Theoretical Perspectives on the Genesis of the Dari Language

Uktamova Khilola

and Nishanbayeva Aziza

Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies Uzbekistan, Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Keywords: Dari Language, Persian Language, Pahlavi Language, Tokharian Language, Sogdian Language, Pashto

Language, Afghanistan, Khurasan, Mashriq.

Abstract: The Dari language is one of Afghanistan's official languages. Numerous studies have investigated the lexicon

and grammar of the Dari language. However, scarce scientific literature exists concerning the etymology of

the term "Dari." This article focuses on this subject and analyses diverse notions about the term "Dari.".

1 INTRODUCTION

The Dari language, which belongs to the Iranian

language group, boasts a history of nearly 2000 years.

Sources have recorded information about this

language since the 10th century. Various terms have

been used to refer to this language for many years (in

scientific literature, terms like Farsi, Farsi-ye Kabuli,

and Kābulī Persian are found). However, it was

officially renamed as the Dari language in the

Constitution of Afghanistan in 1964 and granted

official status. The legal protection granted to Dari as

an independent language has bolstered its position,

elevating the status of state language policy.

Furthermore, this reform has ushered in a new era of

Dari linguistics.

It is widely recognized that the modern Persian,

Dari, and Tajik languages, which succeeded the

classical Dari language between the 10th and 15th

centuries, belong to the Iranian languages within the

southwestern group of the Indo-European language

family. The key stages in the origin and historical

development of these languages overlap and share

common written sources.

2 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

This research employed analysis, synthesis, and

diachronic historical-comparative methods.

http://orcid.org/0009-0007-3471-2566

http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8518-3832

3 RESULTS

The Dari language dates back almost 2,000 years,

with sources from the 10th century providing

information about it. The earliest known inscriptions

in Dari are stone monuments discovered in the Sorkh

Kotal area of the Baghlan Valley. These monuments

were a significant turning point in the history of the

Dari language, as they proved that it was an

independent language separate from Pahlavi and

Persian.

4 DISCUSSIONS

Before the Islamic conquest, Afghanistan was home

to multiple languages, including Dari, Tokharian,

Sogdian, Greek, Pashto, and Pahlavi, which was the

official language of Parthia. Pahlavi took its name

from the place formerly known as Pahla, later

renamed Khorezm. Parthia claimed territory in

Isfahan, Ray, Hamadan, and some portions of

Azerbaijan. These regions are reinforced by Abdullah

ibn Muqaffa's claims. This information has come

down to us through Muhammad Ishaq ibn Yaqub

Nadim's "ﺖﺳﺮﻬﻔﻟﺍ" Al-fehrest ("Catalogue") (987). It

states:

ﺭﺩی ﻥﺎﺑﺯ ﺮﻬﺷ ﺸﻧ ﻥﺎﻨﻴ ﺩﻮﺑ ﻭ ﺭﺎﺑﺭﺩﻥﺎﻳ ﺎﺑ ﻥﺁ ﻦﺨﺳ ﻣﺪﻨﺘﻔﮕﻴ ﻭ

ﺏﻮﺴﻨﻣ ﻪﺑ ﺭﺎﺑﺭﺩ ﻫﺎﺷﺩﺎﭘﯽ ﺖﺳﺍ ﻭ ﺯﺍ ﻣﻥﺎﻴ ﻥﺎﺑﺯ ﺎﻫ ی ﻞﻫﺍ ﻥﺎﺳﺍﺮﺧ ﻭ

،ﻕﺮﺸﻣ ﻥﺎﺑﺯ ﻡﺩﺮﻣ ﺦﻠﺑ

ﺭﺩ ﻥﺁ ﺑﺮﺘﺸﻴ ﺩﻮﺑ. ﺎﻣﺍ ﺳﺭﺎﭘ،ﯽ ﻥﺎﺑﺯ ﺆﻣ ﻥﺍﺪﻳ

(ﻧﺎﺣﻭﺭ ﻥﻮﻴ ﺘﺷﺩﺭﺯﯽ) ﺰﮔﻩﺪﻳ ﺩﻮﺑ ﻪﮐ ﺭﺩ ﺱﺭﺎﭘ ﻡﺩﺮﻣ ﻪﺑ ﻥﺁ ﺩ ﻦﻳ ﺪﻘﺘﻌﻣ

ﺪﻧﺩﻮﺑ ﻭ ﻝﺎﺜﻣﺍ ﻥﺎﻧﺁ ﺩﻮﺑ ﻭ ﻡﺩﺮﻣ ﺱﺭﺎﻓ ﻪﺑ ﻥﺍ ﻦﺨﺳ ﻣﺪﻨﺘﻔﮕﻴ “.

Khilola, U. and Aziza, N.

Theoretical Perspectives on the Genesis of the Dari Language.

DOI: 10.5220/0012671800003882

Paper published under CC license (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)

In Proceedings of the 2nd Pamir Transboundary Conference for Sustainable Societies (PAMIR-2 2023), pages 74-79

ISBN: 978-989-758-723-8

[…Dari served as the tongue in the Madoyin

cities, being spoken by those inhabiting the palace,

whilst also being exclusive to the king's court. When

comparing the dialects of the people living in

Khurasan and Mashriq, the dialect originating from

Balkh surpasses all. However, the language spoken

by the mubad, ulama, and Zoroastrian priests, as well

as the general populace of Persia, is Persian.]

(Hakikiy A. 1372.)

There were two variations of the Pahlavi

language: northern ( ﻮﻠﻬﭘی ﻟﺎﻤﺷﯽ pahlawi-ye šemâli)

and southern ( ﻮﻠﻬﭘ ی ﺑﻮﻨﺟﯽ pahlawi-ye janubi). It is also

referred to as " ﺗﺭﺎﭘﯽ " pârti or " ﻧﺎﮑﺷﺍﯽ " aškâni in the

northern dialect, which was later adapted to the

Persian language. The southern variant, on the other

hand, is known as " ﻮﻠﻬﭘی ﻧﺎﺳﺎﺳﯽ " pahlawi-ye sâsâni

(Moin M. 1343). According to scholars, the Dari

language is believed to have derived from the

northern dialect (Yamin M. 1393). It is challenging to

concur with the claim as some evidence suggests the

use of the Dari language during the Pahlavi period.

