In this blog, we delve into some frequently asked questions/topics that shed light on the intricacies of Persian language
List of topics:
- Is Persian Connected to Your Language?
- Persian or Farsi: Understanding the Difference
- Persian vs. Iranian: What's the Distinction?
- Is Dari the Same as Persian?
- Persian as a Gender-Neutral Language
- How Arabic Influenced Persian
- Persian Sentence Structure: The Basics
- Summary
In this video I've covered each topic:
Read this blog for some extra info.
Topic 1: Is Persian Connected to Your Language?
Persian Belongs to the South-West Iranian branch of the Iranian subgroup of the Indo-European Family.[+]
[video topic 1]
Let's see to what extent Persian is close to its far cousins in the West, the European languages.
Topic 2: Persian or Farsi: Understanding the Difference
'Iranian historian and linguist Ehsan Yarshater, founder of the Encyclopædia Iranica and Columbia University's Center for Iranian Studies, mentions the same concern in an academic journal on Iranology, rejecting the use of Farsi in foreign languages.' (Source)
The name ‘Persia(n)’ derives from Parsa, the province from which the Sasanid Dynasty originated. The language is also known as Farsi, which is Arabicised form of Parsa (Arabic has no /p/ sound)
The phonemic shift from /p/ to /f/ can be traced back to the influence of Arabic during the Middle Ages, primarily due to the absence of the /p/ phoneme in Standard Arabic. Interestingly, the term "Pinglish," which represents the Persian language (including Iranian Persian, Dari, and Tajik) using the Latin script, is often referred to as "Finglish" by Persian speakers (a blend of Farsi and English) and as "Pinglish" when mentioned in English (a blend of Persian and English).
For example:
In English: "I love Iran."
In Persian script: من ایران را دوست دارم.
And in Pinglish: man Iran ra dust daram. (pronounced (spoken): man Iran-o dust daram)
City signs, such as road or place signs in Iran, commonly feature both Persian and English to cater to the needs of foreigners and make them easily accessible.
تٍئاترِ شَهر /teatr-e shahr/- (Means; city theatre) metro station in Tehran (+)
وَرزِشگاهِ آزادی /varzeshgāh-e āzādi/- Means; Freedom Stadium In Tehran (+)
Topic 3: Persian vs. Iranian: What's the Distinction?
[video topic 3]
So, while Iranian refers to anything from Iran, Persian specifically denotes something originating from Persia, the historical name for Iran.
At present, 'Persian' primarily describes cultural aspects like language and cuisine, yet it can also extend to individuals from Iran in certain contexts, particularly when discussing ethnicity or cultural heritage. For instance:
Topic 4: Is Dari the Same as Persian?
For this, we need to talk about the different names for Persian. Inside Iran, as you already know, it's called Fārsi, while in Afghanistan, it's known as Dari, and in Tajikistan, it's referred to as Tajiki. Despite these different names, the differences in vocabulary and pronunciation are minor, and this mutual communication seamless among Persian speakers. So, They all belong to the Persian language family. And, these variations aren't just about semantics; they represent the diverse Persian-speaking communities spread across different countries.
The main type of Persian spoken in Afghanistan is called Dari(دری, dari), officially since 1958*. In English, it's often called Afghan Persian. Afghanistan has two official languages: Dari and Pashto.
In Tajikistan, the standard form of Persian is called Tajik Persian (форси́и тоҷикӣ́, forsi-i tojikī). It's written using the Cyrillic script.
To simplify, modern Persian can be categorized into three standard varieties: [+]
- Iranian Persian (also known as Persian, Western Persian, or Farsi) predominantly spoken in Iran, with minority speakers in Iraq and the Persian Gulf states.
- Eastern Persian (referred to as Dari Persian, Afghan Persian, or simply Dari) is the variant spoken in Afghanistan.
- Tajiki (or Tajik Persian) is the form of Persian spoken in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, typically utilizing the Cyrillic script for writing.
*Olesen, Asta (1995). Islam and Politics in Afghanistan. Vol. 3. Psychology Press. p. 205.
Topic 5: Persian as a Gender-Neutral Language
[video topic 4]
Topic 6: How Arabic Influenced Persian
We already know that Persian belongs to the Indo-European language family. Arabic has unique origins and is classified among the Semitic languages, a subset of the larger Afro-Asiatic language family. Other members of this linguistic group include Hebrew, Aramaic, Kurdish, and Berber.
After the Muslim conquest of Persia in 644 AD, the Arabic alphabet was adopted – and it is still being used.
[topic 6 video]
Remember the table we discussed in earlier sections? Let's incorporate Arabic into it and observe the differences.
Only Persian and Arabic:
[decide wether to keep it after recording]In the first topic of this blog, we emphasized the significance of recognizing that linguists go beyond merely comparing modern words to determine language relationships. They employ various techniques such as analyzing historical data and comparing linguistic characteristics to unveil these connections. Thus, consider these tables as initial aids for generating ideas.
[decide wether to keep it after recording]Now we understand that while Persian has adopted the Arabic alphabet and has integrated many words from Arabic over the centuries, the two languages remain distinct. These borrowed words have been fully assimilated into Persian, undergoing changes in pronunciation, meaning, or both, to the extent that some are indistinguishable from native Persian words. Their original meanings have faded with time.
[keep it and i think better to be right after the last table]It's noteworthy that Persian loanwords of Arabic origin predominantly consist of Islamic terms.
[keep it] So, knowing the Arabic alphabet save us some time for picking up Persian. Also, knowing Urdu script helps you as well. Because simply put, Urdu is a modification of the Persian alphabet, with three extra symbols. [+]
Topic 7: Persian Sentence Structure: The Basics
[video topic 7]
Summary of what we covered:
[video summary]
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🧡Learn, Enjoy, Connect🧡
With love,
Shirin
