Examining the role of educational dictionaries in the consolidation of Persian language in Indian subcontinent )on the basis of Mahmoudi dictionary(

Introduction

Lexicography in Persian language, in addition to what is related to Iran, owes to two neighboring countries, Indian subcontinent and Ottoman Empire, where Iran's rich culture has dominated uniquely for centuries. After the attack of Mahmud Ghaznavi and the formation of Islamic states in that land, language and literature of Iran were brought to the land of India and Pakistan, and Persian language was official language of the Sultansʼs Royal count of Delhi and Deccan for seven centuries. Therefore, the people of this land resorted to the vocabulary and grammar books to learn it in order to converse about economic, cultural, religious, governmental affairs, etc. The technique of "lexicography" was befittingly noticed among the literary and artistic techniques and many dictionaries were written in a variety of types such as subject, poetical, general, educational ones. Many dictionaries were compiled and educational dictionaries played a paramount role in adding Persian words to lexical memory of beginners with simple tongue and educational method, and using it according to the grammar by Persian dialect speakers of subcontinent and in doing so in propagation and consolidation of Persian in this land.

Methodology

In this essay, educational dictionaries in the subcontinent are introduced and their importance and linguistic characteristics are stated for the first time. Then a variety of forms of Persian in Mahmoudi dictionary is investigated by descriptive-analytical method and in terms of it. To explain the above categories, examples of Mahmoudi dictionary are presented with references to Persian verse and prose texts of the subcontinent and their correspondences with Persian, Urdu, Tajik and Afghanis dictionaries. Also, in another examining, the use of Persian words and compounds compared to Urdu language, as the most impressionable language of the subcontinent, is measured by statistical method.

Discussion

Educational dictionaries are a mixture of words, meanings, and grammar and written for beginners and students. This dictionaries are suitable pavement for linguistic researchers, especially to examine the imapct and effect of a foreign language on a another language. Some educational texts that have used dictionaries and grammar books for explaining their principles and concepts, could be among educational dictionaries, such as Jameʼ-e Qavaʼed-e Mazbut by Abd -ul Vaseʼe Hansavi. The characteristics of these dictionaries are:

The use of meanings with simple and obvious tongue, as such: embryo: belly baby ; hoof: horse nail.
Abbreviation of text content in order to avoid mind boredom of beginners.
Using special visual formats such as tables or lists in order to teach easily.
Explaining many linguistic issues such as Persian grammar rules, stylistic device, rhetoric, synonyms, similes, etc.
Citing numerous books and dictionaries in order to explain difficult topics.

The most important educational dictionary in the subcontinent are: Bahr ul-fazayel fi Manafeʼ ul-afazel, Majmuʼ ul-loqat, Taʼlif-e Yousefi, Meftah ul-loqat, Zarur ul-mobtadi, Karim ul-loqat, Vazirkhani dictionary, Chamanestan-e Taʼlim (Bahr ul-Taʼlim), Javaher ul-masaderm, Gholshan-e Alfaz, Mahmudi dictionary, etc.
Mahmudi dictionary written by Khaje MahmudAli HeydarAbadi in 1291 A.H. . This book is a mixture of Persian, Arabic, and Urdu words and is compiled in one introduction, three chapters and one conclusion in table format with the aim of teaching beginners. This dictionary has 8035 entries and 127 pages. Its grand part is dedicated to words and meanings. The final part of each chapter is dedicated to grammar, rhetoric, stylistic device, Abjad calculation, etc.
Linguistic research in this dictionary indicates that Persian words and compounds are used in it in several ways:

Iranian Persian language, sometimes mixed with simple and expressive Arabic words, such as Peymayesh: traverse; Nafarman: rebel; Yabab: ruined.
Non-Iranian Persian language especially Transoxianan: Some of these words and compounds are used in Tajikistan nowadays, such as: Chashnamaei: wrath; ChogholKhor: informer; joldu: tip.
Iranian Persian language which has evolved in meaning (Misleading Words): Words which are common in two languages in Pronunciation and spelling ​​but different in meaning, such as Murgh: Khorus (Hen: cock).
Iranian Persian language that has evolved in Pronunciation and spelling, such as: Saghar: goblet → Sagher ; Kharj: expense → Kharch ; Tapanche: slap → Tamanche.
Subcontinental Persian language: Words which are not common in Iranian Persian texts, such as: Azarmargi: epilepsy ; PayKhane: toilet.

In another research, the rate of use of Persian words and compounds compared to Urdu language in Mahmoudi dictionary was investigated. Out of 8035 entries in this dictionary, 3640 entries have meaning. Among these meanings, 2446 words are in Persian and 1194 words are in Urdu. in this book, Persian words and compounds accounted for 67.2% and Urdu words and compounds accounted for 32.8%.

Conclusion

Educational dictionaries are short dictionaries, with simple tongue and expressive meanings, usually in the form of a table or list of words which are written for beginners and teachers. These types of dictionaries, which are often a mixture of words, meanings, grammar and stylistic device, are considered a kind of textbook and play an effective role in adding words to the lexical memory of new learners and how to use words correctly according to grammar in their daily conversations.
In the study which was carried out in the Mahmoudi dictionary as an example of this type of dictionaries, a variety of forms of the Persian language used in it were examined; Such as Iranian Persian, non-Iranian Persian, especially Transoxianan Persian, subcontinental Persian, evolved Persian language in meaning (Misleading Words), etc. In another study, the usage rate of Persian words and compounds compared to Urdu language was evaluated.
So, Persian language, through educational dictionaries forming about 60-70% of their vocabulary, has promoted and consolidated in the subcontinent in a variety of linguistic forms like semantic changes, phonetic and spelling developments, mixture with other dialect areas of Persian language, creating new words by Persian dialect speakers of the subcontinent, etc.