An inscription discovered in the Sorkh Kotal area

of Baghlan Valley serves as a credible source that

distinguishes the Dari language from Pahlavi. This

inscription was based on Tokharian and Greek

calligraphy, establishing Dari as an autonomous

language that existed for nearly two millennia. About

this A. Habibi in the book " ﺪﻌﺑ ﺯﺍ ﻡﻼﺳﺍ ﺭﺎﺗ ﺦﻳ ﻥﺎﺘﺴﻧﺎﻐﻓﺍ "

Târix-e Afǧânestân ba'd az eslâm ("Afghanistan's

Post-Islamic History") noted:

ﻦﻳﺍ ﺮﻈﻧ ﺪﺟﺪﻳ ﻤﻠﻋﯽ ﻪﮐ ﻥﺎﺑﺯ ﺭﺩی ﻥﺎﺘﺴﻧﺎﻐﻓﺍ ﺯﺍ ﻥﺎﺑﺯ ﻮﻠﻬﭘ ی

ﺍﺰﻧ،ﻩﺪﻴﻳ

ﻥﻮﻨﮐﺍ ﮏﻳ ﺪﻨﺳ ﻮﻗی ﻭ ﺤﺿﺍﻭﯽ ﺍﺭ ﭘﺍﺪﻴ ،ﻩﺩﺮﮐ ﻪﮐ ﻥﺁ ﺕﺭﺎﺒﻋ

ﺯﺍ ﻒﺸﮐ ﮓﻨﺳ

ﻪﺘﺷﺎﺒﻧ ﺭﺩ ﻧﺎﺘﺳﺭﺎﺨﺗ ﯽ ﺭﺩ ﺥﺮﺳ ﻞﺗﻮﮐ ﻥﻼﻐﺑ ﺖﺳﺍ .

ﻥﻮﻨﮐﺍ ﻪﮐ ﮓﻨﺳ ﻪﺘﺸﺒﻧ ﻮﺸﮑﻣ

ﻪﻓ ﻥﻼﻐﺑ ﺍﺭ ﻥﺎﺑﺰﺑ ﺭﺩ ی ﺭﺎﺨﺗی ﻢﺳﺭﻭ

ﻂﺨﻟﺍ ﯽﻧﺎﻧﻮﻳ

ﻣ ﯽ ﺑﻢﻴﻨﻴ ﺍﺮﺘﻋﺍ ﻣ ،ﻢﻴﻨﮑﻴ ﻪﮐ ﻥﺎﺑﺯ ﺭﺩ ی ﻧﻮﻨﮐﯽ ﺯﺍ ﻮﻠﻬﭘ ی

ﺐﻌﺸﻨﻣ ،ﻩﺪﺸﻧ ﻪﮑﻠﺑ ﺭﺩ ﺕﺪﻣ ﺭﺍﺰﻬﮑﻳ ﻭ ﺖﺸﻫ ﺪﺻ ﻝﺎﺳ ﺎﺗ ﻭﺩ ﺭﺍﺰﻫ

ﻝﺎﺳ ﭘ ﺶﻴ ﺯﺍﻦﻳ ﺭﺩ ﻥﺎﺘﺳﺭﺎﺨﺗ ﺭﺎﺗﯽﺨﻳ ﻥﺎﺑﺯ ﻢﻠﮑﺗ ﻭ ﺮﺤﺗﺮﻳ ﻭ ﺏﺩﺍ ﻭ

ﺭﺎﺑﺭﺩ ،ﻩﺩﻮﺑ ﻪﮐ ﺍﮏﻨﻳ ٢۵ ﺮﻄﺳ

ﻪﺘﺷﻮﻧ ﺍﺮﻧﺁ ﺭﺩ ﺩﻭﺪﺣ ١۶٠ ﻆﻔﻟ ﻥﺎﻤﻬﺑ

ﻞﮑﺷ ﺪﻗﻢﻳ ﻭ ﺮﺻﺎﻨﻋ ﻦﻬﮐ ﺭﺎﺗ ﯽﺨﻳ ﺭﺩ ﺖﺳﺩ ﺭﺍﺩ،ﻢﻳ ﻭ ﺑﺎﻨﺑ ﻥﺍﺮ ﻒﺸﮐ

ﺍﻦﻳ ﮓﻨﺳ

ﻪﺘﺸﺒﻧ ﺎﻬﺒﻧﺍﺮﮔ. ﻟﻮﺤﺗﯽ ﺍﺭ ﺭﺩ ﻢﻟﺎﻋ ﻥﺎﺑﺯ ﺳﺎﻨﺷﯽ ﻭ ﺎﺗ ﺭ ﺦﻳ

ﺑﺩﺍﺕﺎﻴ ﻥﺎﺘﺴﻧﺎﻐﻓﺍ ﺩﻮﺟﻮﺑ ﻣﯽ ،ﺩﺭﻭﺁ ﻭ ﺎﻘﻋﺪﻳ ﻪﻨﻬﮐ ﺍﺭ ﻝﺰﻟﺰﺘﻣ ﻣﺪﻧﺍﺩﺮﮕﻴ .

“

[The latest scientific theory that suggests Dari, the

language spoken in Afghanistan, is not a sub-branch

of Pahlavi has been convincingly proven by a recently

discovered stone inscription in Baghlan Sorkh Kotal

(pass), located in Takharistan. Based on the evidence

presented by the Baghlan find, specifically the

inscription stone written in the Takhari Dari language

and Greek calligraphy style, it can be concluded that

the present Dari language did not originate from the

Pahlavi language. Instead, it is evident that 1800-

2000 years ago in ancient Takharistan, this language

was used for speech, writing, and literature, and even

as the court language. Now in existence is a 25-line

inscription comprising approximately 160 words.

