Parthian language
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Parthian is a now-extinct ancient Northwestern Iranian language that originated in Parthia (a region in north-east of modern Iran and the Greater Khorasan, including southern part of what is today known as Turkmenistan) and was the official language of the Parthian Empire under the Arsacid Dynasty (248 BC - 224 AD).
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[edit] Origin and etymology
Parthian was the eastern most of the Western Middle Iranian languages. This feature made Parthian retain many archaic Eastern Iranian features. This retention was probably due to the fact that the Parthian dynasty was founded by the Parni tribe. The Iranian tribe had migrated from the steppes of Central Asia into Parthia. The Parni or Parnae originally were speakers of an Northeastern Iranian language closely related with other languages of the area such as Scythian, Sogdian and Bactrian. The study of the Indo-Iranian tribes reveal that it was not uncommon for the tribes to adopt the local language, beliefs and customs of the peoples among whom they had settled whether through migration or conquest. This was especially true of the nomadic steppe tribes who formed the core of the Indo-Iranian world. The eastern Iranian speech of the Parthians is distinguished from the western Iranian speech by referring to the former as Parnian.[citation needed]
[edit] Written Parthian
The Parthian language was rendered using the Pahlavi writing system, which had two essential characteristics: First, its script derived from Aramaic, the script (and language) of the Achaemenid chancellery (i.e. Imperial Aramaic). Second, it had a high incidence of Aramaic words, rendered as ideograms or logograms, that is, they were written Aramaic words but understood as Parthian ones (See Arsacid Pahlavi for details).
The main sources for Parthian are the few remaining inscriptions from Nisa and Hecatompolis, Manichean texts, Sasanian multi-lingual inscriptions, and remains of Parthian literature in the succeeding Middle Persian. Among these, the Manichean texts, composed shortly after the demise of the Parthian power, play an important role for reconstructing the Parthian language.
[edit] Extinction
In 224 AD, Ardashir I, the local ruler of Pars, deposed and replaced Artabanus IV, the last Parthian Emperor, and founded the fourth Iranian dynasty, and the second Persian dynasty, the Sassanian Empire. Parthian was then succeeded by Middle Persian, which when written is known as Sasanian Pahlavi. Parthian did not die out immediately, but remains attested in a few bi-lingual inscriptions from the Sasanian era.
[edit] A Comparison Table of the Iranian Languages
English | Zazaki | Kurdish | Pashto | Balochi | Mazandarani | Tajik | Persian | Middle Persian | Parthian | Old Persian | Avestan |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
beautiful | rind | rind/delal/cûwan | shkulay, xkulay | sharr, soherâ | zebo | zibâ/ xubchehreh | huÄihr, hužihr | hužihr | naiba | vahu-, srîra | |
blood | gûn | xwîn | wina | hon | xin | xun | xÅ«n | xÅn | xÅn | vohuni | |
bread | nûn | nan | á¸oá¸É™y/roá¹É™y (from Indic) | nân, nagan | nân | non | nân | nân | nân | ||
bring | ârdena | anîn/hênan | rÄwṛəl | âvardan | biyârden | ovardan | âvardan | âwurdan, ÄwÄy-, Äwar-, bar- | ÄwÄy-, Äwar-, bar- | bara- | bara, bar- |
brother | birâ | bira | wror | barÄdar | birâr | barodar | barÄdar | brÄd, brâdar | brÄd, brÄdar | brâtar | brâtar- |
come | amaena | hatin | rÄtlÉ™l | áhag, âmadan | enen | omadan | âmadan | âmadan, awar | awar, ÄÄm | ây-, âgam | âgam- |
cry | bermayish | girîn | žÄṛəl | taukh | bÉ™rmÉ™/ qâ | giristan | geristan | griy-, bram- | |||
dark | târî | tarî | tiÄrÉ™ | thár | siyo | torîk | târîk | târÄ«g/k | târÄ«g, târÄ“n | sâmahe, sâma | |
