The Folklore and Informal Spoken and Written Elements at the Lexical Level of Some Translations of the Old Testament
Document Type : پژوهشی اصیل
Author
University of Birjand, Birjand, Iran
Abstract
One of the unknown types of Persian language and literature are translations of the Old Testament. Usually, the language of these texts is Persian and their script is Hebrew. One of the characteristics of this type of texts is the strong influence of Persian literature and vernacular language. In this article, based on sociolinguistics criteria, the spoken and written elements of some of these texts (translations of the Old Testament) have been examined. According to this study, the language of the aforementioned texts has been affected by the vernacular language in two aspects: first, phonetic transformations, which include the following: transformation of âm / ân > um / un, phonetic homogeneity, phonetic reduction, phonetic increase, different types of mutation and metathesis inversion. Second are dialectal words. The dialectal elements of any language have a close relationship with its vernacular language and literature. Informal written elements have also influenced these texts in two aspects: a. use of Hebrew script, b. spelling mistakes based on the present research. It can be concluded that this type of translation of the Old Testament is linguistically closer to the vernacular or at least informal type of language.
Keywords
Subjects
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Asmussen, J. P. (1968). Jewish-Persian Texts: introduction, selection, and glossary. Otto Harrasowitz.
Ben-Amos, D. (1999). Jewish folk literature. Oral Tradition, 14(1). 140-274.
Dabir-Moqaddam, M. (2007), language, variety, dialect and accent: local and global applications. Literature Study, 2(5), 91-128.
Fatuhi Roudmajani, M. (2011). Stylistics; theories, approaches and methods. Sokhn.
Foltz, R. C. (2004). Spirituality in the land of the noble: how Iran shaped the world’s religions. Religions Publishing House.
Ghani, N. (2009). A Study of some Ancient Judeo-Persian texts. Knowledge of Iran.
Ghasemi, Z. (2013). Literary style from the point of view of linguistics. Amir Kabir.
Gindin, T. E. (2014). The early Judaea-Persian Tafsirs of Ezekiel: text, translation, commentary. Vol. III: grammar (Veroffentlichungen zur Iranistik). Austrian Academy of Sciences.
Haddad Adel, Gh. (2003). An introduction to popular vocabulary. Farhangistan Letter, 6(2), 2-8.
Hamid, H. (1997). Ismaili influences on the thoughts of Moses Ibn Maimon the Jew. Iranistics, 9 (34), 285-303
Haqshenas, A. M. (2000). Persian folk culture or spoken language, which one? Nashr-e Danesh, 17(2), 59-65.
Haqshenas, A. M. (2011). Phonetics. Agah.
Hodge, C. (1957). Some aspects of Persian style. Language, 33, 355-369.
Ibn al-Nadim. (1971). The list (in Farsi). Reza Tajadod Publishing
Kahn, M., & Bernstein, J. (1981). Progress of the unchanged in Persian: dabestân vs. tâbestun. Acta Orientalia Hungarica, 35(1), 133-140.
Labov, W. (1972). Sociolinguistic patterns. University of Pennsylvania press.
Lazard, G. (1957). Contemporary Persian grammar (translated into Farsiby M. Bahraini). Hermes.
Lazard, G. (1968). La Dialectologie du Judeo-Persan. Studies in Bibliography and Booklore, 8, 77-98
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Mainz, E. (1977). Vocabulaire Judeo- Persan. Studia Iranica, 6, 75-95
Mainz, E. (1980). Le livre des Proverbes en judéo-persan. Journal Asiatique, 268, 71–106.
Marzolph. U. (1992). Judeo-Persian narratives. Jewish Folklore and Ethnology Review, 14. i-ii:14.
Meshkat al-Dini, M. (2000). Description and teaching of Persian language. Ferdowsi University Press.
Modarresi, Y. (2014). An introduction to the sociology of language. Institute for Humanities and Cultural Studies
Moreen, V. B. (1991a). The legend of Adam in the Judeo- Persian epic Bereshit [Namah] (14th Century). Proceedings of the American Academy for JewishResearch, 57, pp.156-178.