This inscription bears the same old form and ancient

historical elements, consequently making this

petroglyph invaluable. It significantly contributes to

the field of linguistics and Afghan literature's history,

and challenges prior beliefs.] (1345)

Scientists have recorded the existence of the Dari

language prior to the ascension of the Sassanid

dynasty. Notably, Afghan orientalist M.H. Yamin

provides insight into this matter:

ﻥﺎﺑﺯ ﺭﺩی ﻞﺒﻗ ﺯﺍ ﺭﺍﺮﻗﺮﺑی ﻧﺎﺳﺎﺳﻥﺎﻴ ﺭﺩ ﺣﺍﻮﻧﯽ ﺮﺘﺧﺎﺑ(ﺮﺘﮐﺎﺑ ﺎﻳ)

ﻭﺭ ﻪﺑ ﺘﺴﻫ ﯽ ﻣ ﯽ ؛ﺩﺭﺍﺬﮔ ﻪﮑﻧﺎﻨﭼ ﺭﺩ

ﺮﺧﺍﻭﺍ ﻧﺎﺳﺎﺳ ﯽ ﻭ ﺯﺎﻏﺁ ﻩﺭﻭﺩ

ﻣﻼﺳﺍ ﯽ ﻪﻧﻮﻤﻧ ﺎﻫ ی ﺯﺍ ﻥﺁ ﺭﺩ ﺐﺘﮐ ﺭﺎﺗﯽﺨﻳ ﻭ ﻓﺍﺮﻐﺟ ﻪﻴ ﻮﻧﻥﺎﺴﻳ ﺏﺮﻋ

ﺩﻩﺪﻳ ﻣﯽ ﺩﻮﺷ ...“ .

[...The Dari language existed in the region of

Bactria before the Sassanid dynasty. For instance, its

usage can be witnessed in the writings of Arab

historians and geographers who lived during the

concluding days of Sassanid reign and the early

Islamic era...] (1393.)

P.M. Haidarjubal also confirms the above points:

ﻥﺎﺑﺯ ﺭﺩ ی... ﺦﻳﺭﺎﺗ ﺰﻴﭼ ﻢﮐ ﻭﺩ ﺭﺍﺰﻫ ﻝﺎﺳ [ﺩﺭﺍﺩ] ، ﺭﺩ ﻩﺭﻭﺩ ﺎﻫ ی

ﻞﺒﻗ ﺯﺍ ﻡﻼﺳﺍ ﺩﻮﺟﻭ ﻪﺘـﺷﺍﺩ ﻭ ﺭﺩ ﻥﺎﺘﺴﻧﺎﻐﻓﺍ [ ﻥﺎﺳﺍﺮﺧ ﻦﻬﮐ] ﺩﻮﺟﻮﺑ ﻩﺪﻣﺁ

... ﺖـﺴﺨﻧ ﻥﺎﺑﺯ ﻡﺩﺮﻣ ﻥﺎﺳﺍﺮﺧ ﻩﺩﻮﺑ ﻭ

ﺍﺪﻌﺑ ﺭﺎﺸـﺘﻧﺍ ﻥﺁ ﻪﺑ ﺏﺮﻏ [ﻥﺍﺮﻳﺍ

ﺯﻭﺮﻣﺍ] ﺕﺭﻮـﺻ ﻪﺘـﻓﺮﮔ ... “.

[The Dari language…, with a history of almost

two thousand years, dates to pre-Islamic times and

emerged in Afghanistan (ancient Khorasan)...

Originally the language of the people of Khurasan, it

later spread to the west (now Iran)..... ] (1379.)

It is evident that " ﮓﻨﻫﺮﻓ ﮕﻧﺎﻬﺟیﺮﻴ " Farhang-e

Jahângiri (Dictionary of Jahangir) by Husayn Inju

distinguishes between Dari and Pahlavi (Persian)

languages as separate entities:

