Why Learning the Persian Alphabet Matters

A Journey into Language and Cultural Identity

When I was preparing my Baraye To e-handbook and video series, I faced a tough choice:

Should I include Persian script transcription or keep things simple for learners focused on love expressions?

Starting my public Persian teaching journey with Baraye To was meaningful because it addressed a common need: practical expressions without grammar or script learning. However, my heart has always been drawn to the Persian alphabet.

Over the years of teaching Persian as a foreign language, I’ve seen many—especially members of the Iranian diaspora—struggle not just with basic communication but with the desire to connect deeply with their heritage. They want more than just saying salām or holding simple conversations with family; they crave a meaningful bond with their origins.

 

In this blog, I aim to answer three key questions:

1. Why does the Persian alphabet matter?

2. What unique benefits does it bring to language learners, especially the diaspora?

3. How can you decide whether learning it is right for you?

1. Why the Persian Alphabet Saved Iran’s (Persian) Culture

The Persian alphabet is more than just a collection of letters; it’s a guardian of stories, poetry, and values passed down through generations.

At one point, after the fall of the Qajar dynasty, modernization efforts threatened to replace the script—much like what happened in Turkey under Atatürk. However, thanks to cultural advocates like Reza Shah and others, the Persian script survived.

A Personal Story

Years ago, I met a Tajik guy at a salsa dancing gathering in a French bar in Tbilisi, Georgia (haha, funny, right?). When he found out I was Iranian and taught Persian, he eagerly started speaking with me in Persian, but it was difficult for him. He could only form very simple sentences. Despite that, his enthusiasm was clear—he even knew Googoosh, who is pretty popular in Tajikistan.

Through him, I learned something surprising: many Tajiks who speak Persian (actually, Tajiki Persian that is the variety of Persian spoken in Tajikistan) don't know the Persian alphabet. Why? Soviet-era policies. Simply put, by eliminating the script, access to the history and depth of the language was severely limited.

Years later, I had a brilliant student from Pakistan, in his early thirties, learning Persian simply because he found it beautiful. He shared an interesting fact: his mother’s generation had Persian as a mandatory subject in school, but it was later removed. The reason? The British influence (+). Urdu* became the national language, but intriguingly, Pakistan’s national anthem is written in Persian. Sadly, some people there don't even understand what it means.

This story highlights how removing a language’s script can disconnect generations from their cultural heritage.

Imagine for a moment if Persian script had been replaced by the Latin alphabet in the early 1900s. If advocates like Reza Shah had given in to this "modernization" idea, I would never have been able to read Rumi or Hafez. Oh my God!!!!! just thinking about it is devastating.😩😰

So, why a language Script matter?

Cultural Preservation: The Persian script carried our culture through centuries, safeguarding countless manuscripts, poetry, and oral stories.

Resilience: Even when physical records were lost, poetry and storytelling preserved Persian values, faith, and resilience.

Authentic Connection: The Persian alphabet offers a window into the soul of Persian life. 

This survival is crucial. The script carried our culture through centuries, safeguarding a treasure trove of manuscripts, poetry, and oral stories.

Even when physical records were lost or destroyed, poetry and storytelling preserved our values, faith, and resilience.

The Persian alphabet is a window into the heart of our heritage, allowing us to experience the soul of Persian life.

2. What Unique Benefits the Persian Alphabet Brings to Language Learners?

Learning the Persian script connects you to the language in ways that transcend memorizing phrases. While some argue it’s unnecessary for beginners, I challenge that view.

Benefits of Learning the Script

Read and Write Independently: One student shared how learning the script empowered him to look up words, read, type, and learn without relying on me or his mother. Language becomes freeing when you can navigate it independently.

Access Literature: Imagine reading Rumi, Hafez, or Saadi in their original form. The subtle expressions, rhythms, and cultural nuances come alive in the written word.

Cultural Immersion: The script unlocks a deeper understanding of Persian art, history, and traditions.