Moreen, V. B. (1991b). Moses, God’s shepherd: an episode from a Judeo-Persian epic. Prooftexts, 11, 107-30.
Moreen, V. B. (1994). Dialogue between God and Satan in Shahin’s Bereshit Nama. Irano-Judaica III. Ed. by Sh. Shaked and A. Netzer. Jerusalem: Ben-Zvi Institute. pp. 127-141.
Moreen, V. B. (2000). In Queen Esther’s garden: an anthology of Judeo-Persian literature. Yale University Press.
Motamedi, M. (2010). Rare words and grammatical features of a Judeo-Persian text. Farhangestan Letter, 12(3), 66-93.
Mukhtarian, J. (2015). Rabbis, Sorcerers, kings and priests: Talmud culture in ancient Iran (translated into Farsi by V. Soleimani). Farhameh.
Najafi, A. (1999). Persian folk dictionary. Nilufar Publications.
Netzer, A. (1973). A selection of Persian poems from the works of Iranian Jews. Farhang Iran Zemin Publications
Nowrouzi, H. (2011). Introducing and examining some features of Pentateuch of London (PL), the oldest dated translation of the Torah in Persian-Hebrew script. Iranian Studies, 2(2), 123-105.
Nowrouzi, H. (2012). A discussion on the dialectology of Persian-Hebrew texts: the existence of eastern words in some southwestern texts. Literary research, 10(41), 132-99.
Nowrouzi, H. (2012). Etymology of some words in a translation of the Old Testament. Linguistics, 3(6), 121-153
Nowrozi, H., & Ghorbani Juibari, K. (2014). A suggestion for criticism some words in Persian-Hebrew texts. Heritage Mirror, 13(1), 329-356.
Oskui, N. (2014). The influence of popular culture on formal poetry. Persian Language and Literature Research Quarterly, 39, 1-22.
Paper, H. H. (1964). The Vatican Judeo-Persian Pentateuch: Genesis. Acta Orientalia, 28, 263–340.
Paper, H. H. (1965). The Vatican Judeo-Persian Pentateuch: exodus and Leviticus. Acta Orientalia, 29, 75–181.
Paper, H. H. (1966). The Vatican Judeo-Persian Pentateuch: Numbers. Acta Orientalia, 30, 253–310.
Paper, H. H. (1972). A Judeo-Persian Pentateuch, the text of the oldest Judeo-Persian Pentateuch translation. British Museum Ms. Or. 5446. Jerusalem and Leiden.
Patai, R. (1987). Folk Judaism (translated into Farsi by A. Musapour). Javana Tos. pp. 137-150.
Paul, L. (2013). A Grammar of early Judaeo-Persian. Reichert Verlag.
Piadekuhsar, A. (2010). The points of influence of Iranian beliefs on the Jewish religion from the path of revelationism. The Semi-Annual Specialized Rresearch Journal of Religions, 4(7), 47-81
Pirnazar, N. (2017). Cultural heritage of Iranian Jews, Judeo-Persian. Irannameg Book, pp. 9-45
Rezai Baghabidi, h. (2006). The oldest Persian texts in non-Arabic scripts (Hebrew, Syriac and Manichean). Academy letter, 8(2), 9-31.
Sadeghi, A. A. (1984). The transformation of an and am into on and om in spoken Persian and its historical background. Journal of Linguistics, 1(1), 52-71
Shaked, Sh. (2003). Early Judaeo-Persian texts, with notes on a commentary to genesis. Persian origins, Early Judaeo-Persian and the Emergence of New Persian, Collected Papers of the Symposium, Gottingen1999, Ed.i L. Paul. Wiesbaden.
Tharwat, M., & Anzabinejad, R. (1998). Contemporary dictionary. Sokhan.
Trudgill, P. (1974). Sociolinguistics: an introduction. Penguin.
Unknown. (1920). The bible. The Royal London Bible Society.
