Language in Tajikistan

[GBY]

I know a little Farsi(Persian) and Tajik is clearly closely related to this language. If I improve my Farsi a bit before heading to Tajikistan in September would this more worthwhile than trying to learn a bit of Russian? I ask as there appear to be many dialects across the country, I'll be in the Pamirs mainly and appreciate part of that may be Kyrg/Russian speaking.

Gawain.

[bwv812]

Farsi is definitely useful from Khorog to Langar, in the valley areas bordering Afghanistan. It may be less useful in the Kyrgyz-dominated areas around Murghab and points north, but I think you'll still be able to communicate with a good number of people there.

[GBY]

Thanks

[Khanabadosh]

You can get by everywhere using Tajiki. The more you meld your Persian to tajiki, (pronunciation and vocabulary), the easier it will be. It will be much, much better than trying to learn Russian (though you'll pick up Russian words as they're liberally used in Tajiki.

[rfoltz]

Persian (Farsi), Tojiki and Dari are different dialects of the same language. Like American and British English, Parisian and Québec French, etc. Local patois can be quite difficult to understand but everyone in Tajikistan is educated in the standard language and can speak it.