Yes, learning the script has its challenges, especially with short vowels, but these pale in comparison to the rewards. I’ve seen students who skipped the script initially only to feel limited as they advanced. They mastered grammar but couldn’t read poetry, look up words, or fully engage with Persian literature.

So why Settle for Limits?

Learning the script means bringing your unique experiences to Persian and creating something meaningful.

 

3. Who Should Learn the Persian Script?

Iranian Diaspora: If you imagine yourself visiting or reconnecting with Iran after its political landscape changes, learning the script is an investment.

Cultural Enthusiasts: Lovers of Persian literature, history, and art will find immense value in mastering the script.

Serious Language Learners: If you want to experience Persian fully, the script is essential.

Who Can Skip It?

Casual Travelers: Those visiting Iran briefly may be fine without it.

Short-Term Daters: If you’re dating an Iranian temporarily, you can focus on spoken language.

Language Testers: If you’re just trying Persian to see if it’s your thing, you can decide later whether to learn the script.

Final Thoughts

Learning the Persian alphabet may seem daunting, but its benefits are profound. It’s not just about reading—it’s about connecting with a culture, a people, and a history that has endured for centuries.

Ask yourself: Do I want to experience Persian in its fullness?

If the answer is yes, let the Persian alphabet guide you into a deeper understanding of this rich culture.

Eventually, I decided to take the Persian script out of Baraye To because its purpose is solely as a toolkit. Learning expressions without diving into the alphabet can be helpful for those just starting out. But as a teacher, I know that mastering the language itself requires far more—understanding the structure, grammar, countless hours of study, and meaningful interactions with teachers and native speakers.

If you have any questions, feel free to comment below.

 

Ask yourself: Do I want to experience Persian in its fullness? If the answer is yes, let the Persian alphabet guide you into a deeper understanding of this rich culture.

With Love,

Shirin

 

🦉🔍For curious fellows:

 

Defenders of the Persian Script

• Reza Shah Pahlavi: Resisted switching to Latin script, recognizing its role in preserving Iranian identity. Passed away in exile

• Ali Akbar Dehkhoda: First Iranian Scholar who authored the Most Extensive & Comprehensive Farsi Dictionary. He spent some years of his life in exile in Europe. 

• Sadeq Hedayat: Celebrated Persian culture through literature, supporting the script’s cultural importance. He is widely remembered as "a major symbol of Iranian nationalism.Left Iran overwhelmed by despair, to Paris, and ended his life.

• Mohammad Ali Foroughi: Valued Persian heritage and advocated for retaining the script as part of Iran’s cultural richness.

 

Advocates for Script Change

• Seyyed Hasan Taqizadeh: A Constitutional Revolution figure advocating for modernization, including a switch to a Latin-based script. I could not find any resurce proving that he had changed his mind before he passes away  in Tehran whiel he was 91 years old. 
• Mirza Malkom Khan:  Malkom Khan did not propose a complete switch to the Latin alphabet for Persian. Instead, he aimed to simplify the Persian script by creating a more streamlined version of the existing characters, without changing the letters themselves. He published his modified script in the Rasaleh Namuneh Khatt-e Adamiyat in 1303 AH.(+)
• Mirza Fatali Akhundov: Akhundzadeh was one of the advocates for replacing the Persian script with the Latin alphabet. He only visited Istanbul once and, unlike Malkom, did not have direct exposure to the West, was an ardent supporter of Western civilization. He spent over twenty years of his life advocating for the change of the Persian script, urging the adoption of a new alphabet.
• Ahmad Kasravi: A historian who sought to purify(!) Persian of Arabic influences, though he didn’t advocate a full script change.

 

* Persian and Urdu are distinct languages. Persian is classified as an Iranian language, whereas Urdu is an Indo-Aryan language. They fall under the larger grouping of the Indo-Iranian languages, and hence share some linguistic features due to common descent.(+)