Vahidian Kamiyar, T. (1964). Grammar of Persian vernacular. Ferdowsi University Press.
Zolfaghari, H. (2014). Folk language and literature of Iran. The Organization for Researching and Composing University Textbooks in the Islamic Sciences and the Humanities (Samt).
Asmussen, J. P. (1968). Jewish-Persian Texts: introduction, selection, and glossary. Otto Harrasowitz.
Ben-Amos, D. (1999). Jewish folk literature. Oral Tradition, 14(1). 140-274.
Dabir-Moqaddam, M. (2007), language, variety, dialect and accent: local and global applications. Literature Study, 2(5), 91-128.
Fatuhi Roudmajani, M. (2011). Stylistics; theories, approaches and methods. Sokhn.
Foltz, R. C. (2004). Spirituality in the land of the noble: how Iran shaped the world’s religions. Religions Publishing House.
Ghani, N. (2009). A Study of some Ancient Judeo-Persian texts. Knowledge of Iran.
Ghasemi, Z. (2013). Literary style from the point of view of linguistics. Amir Kabir.
Gindin, T. E. (2014). The early Judaea-Persian Tafsirs of Ezekiel: text, translation, commentary. Vol. III: grammar (Veroffentlichungen zur Iranistik). Austrian Academy of Sciences.
Haddad Adel, Gh. (2003). An introduction to popular vocabulary. Farhangistan Letter, 6(2), 2-8.
Hamid, H. (1997). Ismaili influences on the thoughts of Moses Ibn Maimon the Jew. Iranistics, 9 (34), 285-303
Haqshenas, A. M. (2000). Persian folk culture or spoken language, which one? Nashr-e Danesh, 17(2), 59-65.
Haqshenas, A. M. (2011). Phonetics. Agah.
Hodge, C. (1957). Some aspects of Persian style. Language, 33, 355-369.
Ibn al-Nadim. (1971). The list (in Farsi). Reza Tajadod Publishing
Kahn, M., & Bernstein, J. (1981). Progress of the unchanged in Persian: dabestân vs. tâbestun. Acta Orientalia Hungarica, 35(1), 133-140.
Labov, W. (1972). Sociolinguistic patterns. University of Pennsylvania press.
Lazard, G. (1957). Contemporary Persian grammar (translated into Farsiby M. Bahraini). Hermes.
Lazard, G. (1968). La Dialectologie du Judeo-Persan. Studies in Bibliography and Booklore, 8, 77-98
Lazard, G. (1987). Le Judeo-Persan ancien entre le Pehlevi et Le Persan. Transition periods in Iranian History. Actes du symposium de Fribourg-en-Brisgau (22-24 Mai 1985). ed. Ph. Gignoux. Leuven, pp. 167-176.
Lazard, G. (1995). The formation of Persian language (translated into Farsi by M. Bahraini). Hermes.
Mackenzie, D. N. (1999). An early Jewish-Persian argument. Iranica Diversa, Ed. C. G. Cereti and L. Paul. 2 Vol. Serie Orientale Roma. Istituto Italiano Per l’africa l’oriente, pp. NA315-NA337.
Mainz, E. (1977). Vocabulaire Judeo- Persan. Studia Iranica, 6, 75-95
Mainz, E. (1980). Le livre des Proverbes en judéo-persan. Journal Asiatique, 268, 71–106.
Marzolph. U. (1992). Judeo-Persian narratives. Jewish Folklore and Ethnology Review, 14. i-ii:14.
Meshkat al-Dini, M. (2000). Description and teaching of Persian language. Ferdowsi University Press.
Modarresi, Y. (2014). An introduction to the sociology of language. Institute for Humanities and Cultural Studies
Moreen, V. B. (1991a). The legend of Adam in the Judeo- Persian epic Bereshit [Namah] (14th Century). Proceedings of the American Academy for JewishResearch, 57, pp.156-178.
Moreen, V. B. (1991b). Moses, God’s shepherd: an episode from a Judeo-Persian epic. Prooftexts, 11, 107-30.
