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15-Feb-2008
In the course of Iranian history, Iranian languages have been written with a number of different scripts. The last one was Avestan, which was banned along with the Persian language itself after the Islamic invasion in 642 AD. After the imposition of Islam in Iran, the Islamic invaders imposed Arabic as the only official language on Iranians. The current language appeared during the 9th Century and is written in a version of the Arabic script. Because of its strong links with Arabic, language of the Koran and Islam, nobody has ever had the right to reform or modernise the language.
Today, our superseded Persian language still continues to be Arabo-Islamic (Farsi). Farsi is a hollow name; it does not fully represent our national identity or adapt to our future. Our culture along with our crippled Farsi is now constitutionally forced to take a further Arabo-Islamic allure, a project called “The Cultural Revolution”, planned since 1980 by the Mullahs’ regime.
The long-term objective of The Cultural Revolution is to root out any aspect of non-Islamic identity from the society by introducing a greater portion of Arabo-islamisation in our culture and language. It is to promote the existing “Farsi” into a pure Arabo-Islamic language. The process aims a negation of Iranians national identity--the case which was once imposed by Muslim Arabs, when they occupied Iran about fourteen centuries ago.
The Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran considers educational institutions based on Islamic principles and norms. The constitution does not tolerate any Persian identity in form and principle. The IRI’s constitution has implied this goal by saying, “since the language of the Koran and Islamic texts and teachings is Arabic, and since Persian literature is thoroughly permeated by this language, it must be taught after elementary level, in all classes of secondary school and in all areas of study.” Therefore, lesson of Arabic language and reading of the Koran will gain more compulsory character despite abhor of an increasing majority of students.
It is highly predictable that after the collapse of the IRI, Iranians will enthusiastically develop a popular trend of both de-Arabisation and de-Islamisation of whole Iranian space, including our language. The words, names, items, numbers, symbols, and all those which remind us of the era of humiliating Arabo-Islamisation will be spontaneously replaced with Persian or internationally established words.
After the fall of the IRI, we need appropriate reforms to free our language from the long Arabio-Islamic domination. A modernised language not only can revive our ancient and civilised culture, but also can effectively stop the backward effects of Arabo-Islamic culture from creeping back into people's daily lives.
While many languages around the world can be permanently and adaptively reformed and modernised, our current language, Farsi, has been used since the invasion of Islam in Iran as a cloak for the safeguard of Arabo-Islamic culture. Not only, this culture has been a launch pad to attack our Persian identity, but also has been practically crippled our attempts toward freedom, progress, gender equality since the advent of Islam in Iran.
No wonder, in a spirit of growing civil disobedience to the representatives of this backward culture in Iran, the Mullahs, and a trend of language reform spontaneously grows in Iranian youth. It challenges the unpopular Arabo-Islamic influence in our language. As spontaneous reactions, the young generation in Iran chooses non-Islamic names for children, learns Western languages instead of institutionalised Arabic, wears T-shirts with Latin writings on them, use a Latino-Persian on the internet. All these show the trend for an adaptive language.
On the one hand, a secular state in Iran will pass legislative proposals to ensure the task that our current language will be modernised and useful to our new society. On the other hand, modern-day methods of instantaneous communication and globalisation require fundamental need in a range of modern languages in order to create and maintain vibrant activities for the Iranian society. Therefore, after the IRI, parallel to restoration of Persian, a modern international second language must be highly promoted nationwide as a solid support for advanced education, research, computer use and adaptive modernisation in Iran. Both Persian and modern international language open one door of the continuing struggle for modernisation.
Let me emphasise, the reformed language has nothing to do with disregarding a part of our classic literature. In fact, no reformed language has taken away the worth of its classic literature. After modernisation of our language, our classic literature will be respected as a patrimony of our literature, but let me emphasise again that Islamic culture behind it has little chance to resist.
It is also clear that some people with religious or traditional backgrounds will try to delay the process of language modernisation. The long period of Arabo-Islamic domination over our people has left its debris behind. The indoctrination of religious values with the aim of mental retardation, especially during the rule of the IRI, will require a complete revamping.