ﯽﺳﺭﺎﭘ ﻧﺎﺑﺯﯽ ﺍﺭ ﻮﮔﺪﻨﻳ ﻪﮐ ﺭﺩ ﺩﻼﺑ ﺱﺭﺎﭘ ﻪﮐ ﮏﻠﻤﻟﺍﺭﺍﺩ

ﻥﺁ

ﺖﺳﺍﺮﺨﺘﺳﺍ ﻥﺎﻣﺩﺮﻣ ﻥﺍﺪﺑ ﻦﺨﺳ ،ﺪﻨﮐ ﻭ ﺮﺨﺘﺳﺍ ﻝﻭﺍ ﺮﻬﺷﺖﺴﻳ ﻪﮐ

ﮐﺙﺮﻣﻮﻴ ﺎﻨﺑ ﻩﺩﺮﮐ ﻭ ﺪﻬﻋ ﭘ ﻥﺎﻳﺩﺍﺪﺸﻴ ﺎﻐﺑ ﺖﻳ ﻧﺍﺩﺎﺑﺁ ﯽ ﺳﺭﻩﺪﻴ ﻭ ﺭﺩ

ﺴﻘﺗﯽﻤﻠﻳﺩﺮﻴ ﺭﻮﻄﺴﻣ ﺖﺳﺍ... ﻡﻭﺩ ﺭﺩی ،ﺖﺳﺍ ﻫﻭﺮﮔﯽ ﺭﺩی ﺍﺭ ﻪﺑ

ﺼﻓﺢﻴ ﺒﻌﺗﺮﻴ ﻩﺩﻮﻤﻧ ،ﺪﻧﺍ ﻭ ﻧﺰﻴ ﻪﺘﻔﮔ ﺪﻧﺍ ﻪﮐ ﺮﻫ ﺘﻐﻟﯽ ﻪﮐ ﺭﺩ ﻥﺁ ﻧﺎﺼﻘﻧ ﯽ

ﺩﻮﺒﻧ ﺭﺩی ،ﺪﺷﺎﺑ ... ﻭ ﻀﻌﺑﯽ ﻪﺘﻔﮔ ﺪﻧﺍ ﻪﮐ ﺭﺩی ﺘﻐﻟﯽ ﺪﺷﺎﺑ ﻪﮐ ﻥﺎﮑﺳ

ﺪﻨﭼ ﺮﻬﺷ ﻥﺍﺪﺑ ﻖﻄﻨﺗ ﺎﻤﻧ،ﺪﻨﻳ ﻭ ﻥﺁ ﺎﻫﺮﻬﺷ ﺦﻠﺑ ﻣﺎﺑﯽ ﻭ ﻭﺮﻣ ﻥﺎﺠﻬﺷ ﻭ

ﺍﺭﺎﺨﺑ ،ﺩﻮﺑ ﻭ ﺭﺩ ﺑﺎﺘﮐﯽ ﺩﻩﺪﻳ

ﻡﺍ ﻪﮐ ﺭﺩ ی ﺖﻐﻟ ﻡﺩﺮﻣ ﺖﺴﻧﺎﺸﺧﺪﺑ ﻭ

ﻪﻗﺮﻓ

ﻩﺩﺭﻭﺁ ﺪﻧﺍ ﻪﮐ ﻧﺎﺑﺯﯽ ﺍﺭ ﻪﮐ ﻥﺎﻣﺩﺮﻣ ﻩﺎﮔﺭﺩ ﮐ ﻥﺎﻴ ﻥﺂﺑ ﻠﮑﺘﻣ ﻢ ﻣﻩﺪﺸﻴ ﺪﻧﺍ

ﺭﺩی ﻨﻣﺎﻧﺪ... ﻡﻮﺳ ﻮﻠﻬﭘ ی ،ﺩﻮﺑ ﻮﻠﻬﭘ ﻡﺎﻧ ﺭﺪﭘ ﺱﺭﺎﭘ ﺖﺳﺍ ﻪﮐ ﺍﻦﻳ ﺖﻐﻟ

ﺯﺍ ﻥﺎﺑﺯ ﻭﺍ ﻔﺘﺴﻣﺾﻴ ،ﻪﺘﺸﮔ

ﻭ ﻪﻗﺮﻓ ﻪﺑ ﺑﻥﺎﻴ ﻩﺩﺭﻭﺁ ﺪﻧﺍ ﻪﮐ ﻮﻠﻬﭘ ﺏﻮﺴﻨﻣ

ﻪﺑ ﻪﻠﻬﭘ ،ﺪﺷﺎﺑ ﻭ ﻪﻠﻬﭘ ﺭی ﻭ ﻥﺎﻬﭙﺳﺍ ﻭ ﺩﺭﻮﻨﻳ ﺖﺳﺍ “.

[Persian is the language spoken by the inhabitants

of the land of Pors, with its capital in Istakhr. Istakhr

was constructed by Kiyumars and was the first city in

the region to prosper during the Pishdadi dynasty.

However, it was destroyed during the Daylami

dynasty. The second language is Dari. Some describe

it as a beautiful language and believe that any word

spoken with precision is considered Darician. It is

spoken by people residing in the cities of Balkh, Merv

and Bukhara. According to a book I read, Dari is also

Theoretical Perspectives on the Genesis of the Dari Language

spoken by the people of Badakhshan and was once a

language of the Kiyani state. The third item concerns

the Pahlavi language, which was named after the

father of Pahlaw Pors. The term "Pahlaw" is believed

to have originated from the name Pahla, which

encompassed the cities of Ray, Isfahan, and Dinur.]

(1351).

Muhammad Husain Tabrizi also expresses a

similar opinion in the dictionary “ ﻥﺎﻫﺮﺑ ﻊﻁﺎﻗ ” Borhân-

e qâte ("Strict Evidences"):

یﺭﺩ ﺖﺴﻧﺁ ﻪﮐ ﺭﺩ ﻥﺁ ﻧﺎﺼﻘﻧﯽ ﺩﻮﺒﻧ ﻮﭽﻤﻫ: ﺮﺑﺍﻢﺸﻳ ﻭ ﭙﺳﺍﺪﻴ ﻭ ﻢﮑﺷﺍ

ﻭ ﺮﺘﺷﺍ ﻭ ﻭﺮﺑ ﻭ ﻭﺪﺑ ﻭ ﻮﮕﺑ ﻭ ﻮﻨﺸﺑ ﻭ ﻝﺎﺜﻣﺍ ﺎﻬﻧﺁ. ﺲﭘ ﺮﺑﻢﺸﻳ ﻭ ﭙﺳﺪﻴ ﻭ

ﻢﮑﺷ ﻭ ﺮﺘﺷ ﻭ ﻭﺭ

ﻭ ﻭﺩ ﻭ ﻮﮔ ﻭ ﻮﻨﺷ ﺭﺩی ﺪﺷﺎﺒﻧ ﻭ ﺪﻨﭼ ﺩﺮﮕﻳ ﺭﺩ ﺭﺎﺘﻔﮔ

ﻢﻬﻧ ﺭﺩ ﺑ ﻥﺎﻴ ﻝﺍﺩ ﻭ ﺍﺭی ﺑ ﯽ ﻪﻄﻘﻧ ﺭﻮﮐﺬﻣ ﺖﺳﺍ. ﻭ ﻮﻠﻬﭘ ی ﺏﻮﺴﻨﻣ ﺖﺳﺍ

ﻪﺑ” ﻪﻠﻬﭘ“ ﻪﮐ ﭘ ﺭﺪ ﺱﺭﺎﭘ ﻭ ﺮﺴﭘ ﻡﺎﺳ ﻦﺑ ﺡﻮﻧ ﺪﺷﺎﺑ ﻭ

ﺍﻦﻳ ﺖﻐﻟ ﺯﺍ ﻥﺎﺑﺯ

ﻭﺍ ﻔﺘﺴﻣﺾﻴ ﻪﺘﺸﮔ. ﻀﻌﺑﯽ ﻮﮔﺪﻨﻳ ﻪﮐ ﺏﻮﺴﻨﻣ ﺖﺳﺍ ﻪﺑ” ﻪﻠﻬﭘ“ ﻪﮐ ﻥﺁ

ﻻﻭ ﺖﻳ ﺭ ی ﻭ ﻥﺎﻬﻔﺳﺍ ﻭ ﺩ ﺭﻮﻨﻳ ،ﺪﺷﺎﺑ ﯽﻨﻌﻳ ﻥﺎﺑﺯ ﻡﺩﺮﻣ ﻥﺁ ﻻﻭ ﺖﻳ ﺖﺳﺍ .

