MIDDLE PERSIAN Meaning and
Definition
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Middle Persian, also known as Pahlavi, refers to the stage of the Persian language spoken from the 3rd century CE to the 9th century CE throughout the Sassanian Empire. It represents the evolution of the Persian language from its Old Persian predecessor and serves as the bridge between Old Persian and Modern Persian. Middle Persian was used as the administrative and literary language of the Sassanian Empire, which stretched from present-day Iran to parts of Central Asia and the Middle East.
The Middle Persian language underwent several significant changes compared to its Old Persian ancestor. It adopted linguistic elements from other languages spoken within the empire, including Aramaic and Parthian. As a result, Middle Persian developed its own unique script, known as Pahlavi script, which was derived from the Aramaic alphabet.
The Middle Persian language had a profound impact on the development of literature, sciences, and cultural expressions in the Sassanian Empire. It served as the language of courtly etiquette and was extensively used in the production of official documents, religious texts, and epic poetry. Notable literary works, such as the Book of Kings (Shahnameh), were composed in Middle Persian.
With the Arab conquest of Persia in the 7th century, Middle Persian gradually began to be replaced by Arabic in various domains. As a result, Middle Persian eventually evolved into Modern Persian, which is the predominant language spoken in contemporary Iran. However, Middle Persian remains an important linguistic and cultural marker in Persian history and serves as a valuable source for understanding the evolution of the Persian language.
Etymology of MIDDLE PERSIAN
The term "Middle Persian" is derived from two components: "middle" and "Persian".
The word "middle" comes from the Old English word "middel" which means "central" or "in-between". It evolved from the Middle English word "middles" and ultimately derives from the Proto-Germanic word "midjaz" which means "mid" or "middle".
The term "Persian" refers to the language and people of Persia, which is now modern-day Iran. It traces back to the Ancient Greek word "Persis", which was used to refer to the region inhabited by the Persians. The name "Persis" was derived from "Parsa" or "Pars", the Old Persian name for Persia.
Therefore, "Middle Persian" is a combination of "middle", meaning central or in-between, and "Persian", relating to the language and people of Persia.
