Old Azeri

==Linguistic affiliation==

==Linguistic affiliation==

[[File:Adharic Languages.jpg|thumb|Modern Northwestern Iranian dialects (Adharic languages) thought to be related to Old Azeri.{{Glottolog|tati1243|Adharic}}|350x350px]]

Old Azari was spoken in most of Azerbaijan at least up to the 17th century, with the number of speakers decreasing since the 11th century due to the [[Turkification]] of the area. According to some accounts, it may have survived for several centuries after that up to the 16th or 17th century. Today, Iranian dialects are still spoken in several linguistic enclaves within Azarbaijan. While some scholars believe that these dialects form a direct continuation of the ancient Azari languages,{{sfn|Yarshater|1988|pp=238–245}} others have argued that they are likely to be a later import through migration from other parts of Iran, and that the original Azari dialects became extinct.{{cite web|url=http://www.azargoshnasp.net/languages/Azari/henningazari/henningazari.htm|title=The Ancient Language of Azarbaijan, by B.W. Henning|access-date=20 November 2014}}

Old Azari was spoken in most of Azerbaijan at least up to the 17th century, with the number of speakers decreasing since the 11th century due to the [[Turkification]] of the area. According to some accounts, it may have survived for several centuries after that up to the 16th or 17th century. Today, Iranian dialects are still spoken in several linguistic enclaves within Azarbaijan. While some scholars believe that these dialects form a direct continuation of the ancient Azari languages,{{sfn|Yarshater|1988|pp=238–245}} others have argued that they are likely to be a later import through migration from other parts of Iran, and that the original Azari dialects became extinct.{{cite web|url=http://www.azargoshnasp.net/languages/Azari/henningazari/henningazari.htm|title=The Ancient Language of Azarbaijan, by B.W. Henning|access-date=20 November 2014}}