ﻌﻤﺟﻭﯽ ﺮﺑ ﺪﻨﻧﺁ ﻪﮐ ﻮﻠﻬﭘی ﻥﺎﺑﺯ ﺮﻬﺷ ی ،ﺖﺳﺍ

ﻪﭼ” ﻪﻠﻬﭘ“ ﻨﻌﻤﺑﯽ ﺮﻬﺷ

ﻧﺰﻴ ﻩﺪﻣﺁ ﺖﺳﺍ. ﻭ ﺳﺭﺎﭘﯽ ﻧﺎﺑﺯﯽ ﺍﺭ ﻮﮔﺪﻨﻳ ﻪﮐ ﺭﺩ ﻻﻭ ﺖﻳ ﺱﺭﺎﭘ – ﻪﮐ

ﮏﻠﻤﻟﺍﺭﺍﺩ ﺮﺨﺘﺳﺍ ﺖﺳﺍ – ﻥﺎﻣﺩﺮﻣ ﻥﺍﺪﺑ ﻦﺨﺳ ﺪﻨﻨﮐ ﻭ ﺪﻌﺑ ﺯﺍ ﺑﺮﻋ ﯽ

ﻧﺎﺑﺯﯽ ﺮﺘﻬﺑ ﺯﺍ ﺳﺭﺎﭘﯽ ﻧﺖﺴﻴ “ .

[The Dari language boasts a range of words that

are free from defects; for instance, abrišom, aspid,

eškam, oštor, beraw, bedaw, begu, bešenaw, and

more. Conversely, words like barišom, sapid, šekam,

šotor, raw, daw, gu, and šenaw are not Dari, and this

was conveyed in the ninth conversation, which

covered the sounds of dol and dotless ro. The term

Pahlavi (language) alludes to Pahla, father of Pors and

son of Sam ibn Nuh, and the word has roots in his

language. Some suggest that the term Pahlavi

originates from the Pahla region, which unites the

areas of Rai, Isfahan, and Dinur. It is considered the

language of the people from this region.

Alternatively, some say that Pahlavi refers to the

language spoken in cities and that "Pahla" is also

occasionally used to refer to a city. Persian is spoken

by the inhabitants of the Pors region, with Istakhr as

its capital, and many consider it to be the second-best

language after Arabic.] (1343)

Thus, it is confirmed in the dictionaries that the

Persian language stemmed from Pahlavi and the Dari

language is independent. The definitions in the

dictionaries are alike, and the authors combined the

three languages described above into the term

'Common Persian Language', encompassing Iranian

languages, with grammatical notes interpreted as

Persian language rules.

M. Muin asserts that the “Borhân-e Qâte”

dictionary("Confirm Evidence"), was compiled in the

Dari language. Moreover, he cites that this dictionary

recorded Dari as an independent language prior to

Pahlavi (1343).

While Dari and Pahlavi share some similarities,

their origins are distinct. However, H. Yamin

disagrees with the aforementioned viewpoints and

contends that the Pahlavi language had its roots in the

name of the Pors region, not in the name of Pahla:

” ﻪﻤﻠﮐ ﻮﺛﺭﺎﭘ ی ﻧ ﺰﻴ ﻪﮐ ﺯﺍ ﺭ ﻪﺸﻳ ﺗﺭﺎﭘ ﻪﻴ ﻭ ﭘﺛﺭﺎ ﻪﻴ ﻖﺘﺸﻣ ﻩﺪﺷ ﺖﺳﺍ

ﻞﮑﺷ ﺘﺒﺴﻧ ﯽ ﻥﺁ ﻮﺛﺭﺎﭘ ی ﺩﻮﺑ ﻪﮐ

ﺍﺪﻌﺑ ﻮﻠﻬﭘ ی ﺩﺮﮔﻩﺪﻳ ؛ﺖﺳﺍ ﺯ ﺍﺮﻳ ﺭﺩ

ﺎﻬﻧﺎﺑﺯ

ی ﺍﯽﻧﺍﺮﻳ ﺪﺒﺗﻞﻳ /ﺭ/ ﻪﺑ /ﻝ/ ﻭ ﻝﺍﺪﺑﺍ /،ﺱ ﺙ/ ﻪﺑ /ﻩ/ ﮏﻳ ءﻪﺛﺩﺎﻫ

ﺩﺎﻋی ﻩﺩﻮﺑ ؛ﺖﺳﺍ ﻥﺍﺮﺑﺎﻨﺑ ﻮﺛﺮﭘ ی ﺪﺒﺗﻞﻳ ﻪﺑ ﻮﻠﻬﭘی ﺩﺮﮔﻩﺪﻳ ﺪﻌﺑ ﺎﺑﺁ ﺪﻘﺗ ﻢﻳ

ﻭ ﺧﺎﺗ ﺰﻴ ﻭﺮﺣ  / ﻝ/ ﻭ /ﻩ/ ﻞﮑﺷ ﻮﻠﻬﭘ

ی ﺍﺭ ﻪﺑ ﺩﻮﺧ ﻪﺘﻓﺮﮔ ؛ﺖﺳﺍ ﺪﺑ ﻦﻳ

ﻪﻧﻮﮔ ﻮﺛﺮﭘی ﺎﻫ (ﺎﻬﺗﺭﺎﭘ) ﻮﻠﻬﭘ ی ﺎﻫ ﻪﺘﻔﮔ ﻩﺪﺷ ﻭ ﻥﺎﺑﺯ ﻮﺛﺮﭘ ی ﻥﺎﺑﺯ

ﻮﻠﻬﭘی ﻣﺎﻧﻩﺪﻴ ﻩﺪﺷ ﺖﺳﺍ “.

