Exploration of Persian-Arabic loanwords in the poetry of Tazigyavan Khorasan (4th and 5th centuries)

Document Type : Research Paper

Author

Associate Professor in Arabic Language and Literature, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, University of Birjand, Birjand, Iran

Abstract

Throughout history, the development of relationships between different nations and people has been influenced by various factors, including geographical proximity, trade, and the prevailing political and social conditions of the time. These relationships have fostered cultural and familial ties that significantly impact the language and literature of the people, resulting in a rich diversity of speech and vocabulary. The governments' interest in science and knowledge, along with scholarly and literary gatherings, has further contributed to cultural fusion, particularly in the realms of vocabulary and expression. The exchange of ideas and cultural practices between nations has created opportunities for foreign and unfamiliar words to enter languages, resulting in a dynamic and ever-evolving linguistic landscape. Today, the Arabic and Persian languages, which share similar alphabets, have profoundly influenced one another. Consequently, loanwords from each language have become integral to everyday speech and the literary culture of their speakers. This exchange of language and cultural practices has fostered the emergence of new linguistic forms, enriching both languages and contributing to their ongoing evolution. This study specifically examines the influence of Persian-Arabic loanwords on Arab poetry in the Khorasan region, using Tha'labi Nishapuri's "Yatimeh al-Dahr" as a foundation for analysis. The findings indicate that Arab literature in Khorasan, particularly poetry, is rich with imported and Arabicized loanwords. This phenomenon can be attributed to the favorable scientific and cultural environment that prevailed during the fourth and fifth centuries, as well as the poets' affinity for this region, especially Nishapur. Contemporary poets in the Khorasan region continue to draw upon this rich linguistic heritage, incorporating loanwords from Indian, Greek, Arabic, Turkish, and Persian-Arabic into their works. The influence of Persian literature on the dialect of the local populace is evident in the use of these loanwords across a diverse range of subjects. Overall, the study underscores the profound impact of cultural and linguistic exchange on the evolution of languages and their literature. 
Introduction:
Khorasan, a vast geographical region in Iran, has held a significant and notable position since the dawn of Islam's arrival in this land. It played a crucial role in the emergence and presence of Islam within the social, cultural, and belief systems of its people. This region facilitated the entry of Arab-speaking tribes, as well as commercial exchanges, connections, and interactions with Iranians. Over time, these relationships deepened, profoundly impacting various aspects of life, including social and religious structures, customs, language, speech, and writing. It is evident that in such an environment, intricately interwoven with the Persian language, there would be considerable effects on poetic expression and dialects.
One can confidently assert that the primary reason for the incorporation of loanwords into the poetic works of the Arabic-speaking literati in this region is rooted in the linguistic intermingling and its reciprocal influences.
In examining the surviving literary heritage of the Arabic-speaking population of Khorasan, particularly in the works of the unparalleled scholar and literatus of that era, Neishaboori, especially his invaluable work Yatimeh al-Dahr, we discover a wealth of loanwords from various languages, including Hindi, Greek, Turkish, and Kurdish, as well as Persianized terms evident in the verses of poets. This phenomenon is notably more pronounced in poetry than in the prose of that period.
Method:
In this article, an attempt has been made to examine the proposed topic based on a descriptive-analytical method, utilizing reliable primary sources, especially the fourth volume of Yatīmat al-Dahr by Tha'ālibī Nīshāpūrī. The Arabic poems of the Khorasani Arabic-speakers in the fourth and fifth centuries will be studied and scrutinized, and the Persian loanwords in the Arabic poetry of this period will be extracted.
Conclusion:
The Persian loanwords found in the poetry of Arabic-speaking poets from Khorasan primarily consist of terms that were prevalent and widely used in spoken language during that period. While these words are not entirely unknown or unfamiliar today, their colloquial usage in both speech and writing has diminished. Through the study and reading of these poems, readers can clearly identify the presence of Persianized words and their meanings. It is important to note that these words relate to various aspects of the culture, social dynamics, and individual lives of the people from that era, as well as their natural environment, thereby reflecting the customs and traditions of the broader community. In this analysis, an effort has been made to identify ten primary topics from the most frequently occurring themes in the Arabic poetry of the Khorasanis. The Persianized words associated with each topic are presented, along with examples from the poets' works. The results obtained, which take into account the frequency percentages of topics and loanwords, indicate that the Arabic-speaking poets of Khorasan were influenced by the rich Persian culture in their poetic discourse and thematic exploration. Instead, they utilized it in various contexts and situations as a valuable means of conveying their identity in poetry and expressing their Iranian heritage. Furthermore, the themes they focused on in their discourse were prevalent in the individual and social lives of the people of Khorasan. Even today, we can observe traces of these themes in traditional Iranian culture. Undoubtedly, the influence of the Persian language, particularly in the realm of vocabulary, is undeniable in the Arabic language. In numerous instances, Arabic literature has drawn upon the wealth of Persian literature, to the extent that many poets have turned to it for inspiration in their panegyrics and descriptions. This engagement, beyond fostering literary innovation, has contributed to the elevation of Persian literature.
 

