Book

Grammar of Modern Persian

📖 Overview

A Grammar of Modern Persian by John Andrew Boyle presents a systematic overview of Persian language structure and usage. The text covers phonology, morphology, syntax and other key grammatical elements of Persian as spoken and written in the mid-20th century. The book contains detailed explanations of Persian verb conjugations, noun declensions, and sentence construction patterns. Example sentences and passages demonstrate the practical application of grammatical concepts. Charts, tables and appendices provide reference materials for Persian language learners and scholars. The work maintains a focus on standard literary Persian while acknowledging some dialectal variations. The text serves as both a practical manual for Persian language study and a scholarly examination of Persian linguistic structures. Its approach bridges descriptive linguistics and pedagogical grammar in ways that influenced later works on Persian language instruction.

👀 Reviews

There are not enough internet reviews to create a summary of this book. Instead, here is a summary of reviews of John Andrew Boyle's overall work: Boyle's translations receive consistent praise from academics and advanced students for their accurate rendition of medieval Persian texts. Readers highlight his detailed footnotes and historical context as particularly valuable for understanding complex source materials. What readers liked: - Clear, precise translations that maintain scholarly rigor - Comprehensive annotations and references - Makes difficult medieval texts accessible to English readers - Reliable as primary research sources What readers disliked: - Dense academic writing style can be challenging for general readers - Limited availability of some works - High cost of academic editions - Some translations lack maps and visual aids Reviews are primarily found in academic journals rather than consumer platforms. On Goodreads, his translation of "The History of the World-Conqueror" maintains a 4.5/5 rating, though with a small sample size (under 50 reviews). Academic reviewers frequently cite his translations as authoritative references for Persian studies and Mongol history research.

📚 Similar books

Modern Persian Grammar by Gernot Windfuhr This reference provides detailed explanations of Persian syntax, morphology, and phonology with examples from contemporary usage.

A New Persian Grammar by Ann K. S. Lambton The text presents Persian language structures through systematic descriptions and traditional grammatical categories.

Persian: A Comprehensive Grammar by Saeed Yousef This work covers Persian grammar from basic to advanced concepts with emphasis on formal and colloquial usage patterns.

Persian Grammar: For Reference and Revision by John Mace The book breaks down complex Persian grammatical concepts into digestible sections with clear examples and explanations.

The Routledge Intermediate Persian Course by Dominic Parviz Brookshaw and Pouneh Shabani-Jadidi This text bridges elementary and advanced Persian through grammar instruction integrated with authentic cultural materials.

🤔 Interesting facts

📚 John Andrew Boyle was a renowned British orientalist who specialized in Persian and Mongol history, teaching at the University of Manchester and later becoming Professor of Persian Studies at Oxford. 🌟 The book was published in 1966 and remains one of the earliest comprehensive English-language guides to modern Persian grammar written for academic audiences. 🔤 Persian (Farsi) uses a modified version of the Arabic alphabet, but unlike Arabic, it belongs to the Indo-European language family, making it linguistically related to English. 📖 The grammar text notably includes sections on both formal written Persian and colloquial spoken forms, addressing a divide that significantly impacts modern Persian language usage. 🎓 Boyle's work influenced generations of Persian language scholars and served as a foundation for many later academic works on Persian linguistics and grammar, particularly in Western universities.