Persianization

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Persianization or Persianisation is a process of cultural or linguistic change in which something non-Persian (non-Iranian) becomes Persian (Iranian). People may also be Persianized; an immigrant to Iran becomes Iraninized as he or she acclimates to the culture.

Historically, it was commonly used in connection with non-Iranian peoples living within the Iranian cultural sphere, especially during the early and middle-Islamic periods such as Arabs, and various Turkic peoples (such as the Seljuqs and Ghaznavids).[1] [2]

In modern times, it is often used in connection with non-Persians such as Azeris, Kurds[3], Baluchis and Lurs, as well as non-Iranians living in Iran such as Arabs and Turkmens.

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] Pre-Islamic Period

The first recorded history of the Persianization dates back to Alexander the Great, who in 4th century BCE adopted Persian dress, customs, court mannerisms, married Persian princess and his subjects had to cast themselves on their faces when approaching him, in Persian-style, known to Greeks as the custom of proskynesis (a symbolic kissing of the hand that Persians paid to their social uperiors. This custom was also observed by his son Peucestas. Peucestas proceeded to take possession of his father's government, where he conciliated the favour of the Persians to his rule, in exchange for those of Macedonians.[4]

[edit] Early Islamic to 15th Century

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After the fall of Sasanian dynasty in 651, the Umayyad Arabs adopted many of the Persian customs especially the administrative and the court mannerisms. Arab provincial governors were undoubtedly either Persianized Arameans or ethnic Persians; certainly Persian remained the language of official business of the caliphate until the adoption of Arabic toward the end of the 7th century,[5] when in 692 minting began at the caliphal capital, Damascus. The new Islamic coins evolved from imitations of Sasanian coins (as well as Byzantine), and the Pahlavi script on the coinage was replaced with Arabic.

The Abbasids (after 750) established their capital in Iraq, eventually at Baghdad. A shift in orientation toward the east is discernible, encouraged by increased receptiveness to Persian cultural influence and the roots of the Abbasid revolution in Khorasan[6]

[edit] From Safavids to 1979 Revolution

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In modern times, it is often used in connection with non-Persians such as Azeris, [7], Kurds,[8] Baluchis, Lurs, Arabs and Turkomen.

According to Tadeusz Swietochowski, in 1930s, the term was used to describe the official policy pursued by Reza Shah Pahlavi to assimilate the ethnic minorities in Iran (Iranians as well as Non-Iranians). In particular, within this policy the Azerbaijani language was banned for use on the premises of schools, in theatrical performances, religious ceremonies and in the publication of books. Swietochowski writes:

The steps that the Teheran regime took in the 1930s with the aim of Persianization of the Azeris and other minorities appeared to take a leaf from the writings of the reformist-minded intellectuals in the previous decade. In the quest of imposing national homogeneity on the country where half of the population consisted of ethnic minorities, the Pahlavi regime issued in quick succession bans on the use of Azeri on the premises of schools, in theatrical performances, religious ceremonies, and, finally, in the publication of books. Azeri was reduced to the status of a language that only could be spoken and hardly ever written. As the Persianization campaign gained momentum, it drew inspiration from the revivalist spirit of Zoroastrian national glories. There followed even more invasive official practices, such as changing Turkic-sounding geographic names and interference with giving children names other than Persian ones. While cultivating cordial relations with Kemalist Turkey, Reza Shah carried on a forceful de-Turkification campaign in Iran.[9]

[edit] Language

[edit] Loanwords

Non-Persian words may be Persianized by changing their form and pronunciation to something more familiar to Persian speakers. For example, the Arabic word لفظ (lafaz) has been imported into Persian in the modified form لفاظ (lafāz). Changing endings in this manner is especially common, and can be frequently seen when foreign words are imported into any language. For example, the Persian word لعنتی (lanati) is a Persianization of the Arabic لعنته (la’nata), meaning "accursed". Also in plural cases, most of the Arabic loanwords have been modified such as the Arabic form for کتاب (ketâb) is کتب (kotob) obtained by the root derivation system. In Persian, the plural for the lexical word کتاب (ketâb) obtained by just adding the Persian plural morpheme hâ (کتابها ketâb+hâ --> ketâbhâ).[10] Another form of Persianzing is the inclusion of a foreign article as part of a noun (such as alkali from the Arabic al-qili).

[edit] Proper names

Place names are commonly Persianized. For example, the Iraq city of "Basra", known in Persian as Basreh, or the Armenian city of "Yerevan" known as Ēravān.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Bhatia, Tej K., The handbook of bilingualism, (2004), p.788-9
  2. ^ Ravandi, M., The Seljuq court at Konya and the Persianisation of Anatolian Cities, in Mesogeios (Mediterranean Studies), vol. 25-6 (2005) , pp157-69
  3. ^ Stavenhagen, Rodolfo (2002). Ethnic Conflicts and the Nation State. Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 0312159714. 
  4. ^ Arrian, vii. 23, 24, 26; Photius, Bibliotheca, cod. 82, cod. 92; Diodorus, xvii. 110, xviii. 3, 39; Justin, Epitome of Pompeius Trogus, xiii. 4
  5. ^ Hawting G., The First Dynasty of Islam. The Umayyad Caliphate AD 661-750, (London) 1986, pp. 63-64
  6. ^ Kennedy H., The Prophet and the Age of the Caliphates, London, 1986, pp. 134-37
  7. ^ Stavenhagen, Rodolfo (2002). Ethnic Conflicts and the Nation State. Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 0312159714. 
  8. ^ Margaret K., The official Persianization of Kurdish, Paper presented at the Eighth International Congress of Phonetic Sciences, Leeds, England, (Aug. 1975).
  9. ^ Tadeusz Swietochowski, Russia and Azerbaijan: A Borderland in Transition. p.122, ISBN 0231070683
  10. ^ New Persian, CAIS Online; accessed January 11, 2007

[edit] See also

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