The word Porsavi is derived from the root

morphemes Portia and Porsia, with its relative form

being porsavi. Later on, porsavi evolved into Pahlavi

due to the common Iranian practice of changing the

sound of 're' to 'lom' and the sound of 'sin' to 'ho-yi

havvaz'. As a result, the word Parsavi was

transformed into Pahlavi, and later, the sounds 'lom'

and 'ho-yi havvaz' were assimilated. Consequently,

the Parsavis (also known as Portians) were

subsequently referred to as Pahlavis, and the language

they spoke was known as the Pahlavi language.

According to M.H. Yamin's analysis, the Pahlavi

language originated from the Parsavi language, which

is an ancient form of Persian. During the period of

Middle Persian, it was known as Pahlavi and later

referred to as Persian or Farsi during the period of

New Persian. The study of the Persian language in

Iranian studies typically involves division into Old,

Middle, and New Persian languages. The Pahlavi

language is equivalent to the Middle Persian

language.

Western scholars, including Abdullah ibn

Muqaffa, P.N. Khanlari, Z. Safo, G. Lazard, and U.

Bimen, have proposed that the term "dari" is derived

from the Persian word for palace, "ﻩﺎﮔﺭﺩ" dargâh.

Specifically, P.N. Khanlari believes this to be the

case:

”... ﺳﺪﻘﻣﯽ ﺭﺩ ﺮﮐﺫ

ﻥﺎﺑﺯ ﻡﺩﺮﻣ ﺍﺭﺎﺨﺑ ﻣﯽ ﻮﻧ ﺪﺴﻳ ﻥﺎﺸﻧﺎﺑﺯ ﺭﺩ ی

ﺖﺳﺍ ﻭ ﺮﻫ ﻪﭼ ﺯﺍ ﻥﺁ ﻪﻧﻮﮔ ﺪﺷﺎﺑ ﺭﺩ ی ﻩﺪﻧﺍﻮﺧ ﻣﯽ ،ﺩﻮﺷ ﺯﺍﺮﻳ ﻪﮐ ﻥﺁ

ﻧﺎﺑﺯﯽ ﺖﺳﺍ ﻪﮐ ﻪﺑ ﻥﺁ ﻪﻣﺎﻧ ﺎﻫ ی ﻩﺎﺷ ﺍﺭ ﻣﯽ ﻮﻧﺪﻨﺴﻳ ﻭ ﺎﺑ ﻥﺁ ﺮﻋﻪﻀﻳ ﻪﺑ

ﺎﺷﻩ

ﻣﯽ ،ﺪﻨﺘﺳﺮﻓ ﻭ ﻕﺎﻘﺘﺷﺍ ﻥﺁ ﺯﺍ ﺭﺩ ﺖﺳﺍ ﻪﮐ ﺏﺎﺑ (ﻩﺎﮔﺭﺩ) ﺪﺷﺎﺑ ﯽﻨﻌﻳ

ﻥﺁ ﻧﺎﺑﺯﯽ ﺖﺳﺍ ﻪﮐ ﺭﺩ ﻩﺎﮔﺭﺩ (ﻩﺎﺷ) ﻪﺑ ﻥﺁ ﻮﮕﺘﻔﮔ ﻣ ﯽ ﺪﻨﻨﮐ “.

[Muqaddasi noted that the people of Bukhara

speak Dari and that this language is used for all

official correspondence, including letters and

petitions addressed to the king. The term "Dari" is

derived from "dar", meaning palace, as it was spoken

in the royal court.]

Some scholars suggest that the word "dari"

originated from "ﻩﺭﺩ" dara. This concept was

originally introduced in the explanation of the term

Dari found in Allahdad Fayzi ibn Asadululamo

Alisher al-Sarhindi's " ﺭﺍﺪﻣ ﻞﺿﺎﻓﻻﺍ " Madār-ul-afāzel

("Circle of Scholars") dictionary. Additionally, it can

PAMIR-2 2023 - The Second Pamir Transboundary Conference for Sustainable Societies- | PAMIR

also be observed in the introduction of R. Rahin's

book " ﺖﺷﺬﮔﺮﺳ ﻥﺎﺑﺯ ﺳﺭﺎﻓ ﯽ ﺭﺩ ی ” Sargozašt-e zabân-e

fársi-ye dari ("History of Farsi-ye Dari Language"):

” ﯽﺳﺭﺎﻓ ﺭﺩ ی ﺏﻮﺴﻨﻣ ﻪﺑ ﻩﺭﺩ ٔ ﻩﻮﮐ ﺍﺭ ﻧ ﺰﻴ ﻮﮔ،ﺪﻨﻳ ﻥﻮﭽﻤﻫ ﮏﺒﮐ

ﺭﺩی. ﺪﻤﺤﻣ ﻩﺎﺷﺩﺎﭘ ﺫﺎﺷ ﺭﺩ ﺏﺎﺘﮐ ﺩﻮﺧ ﻪﺑ ﻡﺎﻧ ﺱﻮﻣﺎﻗ ﺝﺍﺭﺪﻨﻧﺁ ﻮﮔﺪﻨﻳ :

ﺭﺩی ﻧﺎﺑﺯﯽ ﺖﺳﺍ ﺯﺍ ﺖﻔﻫ ﻥﺎﺑﺯ ﺳﺭﺎﻓﯽ ﻪﮐ

ﻪﺑ

ﻩﺭﺩ ﻩﻮﮐ ﺏﻮﺴﻨﻣ ﺖﺳﺍ ،

ﻪﭼ ﺭﺩ ﻥﺎﺑﺯ ﻖﺑﺎﺳ ﺭﺩ ﻩﺭﺩ ﺎﻫی ﻩﻮﮐ ،ﺎﻫ ﺎﺘﺳﻭﺭﻥﺎﻴﻳ ﻥﺍﺪﺑ ﻖﻁﺎﻧ ﺪﻧﺩﻮﺑ “.

