Persian language, also known as Farsi, is a branch of Indo-European languages in Indo-Iranian languages family. Persian is the official language in Iran and Tajikistan, and it is one of the official languages in Afghanistan. It is called Farsi in Iran, Tajiki in Tajikistan, and Dari in Afghanistan.
There are 110 million speakers of Persian language in Iraq, India, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Turkey, Persian Gulf countries, and Central Asia, of which 60 million reside in Iran.
History of Persian language
The Indo-European languages family is a term that refers to a collection of related languages. As the name suggests, these languages are spoken in a geographical area from India to Europe. Persian language falls into the category of Indo-European languages, and it is a subset of Iranian languages collection.
Persian language has undergone various changes and developments in three different historical periods:
- Old Persian: Achaemenid Empire (350 to 650 BC)
- Middle Persian: Parthian and Sassanid Empire (350 BC to 250 AD)
- New Persian: Since the arrival of Islam in Iran in seventh century AD
Importance of learning Persian
Persian is the language of one of the oldest human civilizations. A civilization with rich culture and literature which is comprised of bravery of the largest empires of the world such as the Achaemenid Empire and such famed celebrities as Ferdowsi, Saadi, and Hafez. This rich history has brought about the Iranian studies field and has made thousands of enthusiasts eager to learn Persian. It is a live and dynamic language with rich literature which represents Iranian identity, culture and civilization, by learning which, we can achieve a valuable treasure.
