Introduction

The Turkish and Persian languages, despite their distinct origins, share a surprising number of words that reflect a rich history of cultural exchange and historical ties. While Turkish traces its roots to the Altaic language family and Persian is part of the Iranic group, there are significant linguistic overlaps. This article explores these shared words, their origins, and the broader implications of this linguistic cross-pollination.

Origins and Language Dynamics

Historically, the Turkish language has borrowed extensively from various Iranian languages, including Pahlavi/Iranian, which is often confused with Middle Persian. The claim that Pahlavi is Middle Persian is typically made by nationalist Persians, but evidence suggests closer ties to modern Kurmanc Kurdish. This linguistic borrowing is evident in simple conjunctions such as Berhevdana pehlew kurmanc and Berhevdana pehlew kurd faris.

Persian and Turkish: A Linguistic Tale of Mutual Influence

It is important to acknowledge that the borrowing of words from one language to another is not a one-sided affair. Swedish linguist Lars Johanson posits that since the time of Middle Persian, Persian has continually moved towards a gradual merging with Turkish. This is further exemplified by the insightful work of German orientalist Gerhard Doerfer, who documented 267 Turkish elements even in the letter 'A' in his four-volume book. This intricate linguistic story reflects a deep historical and cultural exchange between these two languages.

Academic Inspections: Historical and Linguistic Research

Academic research further supports this cross-pollination. For instance, an article by Mehdi Rzai from Tehran Allama Tabatabai University highlights the abundance of Turkish materials in Persian source materials across various fields. He suggests that to comprehensively determine the vocabulary of Turkish, scholars should carefully examine Persian historical texts alongside Turkish ones. This research underscores the significance of bilingual studies in understanding the historical and cultural dynamics between these languages.

Shared Words and Their Significance

Many of the shared words between Turkish and Persian reflect everyday concepts and cultural elements. Below is a list of Turkish words with Persian origins:

Food and Daily Life

tOban: A type of cheese tEme: A type of cloth or fabric tKk: A type of saffron or spice tNar: Orange, fruit tBahadr: Brave, heroic tEnderun: Imperial school in the Ottoman Empire tAbdest: A form of ritual purification in Islam tNiyaz: Need, demand tGünah: Sin, guilt tDert: Sorrow, sadness tEfsane: Myth, legend tAhu: A Persian name tElmas: Diamond tAmbar: Warehouse, store tIncir: Fig, fruit tSüvari: Foot soldier, cavalryman tAte: Sandal, foot covering tAvaz: Singing, voice tAa: A name tAzad: Free, independent tAzlamak: To blame

Actions and Concepts

tBezm: A type of poetry tBilader: An ancient Persian title tPirin: An oriental dance tBülent: A Turkish name tBur: A word representing a resting place or camp tAbuk: The homeland of a group tAdr: A name tики: A name tЭки: Two, a numeral tember: A type of tree tare: A name tsatran: A name or a type of container trah: A name tDefter: A book for keeping accounts, a record book tDergah: A lodge for Sufi Dervishes tderman: To cure, heal tdest and deste: A type of unit in military organization, a group of tents tdev: A monster in myth and folklore tduvar: Wall tdost: Friend, companion tdürüst: Honest, loyal tfilozof: Philosopher tferman: A formal order or decree tgerdan: Cheek, side of the face tcevher: Essence, quality tgirift: Joint, join thafta: Week, seven days them: Half, a fraction thamal: Carrier, bearer tendam: Member, part thengame: Silence, quietness terk: Male, masculine ther/herkes: Everyone, all people tcад: Heart tciger: Liver, organ tcam: Glass, transparent material tcenk: Strength, power tceyrek: Quarter, a fourth of something tkemer: Belt, strap tkenar: Edge, border tkr: A name tküük: A type of dish tmert: Brave, courageous tmh: A name tmeyve: Fruit, produce tmus: A type of substance or material tmühür: A seal, used for signing documents tname: A name tNergiz: A Persian name tney: A type of flute tnazik: Gentle, kind tnian: A name tpeynir: Cheese tperde: Curtain, screen tperi: A type of fairy in Persian folklore tpiyade: Infantry, foot soldiers tpeygamber: Prophet, messenger of God tpeyman: Contract, treaty tfil: Elephant, a large land animal tpir: A title of respect in Persian tbostan: Orchard, garden tpeder: Father, a type of unfilled date tparümen: A type of mask or disguise tpa: A name tpeyman: Agreement, vow tcan: Life, soul tie: A name treit: A name torospu: A type of flower tserman: A type of food or substance tsatran: A name ttandr: A type of decorative element tturu: A type of tree or plant ttuhum: Corn, grain ttaht: Floor, platform tarmut: Pomegranate, a fruit tbahar: Spring, season

Conclusion

The shared vocabulary between Turkish and Persian not only enriches each language but also provides a window into the rich intercultural history between these two significant language families. While the Turkish language has borrowed words from Persian, it is also important to recognize the mutual influence and the ongoing exchange that continues to shape these languages today. This linguistic cross-pollination highlights the dynamic and evolving nature of language and the importance of interdisciplinary research in understanding such phenomena.