I recently had the good fortune to spend a few days in the great historic city of Samarqand, while the cities monumental historic architecture did not disappoint, what really drew me to Samarqand and impressed me was something else! In Samarqand, over 1000 kilometers away from Iran, I was able to speak Persian in all my interactions, just as I would on the streets of Tehran! I did not need to use a word of English or google translate there. In Samarqand, Persian is spoken by nearly everyone. Though unfortunately it has suffered neglect and not been recognized as an official language there for nearly 100 years, it remains the language of peoples hearts there.

The dialect spoken there is incredibly beautiful and includes many archaisms not found in Iranian Persian (especially as spoken by the older generation). So while they speak Persian, if you speak Tehrani Persian there, you will face some communication challenges. A basic knowledge of proper classical or Tajik Persian is necessary for good communication

It is such a pity that most tourists and the state neglect this extremely vital element of Samarqand’s culture, which in my opinion is even more precious than it’s architecture. As this language and culture is what has built the civilization behind this beautiful architecture that we see from Isfahan to Herat, and Samarqand.

Pictured: The magnificent exterior of Madressah Tillo Kori (built 1646 AD – 1660 AD) in Registan Square in Samarqand, Uzbekistan.