We’re excited to announce the arrival of the newest addition to the Living Language line: our Farsi online course comes out this week! In preparation, here’s a little more about Persian or Farsi (more on why these two names are used for the same language in a future post) and why it’s an excellent language to learn.
With over 100 million native-speakers around the world, Persian is spoken in today’s Iran (Farsi), Afghanistan (Dari) and Tajikistan (Tajiki). Regardless of the fact that Farsi is an Indo-European language, which makes it relatively easy to learn for English speakers, there are quite a few good reasons for learning it:
Farsi for Film Buffs:
Are you a film buff or a casual moviegoer? Either case, Iranian cinema is not to be missed. The films of Abbas Kiarostami, Samira Makhmalbaf and Majid Majidi (just to mention a few) have been internationally awarded many times around the world, not to mention the Oscar won by Asghar Farhadi in 2011 for جدایی نادر از سیمین (Literally meaning “The Separation of Nader from Simin”; however, simply referred to as “A Separation”). Yet, there are many masterpieces of Iranian cinema which have not been dubbed or subtitled, and knowing the language gives you access to them.
Understanding What the Poet Actually Said:
Studying literature produced by a particular culture is one of the best ways of understanding the subtleties of that culture. As representatives of one of the most ancient cultures in the world, Iranian poets have produced an unmatched volume of poetry written in Farsi, the language you are contemplating learning! Ever heard of Rumi? As he is one of the most widely-read poets in the US, why not learn the language in which he originally wrote the poems? Believe me, if you are dumbfounded by the beauty of his words in English, you may never recover from the beauty of his actual words in Farsi!
Dating an Iranian Guy or Girl:
This one does not need any explanation. Obviously, one of the best ways to impress anyone you fancy is saying something sweet in their native language, like “æzizæm” meaning “my dear”. In case you are dating an Iranian guy or girl, do not miss the chance to show your admiration by saying sweet things in Farsi, and most important of all, by communicating with their family in Farsi. This, for sure, will be a winning strategy!
Ordering the Right Food:
If you are a fan of Anthony Bourdian’s show, you may remember that he said this about Iran: “the rice in this country is like nothing you’ve ever had.” (You can watch his show on Iran “Unknown Iran” here.) Well… aren’t you tempted to try some yummy “čelo kæbab” (“steamed, saffroned rice and kebab”) if you have not already done so? Knowing the language helps you not only show off in a Persian restaurant, but actually order the right type of kebab or “xoreš” (“stew”), because we have so many of them!