Iranian Language, Farsi

Farsi, the Persian or Iranian language, is primarily spoken in Central Asia, including Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, and other countries like Pakistan, India, Iraq, and Turkey employ Farsi. However, there are fewer Persian speakers in these countries than in Iran.

Farsi’s written form is derived from Arabic letters; they might look the same at first glance but are unique. It’s like learning Spanish and English, which share similar letters but are two different languages.

What Is Iranian Language History?

By the rise of the Sassanid reign in Iran, they set rules and regulations written on the cornices in Farsi letters. With the existence and accessibility of inscriptions and cornices, it’s now easier to say that Farsi was their formal language. These shreds of evidence and even law-making take us to the 3rd century and present more information.

The Rank of Iranian Language 

According to the estimations, about 82 to 83% of Iranians use the Iranian language. Indeed the world ranking of the Persian language is fifth, so the Iranian language is the fifth most spoken and practical language.

It is worth mentioning that about 110 million people speak Farsi, which may be related to the precious literature of Iran. The uniqueness of the Iranian language attempts to help people immerse themselves in a new world of learning.

Letters and Words of the Iranian Language 

As mentioned above, the letters of the Iranian language are actually formed and shaped from Arabic letters, but that doesn’t mean they are the same. They differ significantly in pronunciation and transcription. For example, the Farsi language consists of 32 letters considered consonants; vowels are not included (they are pronounced).

There are different forms of letters, consonants, and vowels in the Iranian language; let’s refer to an example for more clarification. For example, A and E are vowels in English, but B and D are consonants, while in the Farsi, vowels are not written; they are only pronounced.

In most languages, we hear the alphabet, but when we use them in written form or create words, we pronounce the letters differently. For example, the letter A is not always pronounced A in Farsi; for the first letter, we write it like الف.

But we can pronounce and write it likeا آ اِ اَ. Remember that you must use a consonant to write a word, even if the word starts with a vowel. However, you have to employ a consonant and then a vowel.

Otherwise, your vowel will not be pronounced correctly. For example, “apple” starts with a vowel and has consonants, but in the Iranian language, when you want to say apple, you must start with a consonant س /s/. 

Point: Farsi words always start with a consonant. Here we have all 32 letters in Persian Alphabet:

الف ب پ ت ث ج چ ح خ د ذ ر ز ژ س ش ص ض ط ظ ع غ ف ق ک گ ل م ن و ه ی

Literature and Poetry

The richness of Iran’s notable literature and poetry deserves many pages of explanation; however, we have to start with the Farsi language dating back to the 3rd century.

Iran has different and unique authors and poets who left invaluable poems and stories translated into different languages. You might have heard of Saadi, Hafez, Parvin E’tesami, and other celebrated poets like Rumi, Khayyam, and Ferdowsi.

These poets have altered the Iranian language destiny in the world so that over 20 centuries, the richness of Persian literature and poetry did not stop translators from translating available sources into different languages.

The literature and the poetry of Iran are noticeable things foreign people remember. Iranian poets and authors have created an artistic world for people’s joy to read and hear transcribed melodious pieces.

Iranian poetry is so powerful and beautiful that many people from different parts of the world have started learning Farsi to understand its poems and stories.

So maybe one day you will start learning Farsi and enjoy Hafez’s, Khayyam’s, Parvin’s, and other fantastic poet’s pieces. 

Let’s read some poems by the great Iranian poets Saadi and Khayyam. The English translation and phonetic transcription help you find them meaningful and enjoyable.

