IRANIAN: SOGDIAN & MIDDLE PERSIAN

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Sogdian Language:
Sogdian was an Eastern Iranian language spoken by the Sogdian people in Central Asia, primarily in the historical region of Sogdiana, which included parts of modern-day Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. It flourished between the 4th century BCE and the 10th century CE and served as a major lingua franca along the Silk Road due to the Sogdians' prominence in trade and commerce. Written in a variety of scripts, including the Sogdian alphabet derived from Aramaic, it was used for religious texts, especially by Buddhists, Manichaeans, and Nestorian Christians. Though now extinct, Sogdian influenced several Central Asian languages and left a lasting legacy on the cultural and linguistic landscape of the region.

Middle Persian Language:
Middle Persian, also known as Pahlavi, was the official language of the Sasanian Empire (224–651 CE) and the direct linguistic ancestor of Modern Persian (Farsi). It originated in southwestern Iran, particularly in the region of Parsa (modern Fars), and belonged to the Southwestern branch of the Western Iranian languages. Middle Persian was used in royal inscriptions, religious texts of Zoroastrianism and Manichaeism, and administrative documents. It was written primarily in the Pahlavi script, which was also derived from Aramaic and contained many logograms, making it complex to read.

Connection Between Sogdian and Middle Persian:
Sogdian and Middle Persian both belong to the Iranian branch of the Indo-Iranian language family, but they represent distinct subgroups—Eastern and Western Iranian, respectively. Despite a shared ancestry and some cognates, they are not mutually intelligible due to major differences in phonology, grammar, and meaning. Similar words often appear in different contexts or have evolved significantly in form and usage.

This video is created for educational, language awareness, and language preservation purposes. It aims to provide valuable insights and knowledge to viewers, enhancing their understanding and appreciation of different languages and their unique characteristics. By raising awareness about linguistic diversity, the video seeks to foster a greater respect and recognition for various languages, particularly those that are endangered or underrepresented. Additionally, it contributes to the preservation of languages by documenting and sharing linguistic knowledge, thus ensuring that these languages and their cultural heritage are not lost to future generations.

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