Those Iranians who speak modern languages know better that our current language, in its current stagnation, is scientifically poor. In many domains of modern sciences, it is not sufficiently expressive. Developing a modern language in high levels of proficiency, particularly in higher education, will require significantly greater resources than are at hand. Our experts hopefully can focus on the study of development of our modern Persian. They may change or modify the words of many names and verbs to the pre-Islamic synonyms, but at least for the use of scientific terms, it seems more practical and easier to use their most common international words.
Iranian linguistics exerts have rich sources of pre-Islamic Persian to reform the daily language, but in the field of science, they should not complicate the language. In fact, a language is not only a coding system of communication, but also a bridge between thought and action. In other words, the way we talk can in turn influence the way we think. A rich and modern language can considerably improve our cognitive faculties, memory, mental ability, emotional expressions, behaviour, and even habits. The pivotal point is how to form a useful and productive language freed from the traditional burden and unnecessary complications.
All experiences show that the language we use gives way to Western languages. For example, the Iranian communities in the US or Europe can expect that only a small percentage of their children will be fluent in Persian. It is not however the case for Westerners living in Iran-- their children would speak their original language fluently. The reason is not only due to the country's official language but the fact that our language is not adapted to modern life. For example, children can not use Persian on the internet or for their modern toys.
The goal is to introduce a Persian language more Iranian, modern, precise and easier to learn. The alphabet we use is mainly Arabic; it does not cover all the sounds we pronounce in Farsi. Apart from some regions in Khuzestan and Kurdistan, most Iranians cannot phonetically pronounce all letters of the alphabet-- this is also one of the main reasons we have so many different accents and dialects in Iran.
Furthermore, apart from some ignored signs, we have no letters clearly representing some vowels. All of which turn the language more difficult and imprecise—a great number of Iranian high school students cannot write and read correctly.
Regarding the various problems of today’s language, a reform in alphabet is necessary, one which phonetically adjusts to the language. A further needed solution seems to be the introduction of an accessory alphabet for computer which is the language of future generation for sciences, researches and a spirit of modern and secular life.
An accessory alphabet should be worked out so that it harmonises the phonetic part to the written part. That is to say, we need an alphabet which correctly relates sounds to the written words. The new alphabet must solve the problems of vowels and consonants which are not phonetically pronounceable because they have Arabic origins that cannot be pronounced by the majority of Iranians.
In essence, the new alphabet must be simple and avoid composed letters and irregularities which appear in the history of any language. It should consider two main elements:
· The modernisation and adaptation of the society to the modern needs.
· The purification of our language from the backward Arabio-Islamic culture.
During the period of transformation, the old but reformed alphabet must be kept.
One of the main reforms of the post-IRI will deal with language. Our future democratic establishments should take care in rending language modern and attractive. Meanwhile, there should be little need for speakers or writers to waste time looking for words, terms, and expressions to mean objects or ideas. What is to be made of all of this? To ensure that a language remains the predominant way of communication, learning, and development we have to accept all necessary reforms.
Apart from an expected resistance from some Iranian grass-roots, traditionalists, and those who love the classic literature more than the future of country, there are some relics of the IRI who under any guise and trick will attempt to harm the process of reform. Contrary to the first group, they have belief and interest to rescue Islam even after the collapse of the IRI. For them a fundamental reform of our language is synonymous for a sinful violation to the values of Islam.
Considering all the problems with the Islamic Republic of Iran and the reality of the origin and conditions under which Islam was imposed on the Iranian people, it is legitimate to raise the question: How do we best bring an end to Arabo-Islamic ills in Iran after the fall of the IRI? Here, the question is not only about political secularism, but about de-Arabo-Islamisation of Iranian culture.
This must be fulfilled through a democratic process. It should not only be a turn of leaf in our history, but open a whole new chapter in our evolution and free us from the long and pernicious influence of Islam. Only through democratic process would it not only signal a new beginning and bring forth a new era, but also signify the Renaissance all Islamic world needs. Our fullest Renaissance will officially start when we get rid of the plague of the IRI. However some seeds of the Renaissance have spontaneously budded. One of them deals with our or Persian language.