[It is suggested that the name "Dari" originates

from the term Farsi-ye Dari, meaning mountain

gorge, such as the Dara kaklig. According to Shahz's

King Muhammad in his book "Anandroj Dictionary,"

the Dari language belongs to the valley situated at the

base of the mountains, and it is one of the seven

languages of Persian. The inhabitants of the

mountainous foothills and villages spoke this

language.] (Rahin R. 1388)

There is an alternative view that suggests the term

"Dari" actually originates from the Tahari language,

as demonstrated by the sound change of ﺎﺧ x in the

word " ﺭﺎﺨﺗی " taxâri, which was altered to ﺎﻫ h and

subsequently lost the ﺍ alef to become Tahri. The ﺎﺗ t

sound then changed to ﻝﺍﺩ d, resulting in the evolution

from " ﺮﻬﺗی " to " ﺮﻫﺩی " and finally to " ﺭﺩی " dari (Rahin

R. 1388).

We believe that the notion that Dari is only

referred to as such due to its association with the court

is incorrect. Due to the aforementioned facts, the Dari

language was spoken by the inhabitants of the

Ancient Khurasan, Mashriq, and Balkh regions

before it was adopted as the court language. The

language grew in prominence during the reign of the

Sasanian dynasty (3-6th centuries) and became the

official language of the court.

Scholars commonly cite the use of Dari and

Persian names by poets as evidence that Dari is a

dialect of Persian. For example, the translation of

“ ﺮﻴﺴﻔﺗ

ﺮﺒﻁ ی ”Tafsir-e Tabari (961 (962) - 975

(976)) in Persian is initiated as below:

” ﻭ ﺍ ﻦﻳ ﺏﺎﺘﮐ ﺴﻔﺗ ﺮﻴ گﺭﺰﺑ ﺖﺳﺍ ﺯﺍ ﺍﻭﺭ ﺖﻳ ﺪﻤﺤﻣ ﻦﺑ ﺮﺟ ﺮﻳ

ﺮﺒﻄﻟﺍی... ﻪﻤﺟﺮﺗ ﻩﺩﺮﮐ ﻪﺑ ﻥﺎﺑﺯ ﺳﺭﺎﭘ ﯽ ﻭ ﺭﺩی ﻩﺍﺭ ﺖﺳﺍﺭ “ .

[and this book is a great commentary on the

narration of Muhammad ibn Jarir At-Tabari...

translated literally into Persian and Dari.]

Balaamy writes in the Arabic preface to “ ﺭﺎﺗ ﺦﻳ

ﺮﺒﻁی ” Târix-e Tabari ("The History of Tabari"):

” ﺪ

ﻘ

ﻓ

ﻪ

ﺘ

ﻤ

ﺟ

ﺮ

ﺗ ﺔﻐﻠ

ﺑ ﻪ

ﻴﺳﺭﺎﻔﻟﺍ ﻪ

ﻳﺭﺪﻟﺍ “ .

[I translated this book into Persian.] (Tabari N.

1339.)

It should be said here that P.N. Khanlari From

Firdavsi:

ﺩﻮﻣﺮﻔﺑ ﺎﺗ ﺳﺭﺎﭘﯽ ﻭ ﺭﺩ ی ﺪﻨﺘﺸﺒﻧ ﻭ ﻩﺎﺗﻮﺧ ﺪﺷ ﺭﻭﺍﺩ ی

[Writing in Persian and Dari was ordered and the

debate was short]

Quoting a sentence from the source, the author

expressed their assumption that the "w" and

connective were added by the scribe when combining

Persian and Dari. Additionally, they mentioned the

potential to interpret Farsi as a colloquial language

and Dari as an indication of the specific Persian

dialect. According to O. Ismailov, it was believed by

Firdavsi that Persian was the colloquial language and

Dari was the official state language on this continent.

The decree was issued by the ruler in both the official

language of the palace and the everyday vernacular.

As the poet stated, "Conflicts and quarrels have

ended".

Since the 10th century, the use of Dari, Persian,

and Pahlavi languages in prose and poetry samples

has led to numerous complications. For instance,

Firdawsi employed Dari, Persian (Persian), Pahlavi,

and Middle Persian names in "Shahnoma".

J. Humayi explains that the use of Dari and

Persian languages simultaneously in poetry is a

common practice. It is important to note that the poet

uses the language for specific purposes with intention

and care. The poet does not let one language dominate

the other; instead, they balance the two languages to

create a unique and harmonious blend. Additionally,

the use of Dari and Persian gives the poet access to a

wider range of vocabulary, allowing for more

expressive and precise language. Thus, this linguistic

practice is a testament to the richness of the Persian

literary tradition.

” ﻥﺎﻨﭼ ﻪﮐ ﻣﻢﻴﻧﺍﺪﻴ ﻮﻧ ﻩﺪﻨﺴﻳ ﻥﺎﮔ ﻭ ﺍﺮﻌﺷ ی

ﺪﻗﻢﻳ ﺍ ﻥﺍﺮﻳ ﺮﻌﺷ ﻭ ﺮﺜﻧ

ﺩﻮﺧ ﺍﺭ ﺭﺩی ﻣﯽ ﻣﺎﻧﺪﻧﺪﻴ ﻭ ﺍﻦﻳ ﻥﺎﺑﺯ ﺍﺭ ﻪﺑ ﺘﻠﻋ ﯽ ﻥﺎﺑﺯ ﺳﺭﺎﻓﯽ ﻢﻫ

ﻣ ﺪﻨﻳﻮﮕﻴ ﻭ ﺯﺍ ﺳﺭﺎﻓﯽ ﺭﺩ ﺍﺎﺠﻨﻳ ﺩﺍﺮﻣ ﺍ ﺖﺴﻴﻧﺍﺮﻳ “.

[It is known that ancient Iranian writers and poets

referred to their poetry and prose as Dari, which is

also known as Persian.]

