ProLOEWE faces

Prof Gholami, as a linguist, you are a member of the directorate of the LOEWE research cluster "Minority Studies: Language and Identity" and developed its concept together with Prof Gippert: What was your aim in doing so and what research gap were you able to close with it?

In our project, we are investigating the identity formation of groups from the MENA region who are minorities both in their countries of origin and in Germany. MENA stands for "Middle East and North Africa". In the most common definition, the MENA region has around 380 million inhabitants, which corresponds to around six per cent of the world's population. We take into account the historical, political, social and linguistic contexts that influence the identity formation of these groups. A particular focus of our research is on the role of language as a carrier of cultural identity and belonging. By looking at both the emic (self-perception) and etic (foreign perception) perspectives, we analyse the dynamics in their home and host countries. We investigate how linguistic practice and multilingualism influence the self-image and integration of these groups and how language policy and education systems shape their identity formation.

Our research is particularly relevant against the backdrop of current migration trends and conflicts in the Middle East and Europe. Migration and flight from the MENA region to Europe have increased significantly in recent years, which emphasises the need for in-depth research into the identity dynamics of these groups.

In my own sub-project, I focused on the Kurdish ethnic group. It is estimated that between 500,000 and 1.5 million people of Kurdish descent live in Germany (as of 2019). The first immigration of Kurds to Germany dates back to the 1920s.

The Kurdish communities can be found in various countries such as Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Iran and Armenia. Within these communities there are different linguistic and religious groups, including Zazaki, Gorani, Hawrami and Kurmanji. Religious affiliations include Alevis, Sunnis, Shiites, Ahl-e Haqq, Yezidis, Christians, converted Zoroastrians and Jews.

The Kurds serve as a striking example of the establishment of a distinct ethnicity within majority societies, a process known as ethnogenesis. There is evidence of ethnogenesis processes within subgroups such as the Goran, Zaza and Lak.

Minorities can be divided by factors such as discrimination, marginalisation and political and social changes. These processes often reinforce the tendencies to form new, distinct identities within the larger ethnic community, further increasing the complexity and dynamics of identity formation.  

In April 2024, you were nominated by the University of Cambridge with your research project "Persisting Through Change: A Study of Oral Literature and Cultural Interaction in the Zoroastrian Community" and ultimately selected by the British Academy for one of a total of eight Global Professorships. What does this mean for you and your work?

This honour is a great recognition of the relevance and importance of my research topic. It emphasises how important minorities and indigenous groups are for understanding majority culture and social interactions. The British Academy and the University of Cambridge recognise the study of Zoroastrian culture and its endangered language as essential to gaining a better understanding of cultural dynamics and the preservation of oral traditions in times of change. The support and resources of the University of Cambridge provide an ideal setting for detailed fieldwork and in-depth analyses. The Global Professorship provides me with an international platform for exchange and collaboration with leading scholars and experts. These networks and collaborations are crucial for integrating interdisciplinary perspectives and taking research to a new level.

After almost four years in the LOEWE research network, what do you think LOEWE research funding has enabled you to achieve that you would not have been able to achieve otherwise?

One key aspect that I was able to pursue more intensively thanks to LOEWE funding is the social relevance of linguistics. With LOEWE, it is of central importance that projects not only demonstrate academic quality, but are also socially and politically relevant. This requirement has led me to not only stick closely to linguistic theories and methods, but to look at linguistics more in the context of social and minority studies. This allowed me to gain a much deeper insight into the complex relationships between language, identity and social structures. As well as praise for the LOEWE programme, there are also points that could be improved: Hesse's universities are losing many renowned academics due to cost-cutting measures, a problem that urgently needs to be solved. Only by working together with programmes such as LOEWE and the universities to ensure that successful scientists are retained in the long term can guarantee a sustainable and successful development of the scientific landscape in Hesse.

Research is usually a vocation, which at the same time means a fulfilling but also a very intensive and overcrowded working life. Is there still time for balance and hobbies?

Unfortunately, in the last two years I have not only been very involved in terms of subject matter, but also had to focus intensively on my future career due to my temporary position, so I actually had hardly any free time. I travelled a lot, but only for work. I would like to go on holiday again. I love Italian culture and really enjoy being there - especially in Sicily and Calabria. I also love dancing.

The interview was conducted by Tanja Desch, ProLOEWE