Prof. Salimi Talks about Persian Language in the World of Globalisation

Directorate of International Academic Cooperation -

In his opening speech, President of Allameh Tabatabai University equaled the promotion of Persian Language with the development of a new world and hikmah (meaning wisdom) in the world today.

In the first day of the International Symposium of Heads of Persian Language and Literature, and Iranian Studies Departments, held 17 and 18 January 2017 in Allameh Tabataba'i University (ATU), Prof. Hossein Salimi, ATU President, hoped that holding this symposium could be a long step toward the promotion of Persian Language and its synergy. He then continued saying: "To sum up all new theories in Humanities and the new steps taken toward appreciation of social, political and humanities-related phenomena, human is living in a linguistic context. Social and human phenomena have a linguistic essence; thus, to know them, we have to know the linguistic foundations of different phenomena.

Describing Persian Language as one being much more than a simple dialect, literature, morphology, or means for expressing emotions in poetry, Prof. Salimi maintained: "Persian Language is a world; a world in which various semantic phenomena and networks emerge; accordingly, promotion of Persian Language is the development of a new world, a fresh hikmah (meaning wisdom), and a different system of awareness in the world today." He insisted that Persian Language is different semantic global network in which other types of social hikmah, thought, and life emerge.

Regarding the position of Persian Language in this world of globalisation, Prof. Salimi added: "In this world of globalisation, opportunity for expansion is more than before provided for languages as Persian, in which there are profound knowledge and lofty thoughts in reserve. [...] The age of globalisation provides the space for blossoming of Persian Language and World, and its semantic world for its enthusiasts." Prof. ATU President concluded his address asking the participants how we can bring about a new sort of epistemic life with Persian Language.