But since such a democratic state does not exist yet, as much as we can, we, Iranians with some sense of responsibility, should try to restore Persian in our writings and verbal conversations. The conditions are at hand for Iranians, inside or outside, to start to introduce the demanded reform into the realm of our language. Thanks to the vast internet communication, the Iranian experts can help a growing segment of their audience to modernise and Persianise our language.
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Most Iranians are Religious Muslims - According to U.N. Survey
by U.N. Survey: Most Iranians are Religious Muslims (not verified) on Sat Feb 16, 2008 05:34 AM PSTBy far, most Iranians are religious, observant, practicing Muslims (who perform daily prayers, fast in the month Ramadan, and honor Muhammad). This is according to the World Values Survey, conducted by the United Nations.
Islam is simply part of the Iranian heritage. Iranian philosophy is Islamic philosophy. Pre-modern Iranian literature is about 90% religiously inspired literature. How many extant philosphical works from the pre-Islamic period can you name? How many extant medical works from the pre-Islamic era can you name? How many books of poetry from the pre-Islamic era can you name?
Historically, Iran has been a cultural melting pot, and it has been open to influences from Islam, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, etc. And this is reflected in Iranian philosophy and culture. Indisputably, the biggest contribution is from Islam. Do not assume that all Iranians are like the ultra-nationalists (chauvinist, Persian supremacists) you happen to have surrounded yourself with.
Arabestan
by Arabzadeh (not verified) on Sat Feb 16, 2008 04:50 AM PSTWhy can't you accept it? We Arabs own you. We took over your country. We raped your children. We took you wealth. We outlawed your culture and language. We run your country. Most of you have learned to kiss our asses and pray to our rock. If you don't, our seyeds will kill you in the name of Imam. We own you. Give it up, there is no Iran anymore. There is only Arabestan. Just accept it and shut up!!
R:by Persian
by Jahanshah Rashidian on Sat Feb 16, 2008 04:04 AM PSTIf you carefully read the article, the word "Farsi" is sensed to be quoted.
The current "Farsi" is presented as a crippled Persian. The idea is to linguistically revive our language, modern and useful for a free Iran.
We can call it now "Persian", but we must practically achieve it too.
Most Iranians are Religious Muslims - According to U.N. Survey
by U.N. Survey: Most Iranians are Religious Muslims (not verified) on Sat Feb 16, 2008 03:53 AM PSTBy far, most Iranians are religious, observant, practicing Muslims (who perform daily prayers, fast in the month Ramadan, and honor Muhammad). This is according to the World Values Survey, conducted by the United Nations.
Islam is simply part of the Iranian heritage. Iranian philosophy is Islamic philosophy. Pre-modern Iranian literature is about 90% religiously inspired literature. How many extant philosphical works from the pre-Islamic period can you name? How many extant medical works from the pre-Islamic era can you name? How many books of poetry from the pre-Islamic era can you name?
Historically, Iran has been a cultural melting pot, and it has been open to influences from Islam, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, etc. And this is reflected in Iranian philosophy and culture. Indisputably, the biggest contribution is from Islam. Do not assume that all Iranians are like the ultra-nationalists (chauvinist, Persian supremacists) you happen to have surrounded yourself with.
Surna
by Jahanshah Rashidian on Sat Feb 16, 2008 03:52 AM PSTThanks for your two comments. By the way, you sound quite familiarly!
Persian not Farsi
by Persian (not verified) on Sat Feb 16, 2008 02:47 AM PSTHello,
It's a pitty that you have written an article about Persian and even do not know the right name of our language in English.
'Farsi' is the word used in Persian itself for calling this language. Using that word in an English context is wrong. The proper English name for this language is Persian.
I propose start saving Persian by using the correct names for it.