daughter | kena | keç/kîj/kenîşk/dot | lūr | mind | kijâ/ dether | duxtar | doxtar | duxtar | duxt, duxtar | duxδar | |
day | roc | roj | wradz | roshe | rez/ reoj | rûz | rûz | rÅz | raucah- | ||
do | kerdena | kirin/kirdin | kawəl | khandagh | hâkerden | kardan | kardan | kardan | kartan | kạrta- | kәrәta- |
door | ber | derge/derî | war | gelo | bəli | dar | dar | dar | dar, bar | duvara- | dvara- |
die | merdena | mirin | mṛəl/məṛedəl | mireg | bamirden | murdan | murdan | murdan | mạriya- | mar- | |
donkey | her | ker | xar | her | xar | xar | xar | xar | |||
egg | hak | hêk | hagəy | heyg | merqâna | tuxm | toxm | toxmag, xâyag | taoxmag, xâyag | taoxma- | |
earth | êrd (Arabic) | herd/erd (Arabic) | zməka/mzəka | zemin | zemi | zamin | zamin | zamīg | zamīg | zam- | zãm, zam, zem |
evening | shund | êvar/êware | mÄshÄm, mÄxÄm | nÉ™mâshun | begáh | begoh, shom | sarshab | êbêrag | |||
eye | chım | çav | stÉ™rga | ch.hem, chem | chashm | chashm | chaÅ¡m | chaÅ¡m | ÄaÅ¡a- | ÄaÅ¡man- | |
father | pi | bav/bawk | plÄr | pyt, abbâ | piyer | padar | pedar | pidar | pid | pitar | pitar |
fear | ters | tirs | wera | terseg | təshəpash | tars | tars | tars | tars | tạrsa- | tares- |
fiancé | washte | dezgîran, destgirtî | nÄm zÄd | nomzad | nâm-zad | - | - | ||||
fine | wesh | xweş/baş | sha, xa | hosh | naghz, xub | xub | dârmag | srîra | |||
finger | gisht | til/qamik | gūta/gwəta | lenkwk, mordâneg | angoos | angusht | angosht | angust | dišti- | ||
fire | âdır | agir | or | âch, âs | tesh | otash | âtash, âzar | âdur, âtaxsh | Ädur | âç- | âtre-/aêsma- |
fish | mâse | masî | kab/mÄhÄ« | mâhi | mohi | mâhi | mâhig | mâsyâg | masyô, masya | ||
food / eat | werdena | xwarin | xwÄá¹›a/xoṛəl | warag, vereg | xurok / xurdan | xorâk / xordan | parwarz / xwâr, xwardÄ«g | parwarz / xwâr | hareθra / ad-, at- | ||
go | shiyaena | çûn | tləl | jwzzegh | shunen / burden | raftan | raftan | raftan, shudan | ay- | ai- | ay-, fra-vaz |
god | homâ | xwedê | xwdÄy | hwdâ | xudo | xodâ | bay, abragar | baga- | baya- | ||
good | hol | baş, çak | sha, xa | jawáin, šarr | xâr | naghz, xub, neku | xub / neku | xūb, nêkog | vahu- | vohu, vaŋhu- | |
grass | vash | giya, riwek, şênkatî | wÄshÉ™, wÄxÉ™ | rem | sabza, giyoh | sabzeh, giyâh | giyâ | dâlÅ«g | urvarâ | ||
great | gırd / pil | gir, mezin, gewre | stər | mastar | belang, pila | buzurg | bozorg | wuzurg, pīl | vazạrka- | uta-, avañt | |
hand | dest | dest/lep | lÄs | dast | dess | dast | dast | dast | dast | dasta- | zasta- |
head | ser | ser | sar | saghar | kalÉ™ | sar, kalla | sar, kalleh | sar | |||
heart | zerri | dil | zṛə | dil, hatyr | dil | dil | del | dil | dil | aηhuš | |
horse | estoar | hesp | Äs (masc.), aspa (fem.) | asp | istar | asp | asb, astar | asp, stÅr | asp, stÅr | aspa | aspa- |
house | ke(ye) | mal | kor | log | səre | xona | xâneh | xânag | demâna-, nmâna- | ||
hunger | vêyshan | birçîtî/birsiyetî | lwaža | shudhagh | veyshna | gurusnagi | gorosnegi | gursag, shuy | |||
language | ziwan / zun | ziman | žəba | zevân | ziwân | zabon | zabân | zuwân | izβân | hazâna- | hizvâ- |
laugh | huyaena | kenîn | xandəl | khendegh, hendeg | xandidan | xandidan | xandīdan | karta | Syaoθnâvareza- | ||
life | jewiyaena | jiyan/jîn | žwand | zendegih | zindagi | zendegi | zīndagīh, zīwišnīh | žīwahr, žīw- | gaêm, gaya- | ||
man | merd | mêr/piyaw | saṛay | merd | merd | mard | mard | mard | mard | martiya- | mašîm, mašya |
moon | ashmê | heyv/mang | spožmÉ™y/spogmÉ™y | máh | mithra | moh | mÄh | mÄh | mÄh | mâh- | måŋha- |
mother | mae | dayik | mor | mât, mâs | mâr | modar | mÄdar | mÄdar | mÄdar | mâtar | mâtar- |
mouth | fek | dev/dem | xwla | daf | dahon | dahân | dahân, rumb | åŋhânô, âh, åñh | |||
name | nâme | nav | num | num | num | nom | nâm | nâm | nâman | nãman | |
