Persian (Farsi) Persian, or Farsi, has been spoken in some form for over 2,500 years, with roots in Old Persian inscriptions from the Achaemenid Empire (c. 550 BCE). Unlike many ancient languages, Persian evolved continuously through three main stages: Old, Middle (Pahlavi), and New (Modern) Persian—each leaving rich literary legacies. The language adopted the Arabic script after the 7th-century Islamic conquest but retained its Indo-Iranian grammatical core, resisting full Arabization. Persian became the lingua franca of Islamic Golden Age courts from Anatolia to India, producing poets like Rumi, Hafez, and Ferdowsi, whose Shahnameh (Book of Kings) preserved pre-Islamic Iranian myths in verse. Today, it’s spoken by over 110 million people in Iran, Afghanistan (as Dari), and Tajikistan (as Tajik, in Cyrillic script). Persian’s vocabulary blends native, Arabic, and Turkic elements, yet its syntax remains distinct. It’s notable for politeness markers and poetic expression woven into daily speech. Despite political changes, Persian culture—centered on literature, music, and hospitality—keeps the language vibrant. In Iran, children memorize classical poetry; in diaspora communities, it’s a tie to heritage. Persian proves that a language can absorb empires yet retain its lyrical soul—bridging Zoroastrian past and modern identity with grace and resilience.
Add Comment + Vote ( 1 )...
There are currently no comments!