Regards
your last name
by Surna (not verified) on Sat Feb 16, 2008 01:04 AM PSTJR, I know that you great grand father (Abin Gorgi) was from Tabilisi, Goergia. We both have adapted the persian culture. It does not matter if you are: kurd, turk, or even iranian-arab as long as you adapt to Aryan way of life then you become a Persian.
Iran = land of Aryan
Persian
by Surna (not verified) on Sat Feb 16, 2008 12:43 AM PSTJR, you have written another exceptional article. Tnx,
Long live the land of Aryan
farsi-pers
by Farhad2008 (not verified) on Fri Feb 15, 2008 11:27 PM PSTIts not Mullahs who changed our lang in western literature. Western countries did it. If mullah would they could turn it to Islamic, not persian to Farsi?!. Its simple to find out why ..who is winning in this case,
The differences between Farsi & Parsi is F & P. Mullah would make it Islamic not Arabic!
Not long time ago i had to discuss with many organizations in europe for misundrestanding they had about calling Iranians languge for Arabic. Mullahs doesnt say our lang is Arabic.
But western world would have some benefit, the political view on Irans identity and push it in arabic / islamic world was one of western policy in last 30 yrs. Along western jews who are trying to be integrete themselv in western world, followed the same policy.
Persian reminds a Pride histroy, and its contribute to the western world. But Farsi is unknows term in western literature and noone can connect Farsi to Persian as lang. / society. For some os oss changing P to F has not much consequences but in western view its diffetent and special the new generation in western countries consider oss as arabs not iranian.
Most Iranians are Religious Muslims - According to U.N. Survey
by Most Iranians are Religious Muslims - U.N. Survey (not verified) on Fri Feb 15, 2008 11:25 PM PSTBy far, most Iranians are religious, observant, practicing Muslims (who perform daily prayers, fast in the month Ramadan, and honor Muhammad). This is according to the World Values Survey, conducted by the United Nations.
Islam is simply part of the Iranian heritage. Iranian philosophy is Islamic philosophy. Pre-modern Iranian literature is about 90% religiously inspired literature. How many extant philosphical works from the pre-Islamic period can you name? How many extant medical works from the pre-Islamic era can you name? How many books of poetry from the pre-Islamic era can you name?
Historically, Iran has been a cultural melting pot, and it has been open to influences from Islam, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, etc. And this is reflected in Iranian philosophy and culture. Indisputably, the biggest contribution is from Islam. Do not assume that all Iranians are like the ultra-nationalists (chauvinist, Persian supremacists) you happen to have surrounded yourself with.
Dola Nosho
by Qazvini (not verified) on Fri Feb 15, 2008 11:23 PM PSTHey
My dad's town speaks with their ass. We make the best Ghameh Polo with Rice. Get over it!!! How can your purify Farsi language?
Persian Language
by Bahramerad on Fri Feb 15, 2008 09:40 PM PSTA Living language is a dynamic language, e.g. English language. It is filled with all words derived from Latin, French, German, Italian and made up words (Slangs).
They change according to their usage and the Time & Space. Some words become fashionable and used and then they die and get replaced by others that convey their meaning more in tune with the times. In to days world — all languages have a problem with the advent of INTERNET which requires a uniform and universal language for speed and recognition by the millions of it's users. so does the scientific language which is dominated by English language and by french and latin languages coming up behind. The diplomatic language is still dominated by the French language although it is being challenged by the dominance of the English language.
Now persian / farsi language has survived and is still a living language because of it's capacity to have evolved the onslaught of Arabic - Turkish, English, French and other languages and having borrowed and incorporated their words into the body of the main persian language.
I guess that this evolution will carry on as long as people speak this ancient language and keep it alive. Guarding it is obviously a matter for all Persian / Iranian Lovers of all thing to do with their cultural identity.
All I say is _ lets not throw the baby out with the bath water!
Farsi vs. Persian
by Meow (not verified) on Fri Feb 15, 2008 09:38 PM PSTLet's see:
In Farsi we say:
Atal matal toutouleh,
gaave Hassan chejoure?