Persian is derived from the name of the country,

Iran. Thus, when poets referred to the Persian

language, they were referring to the language of the

Pors region.

Sources note that during the initial centuries of the

Islamic era, the Dari colloquial language lacked

unification and consisted of numerous local forms

(Lazard G. 2014). Eventually, these variations

merged into two primary dialects, namely: 1)

northeastern, covering Khurasan, Mowarounnahr,

and the northern region of present-day Afghanistan;

2) southern, consisting of the area ranging from

Khuzestan to Seistan (Lazard G. 2014).

Ancient texts, written in the Arabic script, were

based on the northeastern dialect. Dari literature

blossomed during the Samanid reign in

Movarounnahr and Khorasan regions for the first

time. Poets and writers from other parts of Iran drew

Theoretical Perspectives on the Genesis of the Dari Language

inspiration from their Eastern counterparts in the 10th

and 11th centuries. J. Lazard noted that they purged

the language of certain regional aspects. This action

was taken since the poetry of the Samanid epoch in

Movarounnahr used many local words; Asadi Tusi's

book " ﻐﻟ ﺖ ﺱﺮﻓ " Loǧat-e Furs ("Persian Dictionary")

records this phenomenon. The Loǧat-e Furs was

created specifically for readers in western Iran who

are unfamiliar with certain words. However, the

language used by the writers in their work was based

on the Northeastern dialect, which resulted in the

development of the classical Dari language. Afghan

scientist M.H. Tanvir said that the Dari language is

not a dialect, but an independent language in his

article. The etymology of the Dari language is very

well explained in this article. According to the

scientist, those who still call the Dari language

“Persian” stole the ideas of Iranian scientists. They

damaged the prestige of the Dari language without

learning it themselves. He points out that the language

policy carried out in Iran had a direct impact on

Afghanistan, which was reflected in the studies of

scientists who consider the Dari language to be a

dialect (https://www.heratonline.com/farhang/tarikh

_zaban_dari.html).

The influence of the Dari language on the Pahlavi

language is acknowledged historically. However,

Iranian scholars' perception of the Dari language as a

dialect and efforts to expand the Persian language's

sphere of influence can be seen as language policy

imposition. A review of existing research on Dari and

Persian linguistics reveals that most researchers have

relied on the works of Iranian scholars.

After the Samanid dynasty ascended to power in

the 9th century, both Dari and Arabic languages

gained greater influence, which accelerated the

impact on the Persian language. Consequently, Dari

has become a language acclaimed for not merely

palace discourse, but also scientific and poetic

discourse. Many works have been translated into

Dari. The Dari language's status as a Persian dialect

despite being the language used by scientists and

poets in court is puzzling.

One explanation for this is the increasing

influence of Persian during the Safavid dynasty

(1502-1736). Ismail Safavi I, the dynasty's founder,

came from the Azaris of the Pors region, and the

territories he conquered didn't include the Balkh

region. Therefore, he designated Persian as the

language of the court. Subsequently, he elevated the

status of Turkish to that of the state's official

language, garnering adulation from Azerbaijanis.

Additionally, it must be remembered that the term

'Persian' in the phrase 'Dari language belonging to the

Persian languages' in the aforementioned works and

explanatory dictionaries refers to Iranian languages.

According to G. Lazard, the term "Farsi-ye Dari"

referred to the new Persian language, which was

popular until the 11th century. The poets who wrote

in New Persian found it more convenient to write in

the Dari language with Arabic script, which they

called "Farsi-ye Dari" (10th to 11th centuries - X.U.).

Lazard argues that the term "Farsi-ye Dari" originated

during the Sassanid period. Later, as the Middle

Persian language began to fade, the suffix "Farsi-ye

Dari" no longer required the inclusion of the word

Dari. Consequently, it was removed from the term,

ultimately leading to the creation of the term "Farsi

language".

By the mid-18th century, the Baburi dynasty

(Mongols - L.N. Kiseleva) in the east and the Safavid

kingdom in the west had joined the Afghan territories

to form an independent state called Afghanistan (the

Durrani kingdom was established in 1747 - X.U.).

The state declared "Indian Persian" or "Afghan

Persian" as the official language of the region, which

is today known as "Dari". As per

L.N. Kiseleva's account, this amalgamation was

carried out objectively and cohesively without any

subjective evaluations. This language, spoken in

Iran, differs from the standard literary language. Its

peculiarities are not only in its lexicon but also in its

many Hindi acquisitions, phonological, and

morphological systems. The archaic elements of the

phonemes ô and ê and the forms of the verb system

were preserved during the historical period.

Scholars have given this language various names,

including Farsi-ye Kabuli (Dorofeeva L.N. 1960.)

and Kābulī Persian (Bogdanov L. 1930.). The

frequent references to the Dari language in various

works and its presence in poetic samples demonstrate

its dominant position in the past. Thus, designating

the Dari language as Farsi-ye Dari or Farsi-ye Kabuli

is unnecessary.

U.A. Rubinchik (1960) has noted that the modern

Persian and Tajik languages have changed the further

development of the Dari language, concluding that

they are two branches of the same language. In

conclusion, these two sources present different

perspectives on the relationship between these

languages/dialects. Meanwhile, M.N. Saidi (1392)

considers Dari, Persian, and Tajik to be three

geographical dialects of the Persian language, with

Persian being the original language with various

dialects in different regions.

PAMIR-2 2023 - The Second Pamir Transboundary Conference for Sustainable Societies- | PAMIR

5 CONCLUSIONS

In 1964, the official status of Dari and its designation

as a distinct language in Article 3 of the Afghan

Constitution provide evidence of its restored

authority. It is incorrect to conflate Dari and Persian

or classify Dari as a dialect.

Dari can be traced back almost 2,000 years, with

sources mentioning it dating as far back as the 10th

century. The earliest relics composed in the Dari

tongue are stone carvings discovered in the region of

Sorkh Kotal within the Baghlan Valley. These

inscriptions signified a significant shift in the

evolution of Dari as a language, evidencing its

autonomy from Pahlavi and Persian tongues.

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