TAJIK A small village in the Yaghnob Valley, Northern Tajikistan Flickr / Ronan Shenhav DLIFLC DEFENSE LANGUAGE INSTITUTE FOREIGN LANGUAGE CENTER CULTURAL ORIENTATION | Tajik TABLE OF CONTENT Profile Introduction ................................................................................................................... 5 Important Elements of Geography ........................................................................... 6 Area ........................................................................................................................6 Climate ..................................................................................................................6 Mountains..............................................................................................................6 Valleys ...................................................................................................................7 Bodies of Water ............................................................................................................ 8 Rivers .....................................................................................................................8 Lakes .....................................................................................................................9 Major Cities ..................................................................................................................10 Dushanbe ............................................................................................................10 Khujand ...............................................................................................................10 Qurghonteppa .................................................................................................... 11 Important Elements of History ..................................................................................11 Government .................................................................................................................12 Media ............................................................................................................................13 Important Elements of the Economy .......................................................................13 Information on Ethnic Groups / Languages ...........................................................14 Endnotes for Chapter 1: Profile ................................................................................16 Assessment ................................................................................................................ 20 Religion Introduction ................................................................................................................. 21 Overview of Major Religions .................................................................................... 22 Sunni Islam .........................................................................................................22 Shi’a Islam ..........................................................................................................23 Care and Treatment of the Quran ...................................................................23 Role of Religion in Government .............................................................................. 24 Influence of Religion on Daily Life .......................................................................... 25 Religious Conventions and Gender Roles ............................................................ 25 Religious Events ........................................................................................................ 26 Religious Holidays ..................................................................................................... 26 Eid al-Fitr .............................................................................................................26 Eid al-Adha .........................................................................................................26 Buildings of Worship .................................................................................................. 27 Behavior in Places of Worship ................................................................................ 27 2 CULTURAL ORIENTATION | Tajik Mosque Etiquette ...............................................................................................27 Endnotes for Chapter 2: Religion ............................................................................ 29 Assessment ................................................................................................................ 32 Traditions Introduction ................................................................................................................. 33 Formulaic Codes of Politeness ............................................................................... 34 Male/Female Interactions ......................................................................................... 35 Hospitality and Gift-Giving ....................................................................................... 36 Eating Habits/Types of Food ................................................................................... 37 Dress Codes ............................................................................................................... 38 Non-Religious Celebrations ..................................................................................... 39 Other Cultural Customs .............................................................................................41 Do’s and Don’ts .......................................................................................................... 42 Do’s ......................................................................................................................42 Don’ts ...................................................................................................................42 Endnotes for Chapter 3: Traditions ......................................................................... 43 Assessment ................................................................................................................ 46 Urban Life Introduction ..................................................................................................................47 Urbanization Issues ................................................................................................... 48 Employment Issues in Urban Areas ....................................................................... 48 Healthcare and Health Issues ................................................................................. 49 Education and Schools in Cities ............................................................................. 49 Restaurants................................................................................................................. 50 Marketplaces and Street Vendors ...........................................................................51 Money, Credit Cards, and ATMs ............................................................................. 52 Urban Traffic and Transportation ............................................................................ 52 Street Crime and Solicitations ................................................................................. 53 Endnotes for Chapter 4: Urban Life ........................................................................ 54 Assessment ................................................................................................................ 57 Rural Life Introduction ................................................................................................................. 58 Land Distribution/Ownership ................................................................................... 59 Rural Economy / Typical Sources of Income in Rural Areas ............................. 60 Rural Transportation Issues ..................................................................................... 60 Rural Health Issues ....................................................................................................61 3 CULTURAL ORIENTATION | Tajik Rural Education .......................................................................................................... 62 Village Life ................................................................................................................... 62 Border Crossings and Checkpoints ........................................................................ 64 Landmines .................................................................................................................. 65 Endnotes for Chapter 5: Rural Life ......................................................................... 67 Assessment ................................................................................................................ 70 Family Life Introduction ..................................................................................................................71 Family Structure ......................................................................................................... 72 Male/Female Interactions ......................................................................................... 73 Status of Elders, Adolescents, and Children ........................................................ 73 Elders ...................................................................................................................73