Nah shir daareh nah pessoun,
shiresho bebar hendesoun;
Yak zane kordi bessoun,
esmesha bezar amghezi;
dori kolash ghermezi,
haachina paachin yeh para varchin.
And in Persian we say:
Atal matal tootooleh,
gaave Houshang chejoure?
Nah shir daareh nah pessoun,
shiresho bebar hendesoun;
Yak zane kordi bessoun,
naamesha bezar Aatoosa;
dori kolash sorkhaki,
haachina paachin yeh para varchin.
Now you guys figure out which one is better, and recite the better one for your kids at night.
It's not the language. It's the dummies!
by Private Pilot on Fri Feb 15, 2008 09:13 PM PSTMillions have learned it well. Millions more are using it fluently. If you don't get it, maybe it's your problem. DUH!!!
Private Pilot
Let's start from self
by Homayun (not verified) on Fri Feb 15, 2008 07:52 PM PSTYour last name is Rashidiyan, comes from Rashid. first we need to change that. Let's say you should change it to something pure Persian. Anyone here knows what the Persian word for Rashid is?
Thanks for this, I hope you change your last name soon so we can solve Iranian problem starting from you.
Ayrabs bad, Persians good. hi hi Aryan Iran.
Baba Bebakhshid!!!!
by ahvazi on Fri Feb 15, 2008 07:46 PM PSTI apologize to all the readers of Iranian.com for calling Persian...Farsi.
I promise it won't happen again!
As for abadani all I can say is, "Et tu Brute?" Ka,To Digheh Chera?
Attention: Jahanshah Javid:
by aaj sr (not verified) on Fri Feb 15, 2008 06:33 PM PSTTo promote and remind all readers the correct use and the right word "Persian" instead of "Farsi or Parsi" when used in English text, is it possible to create a permanent BANNER reminding all your readers in this site, something like:
"use PERSIAN instead of FARSI word" or something in this nature?
We all need a reminder until it become a habit. With hope that other publications/media follow suit.
Persian Language
by Immortal Guard (not verified) on Fri Feb 15, 2008 06:03 PM PSTNobody thinks of purging the English language of words of Latin origin or French origin since that would rob the English language of its expressive power and disconnect it from its past.
In Persian we should avoid excessive use of words of Arabic origin or any other origin in order to acquire distinction and trying to show off as being learned.
Also I don't think the Italians (Romans) have divided their history textbooks into pre-Christian and post-Christian periods. We Iranians (Persians) should also cease to divide our history textbooks into pre-Islamic and post-Islamic periods since that would only contribute to cultural schizophrenia.
What ideally should happen is to find appropriate Persian words for words of Arabic, French and English origin which can be replaced and farahangestan is doing its part to implement that. Whether the newly invented words will enter popular usage fast enough is another story but they should be promoted by the media and the educational system.
Another activity that would be worth funding is to reclaim many Arabic-sounding/looking words in Persian that are actually of Persian origin but are wrongly assumed to be of Arabic origin. There are many words that the Arabs took from the Persians and pronounced in their own way and these same Arabicized words reentered the Persian language and everyone wrongly assumes that they are of Arabic origin. Through comparative linguistics and a deep understanding of the development of the other languages and also study of ancient Persian/Pahlavi/Avestan texts it is possible to do that. (Nobody in his/her right mind would presume that the language of a backward nomadic Arabs was superior to the language of the Sassanian Persian Empire)
The reason that the teh Arabs Arabicized Persian words is that they were quite primitive people and were absolutely incapable of adapting their tongue and also were not as open to other cultural influences. The Persians were linguistically more open-minded and also more open to adapt their tongue to the pronunciation of Arabic words.
Also there were Arabic words in Persians before the arrival of Islam by the Arabs. Many of these so-called Arabic words are actually taken from other previously important languages that were used by Persians such as Aramaic. There was also intermingling between Arabs and Persians during the Sassanian times since there were friendly Arabs living as Sassanian vassals in a buffer zone in today's Iraq. So claiming that Arabic words were only introduced after Islamic conquest is wrong. They just acquire far more weight after the Islamic conquest.
