Introduction:

In the past few years, there has been a tendency to replace the adjective “Persian” by “Farsi”. These discussions over the usage of Farsi in European languages has long existed among Iranians, especially Iranian immigrants. As usual, some agree and others disagree. The official language of Iran is sometimes called Farsi in English and other languages. This is a correct transliteration of the native name of the language, however many, including the ISO and the Academy of Persian Language and Literature, prefer the name Persian for the language. Some speakers use the older local name: Parsi. In English, the word Persian has profound historical and cultural connotations, from Persian Empire (good or bad) to Classical Persian Literature. Persian is closely associated with Persian poetry, Persian carpets, and so on. Reputable organizations (such as the BBC and the Universities of Cambridge, Oxford, London, etc.) utilize the word Persian. (more…)