture. The Muslim population makes up approximately 85% Shiites and 15% Sunnis, being differences between minor groups.
- There are remarkably large Christian and Muslim communities in the capital Baku, no problem on the part of the authorities with these creeds.
- IMPORTANT: Azerbaijan is one of the most secular and irreligious countries in the world. According to a recent Gallup poll, 53% of respondents reported the importance of religion in their lives as little or no. The same survey indicates that only 20% of respondents use religious services.
Language
- The northern Azerbaijani language is the official language of Azerbaijan, or Azərbaycan dili in Azerbaijan. This variant is also spoken in Russia, the Republic of Dagestan, southeastern and eastern Georgia, northeastern Turkey and in some parts of Ukraine.
- IMPORTANT VARIANT Northern Azerbaijani Variant: Azerbaijan, south of Dagestan, along the Caspian coast in the South Caucasus. Also spoken in Armenia, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Asian Russia, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
- IMPORTANT VARIANT Southern Azerbaijani Variant: East and West Azerbaijan, “Ardabil”, Zanjan Province, part of Kurdestan, Hamedan, Qazvin, Markazi and Gilan Provinces; many in Tehran districts. There are groups of Azeri in Fars province and others in Iran. Also spoken in Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iraq, Syria, Asian Turkey.
We come to one of the main parts: the language. There is no secret here, choose a variant according to your character's family ancestral location and be free. Remember that emphasizing not-so-well-spoken English is good. You not are one damn polyglot.
- The Azerbaijani people didn't use surnames before the Russian Empire conquered them, but around the 1920's surnames became mandatory, and the Russian patronymic (-ov and -ev suffix for men, -ova and -eva for women) system was used. It also lead to the 'Russification' of many Azerbaijani names, which can still be seen today in many surnames that are similar, but spelled slightly differently.
- IMPORTANT: When Azerbaijan became independent people tried to get rid of the Russian surname systems again, but since many Azerbaijanis unfortunately have more to worry about than their surnames this isn't something that was done a whole lot, so Russian-based surnames are still very common.
- The first 5 names in this list are those Russian based surnames. The last 5 use non-Russian surnames, which are mostly either Persian or Azerbaijani in origin.
- Cavad Mammadguliyev
Kamil Abulhasanov
Qoşqar Khanmammadow
Hüseynqulu Isgandarov
Əmir Iravani
Tural ßləkbərlı
Əbűlhəsən Abbasqulusoy
Aüamusa Şÿfazadə
Şirin Azəroğlu
Űmid Samiroğlu
- Cavad Mammadguliyev
I think that was it, I hope you enjoyed it!
Sincerely,
Mozart.
Credits to the appropriate websites where the information was taken.