Saadi Shirazi

 بنی آدم اعضای یکدیگرند  

      که در آفرینش ز یک گوهرند

چو عضوی به درد آورد روزگار  

       دگر عضوها را نماند قرار

تو کز محنت دیگران بی غمی    

نشاید که نامت نهند آدمی

Translated into English

Human beings are members of a whole       

In the creation of one essence and soul

If one member is afflicted with pain            

Other members uneasy will remain

If you have no sympathy for human pain     

The name of a human you cannot retain

Transcribed phonetically

bani ādam azāyeh yek digarand         

ke dar āfarinesh ze yek goharand

cho ozvi be dard āvarad roozegār       

degar ozvhā rā namānad gharār

to kaz mehnat-e digarān bighami         

nshāyad ke nāmat nahand ādami

Omar Khayyam

اسرار ازل را نه تو دانی و نه من  

       وین حل معما نه تو دانی و نه من

هست از پس پرده گفت و گوی من و تو 

چون پرده برافتد نه تو مانی و نه من

Translated into English

The secret eternal neither you know nor I    

And answers to the riddle neither us, why

Behind the veil, there is much talk about     

When the veil falls, neither you remain nor I

Transcribed phonetically

asrār-e azal rā na to dāni o na man    

vinn haleh moamā na to dāni o na man 

hast az pas-e parde goft o guyeh man o to

chon pardeh bar oftad na to māni o na man

As you may be conscious that languages encounter many changes over time. People may forget specific vocabularies or usages; the Iranian language is no exception. There are so many foreign vocabularies entered into Farsi.

For example, people use the word television for TV with the Farsi alphabet or an Arabic word for triangles with a Farsi equivalent. Nowadays, the institute of Farsi language tries to substitute some foreign vocabulary with Persian words.

Slang in Farsi

Different languages have formal and informal usages. For example, in countries like Korea or China, you cannot speak to an elder adult in an informal language. It shows the importance of the difference between formal and informal language.

The same goes for Iran; when you talk with older persons, you must use formal language, proving you respect them. Otherwise, it signifies disrespect. But people always use slang, not concerning formal or informal language.

However, some countries do not pay attention to formal or informal language. In the English language, people use different slang; for example, when they want to say: what is up with you, they might say SUP.

Different Accents

Let’s consider the English language as an example. The people of Scotland, Switzerland, America, England, and Australia speak English, although they have different accents.

Due to the variety of accents, you might sometimes not understand people’s sentences. You might consider the accent an independent language when the dominant accent is immense.

For example, 83 to 85% of Iranian people use the Farsi language, but there are particular accents in various parts of Iran. Iran includes different cities and regions: for example, the northern side of Iran includes different accents that you might not even understand a word of them.

Still, the root of this accent is derived from Farsi. The dominance of these accents is so expanded that you must consider them a new language. You must study them or live in these regions to understand them.

The Uniqueness of Accents

Although people might speak in different accents in different parts of Iran, they are highly understandable for native speakers. Indeed, different non-official languages in Iran (such as Kurdish, Azari, Gilaki, Lori, etc.) lead to different kinds of accents when speaking in Farsi.

 People have different accents in Iran’s eastern, western, and middle parts, and you may need somebody to translate the announced sentences. The differences in Iranian accents do not resemble American, Scottish, or Australian accents.

In that, they are totally different and unteachable in Iranian schools because people learn them from their parents, neighbors, or friends. Still, there is no academic or educational course to learn accents because they devote to specific regions.

Watching movies and living in some cities might help you understand specific sentences. For example, an Iranian actor who has lived in most parts of Iran due to his father’s job can speak and understand almost all Iranian accents.

Studying Farsi at the School and University

In Iran, students between the age of six and five go to kindergartens and preschools to learn specific Persian letters, although they are not informed of the letters meaning.

Over time, at the age of seven, students will go to elementary school to thoroughly learn vocabulary and letters. They will learn to pronounce, write, and read the letters, vocabulary, sentences, and stories.

And even students at the age of seven learn to read some poems and try to read fantastic stories helping them memorize Iranian poetry. Teachers in the first grade teach everything in Farsi, including mathematics, Persian poetry, and other courses.

Poetry is the key to learning Farsi. Students study different levels of the Iranian language, from elementary levels to university, but before entering high school, they can select Farsi as a professional field.

The students who love poetry and writing choose literature to join the circle of authors and poets. If you like to learn Persian, we will help you. There is much to learn about the Farsi language, literature, and poetry; we will always help you learn Farsi.

Maybe your name will sit next to all commemorated poets in our hearts. There are many ways to learn a language and unique methods for everyone, so if you want to learn Farsi, please let us know.

Our courses or even online classes will help you learn this sweet language. To learn more about our plans, send us your request. We’ll plan the course that is right for you and your goals.

Source:

https://www.britannica.com/place/Iran/Languages

You may be interested in learning Persian:

Persian Alphabet

How to improve your Persian Reading skill?

Learning Persian (Farsi) from Scratch

Basic Persian Grammar Rules and Differences with English Grammar

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