It is good for Persians to learn Arabic with the right attitude because that would give us an edge over the Arabs particulary if we envision Persian hegemony in the Middle-East.
It is Persain, NOT FARSI
by A Persian (not verified) on Fri Feb 15, 2008 05:55 PM PSTMy name is Fereshteh Davaran and I am writing my Ph.D. dissertation in the NES department at U. C. Berkeley and teaching Persian in Diablo Valley College. I wanted to ask you, as Iranians, not to use "Farsi" when you refer to Persian language in an English text.
Persian is the only language that is currently called by three different names (Farsi, Tajik and Dari) in English. You do not see anybody calling German, Almani or Deusche in English. You do not hear anybody call English, Irish or Australian or for that matter American.
Categorizing languages has a scientific method. According to Linguistics, the Persian language belongs to the Iranian branch of Indo-Iranian languages. The Iranian branch is composed of many languages such as Persian, Sughdi, Kurdish, Parthian, etc. The Persian branch has different dialects such as Tajik, Dari, Farsi, Isfahani, etc.
To call Persian, Farsi is just as bad as calling Persian Gulf, Arabian Gulf or even the Gulf. In the absence of an interested government, we Iranians have to defend our heritage more vigorously.
"Persia" is what Greek historians called Parsis at the time of the Achaemenids, and like all historic proper names its antiquity is its best defense. Over the centuries "Persian" was used to refer to the whole country of Iran and therefore could be used interchangeably with Iranian.
Fars and Farsi is the Arabic form of Parsis and Persia. Since Arabs did not have p sound, they turned Pars to Fars. Calling the Persian language by the three names of Farsi, Dari and Tajik is quite a recent phenomenon. As I said, linguists have agreed to call the language of Darius and Cyrus Old Persian, the language of Sasanids, Middle Persian and our language "Persian," which makes it the grand child of Old Persian and the Child of Middle Persian (Pahlavi).
All three stages of Persian language (old, middle and present) belong to Iranian branch of Indo-Iranian languages. Dari, Tajik, Farsi, Isfahani and Khurasani are different dialects of the Persian language, unlike Kurdish and Sughdian which are different languages in the Iranian branch of Indo-Iranian languages. Would it make sense to call Arabic, Iraqi or Egyptian, although they are three different dialects and have many differences? Would the Arabs allow it?
Since "Ahvazi" is another
by Abadani (not verified) on Fri Feb 15, 2008 05:18 PM PSTSince "Ahvazi" is another person who doesn't know that English is called English, I will call him avazi (it's a Persian word). Maybe this way he can think about his deliberate changing of the name a language in English into something else, and that how damaging it is to present and future Iranians.
Could have written...
by ahvazi on Fri Feb 15, 2008 04:26 PM PSTSince this piece was on the importance of saving the Farsi language, it would have been best written in Farsi. Also Pissed off great saying :-)
Fekreh Naan Baash Keh Kharbozeh Aab Ast!
by Pissed Off (not verified) on Fri Feb 15, 2008 03:59 PM PST//www.examiner.com/a-1223593~US_Secretly_Met_...
Not to be nitpicky but....
by Arash Partow (not verified) on Fri Feb 15, 2008 03:02 PM PSTShould you not at least consider changing your name first to better reflect your "ideals", then begin pondering changing our exquisite language.
de-Rashidian Iranian.com
by Anon45 (not verified) on Fri Feb 15, 2008 02:50 PM PSTHey Rashidian-What should we do with Saadi, Mollana, Hafez, and every other masterpiece of literature that this language that you despise has produced? Should we throw them away because a bunch of reactionary freaks like you want annihilate anything they deem to be "arab" in Iran's culture, language, and history?
People like you will rot alongside your rotten ideas, but the language you hate will continue to live, vibrantly as ever, producing more masterpieces to come.
The indoctrination of
by Not anonymous (not verified) on Fri Feb 15, 2008 02:50 PM PSTThe indoctrination of religious values with the aim of mental retardation,
ROFL! Exception and orginal work as always. Thanks.