night | shewe | şev | shpa | shaw, šap | sheow | shab | shab | shab | xšap- | xšap- | |
open | rakerdena | vekirin | prÄnistÉ™l/prÄnatÉ™l | božagh | vâ-hekârden | kushodan, boz kardan | bâz-kardan | abâz-kardan | bÅ«xtaka- | bÅ«xta- | |
peace | kotpy | aştî | rogha | ârâm | oshti, oromish | âshti, ârâmeš | âštih, râmīšn | râm, râmīšn | šiyâti- | râma- | |
pig | xoz | beraz | xug | xug | xi | xuk | xūk | xūk | varâza (wild pig) | ||
place | ja | cih/şûn | dzÄy | hend | joy, jo | jâ | gâh | gâh | gâθu- | gâtu-, gâtav- | |
read | wendena | xwendin | lwastəl | wánagh | baxinden | xondan | xândan | xwândan | |||
say | vatena | gotin/wutin | wayÉ™l | gushagh | baotena | guftan | goftan | guftan, gÅw-, wâxtan | gÅw- | gaub- | mrû- |
sister | wae | xweşk | xor | gwhâr | xâxer | xohar | xâhar | xwahar | |||
small | qıch | piçûk | ləž, ləg/woṛ/kuchnay | lekem | pətik, bechuk, perushk | xurd | kuchak, kam | kam, rangas | kam | kamna- | kamna- |
son | qıj | kur | zway, zuy | pisar, phusagh | pisser | pisar | pesar | pur, pusar | puhr | puça | pūθra- |
soul | giyan | rÅ«h (Arabic), sÄ | rÅ«h (Arabic) | ravon | ravân | rÅ«wân, gyân | rÅ«wân, gyân | urvan- | |||
spring | wusar | bihar | psarlay | wehâr | bahor | bahâr | wahâr | vâhara- | θūravâhara- | ||
tall | berz | bilind/berz | lwaṛ | bwrz | baland | boland / bârez | buland, borz | bârež | barez- | ||
three | hire | sê | dre | se | se | se | se | sê | hrē | çi- | θri- |
village | dew | gund, dê | kəlay | helk | deh | deh, rusto | deh | wiž | dahyu- | vîs-, dahyu- | |
want | wastena | xwestin/wîstin | ghwÄṛəl | lotagh | bexanen | xostan | xâstan | xwâstan | |||
water | awe | av | obə | âf | ab | ob | âb | âb | âb | âpi | avô- |
when | key | kengê | kÉ™la, Äi | ked | kay | kay | kay | ka | Äim- | ||
wind | va | ba | bÄd | gwáth | wâ | bod | bâd | wâd | vâta- | ||
wolf | verg | gur | līwə | gurkh | varg, gəorge | gurg | gorg | gurg | varka- | vehrka | |
woman | jeniye | jin/afret | shədza, xəza | jan | zəna | zan | zan | zan | žan | hâīrīšī-, nâirikâ- | |
year | serre | sal | kÄl | sâl | sol | sâl | sâl | θard | ýâre, sarÓ™d | ||
yes / no | ya / ne | erê / na | ho, wo / na | ere / na | ha / ne | âri / na | hâ / ney | hâ / ney | yâ / nay, mâ | yâ / noit, mâ | |
yesterday | vizêr | duh/dwênê | pərun | zà | direz | dina, diruz | diruz | dêrûž |
[edit] See also
- A Comparison Table of Parthian-Pahlavi with other Iranian Languages
- Parthia and Parthian
- Arsacid Dynasty
- Indo-Parthian Kingdom
- Iranian languages
- Iranian peoples
[edit] References
- Lecoq, Pierre. (1983). "Aparna". Encyclopedia Iranica 1. Cosa Mesa: Mazda Pub.
- "Parthia". Encyclopaedia Britannica 20: 871. (1911). Ed. Hugh Chisholm. London: Cambridge University Press.
- Boyce, Mary (1979). "Review: R. Ghirshman's L'Iran et la Migration des Indo-Aryens et des Iraniens" 99 (1): 119-120.
Iranian Languages | |||
Eastern Iranian | |||
Old Iranian | Avestan †| Scythian (including Saka)†| Sogdian†| ||
Middle Iranian | Bactrian†| Khwarezmian†| Khotanese†(possibly a Saka dialect) | Ossetic | Sacian†| ||
Modern Iranian | Bartangi | Hidukush Group | Ishkashmi | Karakoram Group | Khufi | Munji | Oroshori | New Ossetic | Parachi | Pashto | Roshani (Roshni) | Sanglechi | Sarikoli | Shughni | Wakhi | Vanji †| Waziri | Yaghnobi | Yidgha | Yazgulami | Zebaki | ||
Western Iranian | |||
Old Iranian | Median†| Old Persian (Aryan)†| ||
Middle Iranian | Parthian Pahlavi†| Sasanian Pahlavi†| ||
Modern Iranian | Alviri (Vidâri) | Ashtiani | Azari†| Baluchi | Bashkardi | Central Iran | Persian Dari | Dari (Zoroastrian) | Gilaki | Gorani | Harzani | Judeo-Persian | Kurdish Kurmanji | Laki | Luri | Bakhtiari Lori | Mazandarani | Ormuri | Sangsari | Parachi | New-Persian | Sorani (Kurdish) | Tajik | Taleshi | Tat | Tati | Vafsi | Zazaki | ||
Extinct †|