The
Old Iranian Languages
All Iranian languages stem from a common proto-Iranian language.
This common (old Iranian) language in turn belongs to the
Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European
family of languages. Old Iranian language began to break
up and evolve into different languages and dialects, as
the various Iranian tribes separated and settled in vast
areas of southeastern Europe, the Iranian plateau, and central
Asia.
Basically,
linguists divide Old Iranian languages into two main groups:
- The
eastern group
- The
western group
The eastern
group includes the languages of the Sogdians, Khwarezmians,
Sakas, and the Avestan
(also known as Old Bactrian) language. The western group
on the other hand can be further divided into two groups:
- The
southwestern group
- The
northwestern group
The southwestern
branch encompasses the Old Persian
language, and the northwestern branch includes the Median
language.
The major
resources of Old Iranian languages are from the Old Persian
Achamaenid inscriptions,
and the Avesta
the holy book of the Zarathushtrians. A very limited number
of Mede and Saka words have also remained.
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