Stylistics of “Tarikh i Balami”

Abstract

AbstractTarikh i Balami", written by abu Ali Mohammad Ibn Abdollah Balami, Minister of Samanis in the fourth century, is one of the oldest books in Islamic period that contains the first step of creation till Arab raid and the prophet's life and the kings. Amir Mansur ibn Noah Samani ordered Translation of the book “Tarikh al-Omam va al-Muluk” of Tabari to his minister , Balami. But on several occasions he summarized The original book in the translation and used the other sources and removed something from his translation.  Different versions of this book show that many differences between eleven versions used for comparison, none of them became similar to each other. Replacing the oldest words with new words and the Arabic word with Persian word in the same meaning is one of problems that copyists have caused for stylistics of this book.  Writing "Tarikh i Balami" is related to the first period of Persian prose in Iran. During this time that took Samanis and Tahiris period, the authors have written in a simple style. This style of writing, also called Khurasani style, because the authors have lived in Khorasan. The style is also called Balami, the author of the book, because he was one of the most prominent writers of this genre.  Results of comparison between this book and the other books of this period, such as mughaddamih Shahnameh abu Mansuri, translation of Tafsir i Tabari, Hudud al-alam min al-Mashriq ela al-Maqrib, Tafsir i Pak and…. show that the most important stylistic features in its language level are significant in some areas. One of them is the author tried to use Persian words, but sometimes the shorter and more familiar Arabic words have been replaced. -       Some verbs used in specific ways, for example, the old prefixes “فرا”, “فرو”, “باز”,… are used with verbs. -       Using infinitives in a specific method for example “ندانستند که چه خواهد بودن”, -       Using intransitive verb in The transitive meaning like “ آنگاه که بخت نصر آن ٠زگت ویران کرده بود، توریت برگرفته بود و سوخته “,-       Creating a gap between the “نه” and verb for negation the verb for example “اندر سیاست نه روا باشد که ش٠ا را زنده ٠ان٠”,-       adding “ب” at the beginning of the verb to emphasize and deleting it from imperative verbs, -       Using “بوده بود” as a verb, Using “ا” in verbs for praying or for changing the meaning like “اگر خبر خیر است Ø®Ø‌سته ٠انیا و فال Ø®Ø‌سته ٠اناد از تو در فرزندان آد٠تا Ø‌هان باشد. و اگر بداست شو٠باشیا و فال شو٠٠اناد از تو تا Ø‌هان باشد.”… are some of the other stylistics Characteristics. Balami was very careful in translation to not affect his composition by the Arabic grammar. He has some innovations in translation too. Briefness, shortening sentences, using infinitives in a specific method, using abounded vocabularies, were seen in his Prose. Beauty metrics in writing have been different from those of now. For example, repeating verbs, nouns and prepositions at that time were popular and beautiful in prose but these techniques can be avoided these days. We may not be able to comment on the intellectual level by reading this book, because this book is a translated work of Mohammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari. For example, it can be spoken about sentences that he added to the original book after quoting histories. In this case it can be said he has been logical and wise man. There are some instances of this case. For example, he has written after the three narrations About the death of Moses: “ these three narrations are superstitions and it is not appropriate to this book and those possess knowledge do not accept them.” But about the Iranian pre-Islamic stories he has added to the original book like “Bahram i Choobin” story, it can be said that it was because of his sense of patriotism. Because he has been one of pure Iranian families, the Balamis, he has tried to revive the Persian language and national rites.References1.     Anonymous Aouthor (1939). Mo’jm ol-Tavarikh va al-Qasas. Tehran: Kulali Khavar press.2.     Arabi, MuhammadAli (1994). Translation Glossary Tabari commentary with The equivalent of Quran for Some words, Theses of MA, Mashad: Firdowsi University press.3.     Ashuri, Daryush (2001). Definitions and the concept of culture.Tehran: agah press.4.     Ayati, Abd al-Mohammad et al. (2007). 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Tehran: Fikr i Ruz press.13. Moein, Muhammad (2007). Moein Persian dictionary. Tehran: Farhang i Mahrukh press.14. Muvaffaq Hiravi, abuMansur Ali (2010). al-Abniye an Haqaiq al-Adwiyyih. Tehran: Tehran University.15. Rizazadehmalik, Rahim (2003). Preface of Shahnameh Abu Mansuri and the introduction of Shahnamih. Tehran: Golab press.16. Safa, Zabihullah (2007). Literary History of Iran. Tehran: Quqnus press.17. Shamisa, Sirus (2007). Stylistics. Tehran: Payam i Nur University.Sharifi, Muhammad (2008). Dictionary of Persian Literature . Tehran: Now and Moein presses.

Keywords

• keywords: Stylistics
• Balami
• word