Moreen, V. B. (1994). Dialogue between God and Satan in Shahin’s Bereshit Nama. Irano-Judaica III. Ed. by Sh. Shaked and A. Netzer. Jerusalem: Ben-Zvi Institute. pp. 127-141.
Moreen, V. B. (2000). In Queen Esther’s garden: an anthology of Judeo-Persian literature. Yale University Press.
Motamedi, M. (2010). Rare words and grammatical features of a Judeo-Persian text. Farhangestan Letter, 12(3), 66-93.
Mukhtarian, J. (2015). Rabbis, Sorcerers, kings and priests: Talmud culture in ancient Iran (translated into Farsi by V. Soleimani). Farhameh.
Najafi, A. (1999). Persian folk dictionary. Nilufar Publications.
Netzer, A. (1973). A selection of Persian poems from the works of Iranian Jews. Farhang Iran Zemin Publications
Nowrouzi, H. (2011). Introducing and examining some features of Pentateuch of London (PL), the oldest dated translation of the Torah in Persian-Hebrew script. Iranian Studies, 2(2), 123-105.
Nowrouzi, H. (2012). A discussion on the dialectology of Persian-Hebrew texts: the existence of eastern words in some southwestern texts. Literary research, 10(41), 132-99.
Nowrouzi, H. (2012). Etymology of some words in a translation of the Old Testament. Linguistics, 3(6), 121-153
Nowrozi, H., & Ghorbani Juibari, K. (2014). A suggestion for criticism some words in Persian-Hebrew texts. Heritage Mirror, 13(1), 329-356.
Oskui, N. (2014). The influence of popular culture on formal poetry. Persian Language and Literature Research Quarterly, 39, 1-22.
Paper, H. H. (1964). The Vatican Judeo-Persian Pentateuch: Genesis. Acta Orientalia, 28, 263–340.
Paper, H. H. (1965). The Vatican Judeo-Persian Pentateuch: exodus and Leviticus. Acta Orientalia, 29, 75–181.
Paper, H. H. (1966). The Vatican Judeo-Persian Pentateuch: Numbers. Acta Orientalia, 30, 253–310.
Paper, H. H. (1972). A Judeo-Persian Pentateuch, the text of the oldest Judeo-Persian Pentateuch translation. British Museum Ms. Or. 5446. Jerusalem and Leiden.
Patai, R. (1987). Folk Judaism (translated into Farsi by A. Musapour). Javana Tos. pp. 137-150.
Paul, L. (2013). A Grammar of early Judaeo-Persian. Reichert Verlag.
Piadekuhsar, A. (2010). The points of influence of Iranian beliefs on the Jewish religion from the path of revelationism. The Semi-Annual Specialized Rresearch Journal of Religions, 4(7), 47-81
Pirnazar, N. (2017). Cultural heritage of Iranian Jews, Judeo-Persian. Irannameg Book, pp. 9-45
Rezai Baghabidi, h. (2006). The oldest Persian texts in non-Arabic scripts (Hebrew, Syriac and Manichean). Academy letter, 8(2), 9-31.
Sadeghi, A. A. (1984). The transformation of an and am into on and om in spoken Persian and its historical background. Journal of Linguistics, 1(1), 52-71
Shaked, Sh. (2003). Early Judaeo-Persian texts, with notes on a commentary to genesis. Persian origins, Early Judaeo-Persian and the Emergence of New Persian, Collected Papers of the Symposium, Gottingen1999, Ed.i L. Paul. Wiesbaden.
Tharwat, M., & Anzabinejad, R. (1998). Contemporary dictionary. Sokhan.
Trudgill, P. (1974). Sociolinguistics: an introduction. Penguin.
Unknown. (1920). The bible. The Royal London Bible Society.
Vahidian Kamiyar, T. (1964). Grammar of Persian vernacular. Ferdowsi University Press.
Zolfaghari, H. (2014). Folk language and literature of Iran. The Organization for Researching and Composing University Textbooks in the Islamic Sciences and the Humanities (Samt).