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Article Title [العربیة]

دراسة مقارنة للمفردات الفارسیّة الدخیلة والمعرّبة فی الأدب العربیّ المقفّی فی خراسان (فی القرنین الرابع والخامس)

Abstract [العربیة]

علی مرّ التاریخ، کانت الأمم والشعوب المختلفه مرتبطه بعضها ببعض آخر، وذلک بسبب القرب الجغرافیّ والبتادلات التجاریّة وبعض الظروف السیاسیّة والإجتماعیّه الّتی تحکم الشعوب. ومن البدهی أن یوثّر ذلک علی لغتهم وأدبهم وتقالیدهم رغم الاختلافات الثفافیّة والطائفیّه وخلق التنوّع فی الکلام والمفردات اللُّغویّة وجعل بینهم علاقات عمیقةً. بالإضافه إلی ذلک، فإنّ اهتمام السلطات الحکومیّة بالعلم والمعرفة ووجود العلماء والأّدباء والدوائر الأدبیّة والشوق لإقتباس العلم من المشایخ والعلماء خارج البلاد هو عامل آخر ومؤثّر لاندماج الثقافیّ بین الشعوب المختلفة وخاصّة فی مجال الکلام والمفردات. من الواضح یسهّل المجال فی مثل هذه البیئة لاندماج اللُّغات بعضها مع بعض وتمهید دخول المفردات الأجنبیّة. وبتصدیق الباحثین واللّغویین فی اللُّغتین الفارسیّة والعربیّة وبإقرارهم، أنّ هاتین اللُّغتین لاشتراکهما فی الحروف الأبجدیّة قد صارتا أکثر تأثّراً بعضها من بعض، إذ أصبحت کلّ من اللُّغتین جزءاً من اللُّغة والثقافة للآخرین فی اللُّغة المستهدف. وقد حاول هذا البحث تحلیل المشکلة من خلال تصنیف المصطلحات المعرّبة فی عشرة مواضع مترابطة، باستخدام المنهج الوصفیّ والتحلیلیّ. و یقوم البحث بدراسة ثلاثین مصطلحاً محدّداً، تکرّرت بنسبة عالیة فی شعر الشعراء العرب فی خراسان. وتُظهر نتائج البحث أنّ شعراء خراسان المتحدّثین باللُّغة العربیّة فی القرنین الرابع والحامس قد أبرزوا العنی الثقافی للُّغة الإیرانییة من خلال إدخال الکلمات المنقولة عن الفارسییة إلی الأدب العربیّ وغیره، وأظهروا بذلک مقدار تأثیر الثقافة والأدب الإیرانیّین فی اللُّغات الأُخری وبخاصّة اللُّغة العربیّة. ویمکن اعتبار ذلک نوعاً من أنواع الابتکار من قبل الأُدباء الخراسانیّین، لإحیاء الثقافة الفارسیّة وتعزیز هویّة اللُّغة الإیرانیّة وإبراز أصالتها.

Keywords [العربیة]

  • المفردات الفارسیّة الدخیلة
  • ثعالبی
  • یتمة‌الدهر
  • الشعر العربیّ بخراسان
  • القرن الرابع والخامس