Analysis of Semantic and Reading-Manner Feedbacks of Persian Writing of Kurdish Toponym: A Case Study of Some Toponyms in Kermanshah Province

This research with descriptive–analytic method and case study, by studying some Kurdish Toponym in Kermanshah province, aims to analyze the semantic and reading manner feedbacks of Persian writing of Toponym, with regard to their meaning and reading manner among Kurdish speakers. This research also aims to consider the probable of damages caused by Persian writing to this Toponym. Findings of this research indicate that Persian writing of Kurdish Toponym in Kermanshah province reflects four types of semantic and reading feedbacks which include: (a) semantic and reading transformation of Toponym, (b) becoming meaningless and fading of Kurdish reading manner of Toponym, (c) meaning constancy of Toponym with their Persian equivalent and fading their Kurdish manner, and (d) approximate protection of Kurdish reading manner of Toponym and not-transferring its meaning to non-Kurdish speakers. In most of cases, Persian writing is done based on public etymology or the same etymology based on guess and supposition. With regard to mentioned results, this research reveals that Persian writing of Kurdish place names in Kermanshah province causes serious damages to original and native reading manner and meaning of Kurdish Toponym.
Introduction
Toponyms are those components that, by studying them, we can find something about hidden aspects of the past time of a nation in a special place, so any transformation without expertise in Toponymy causes the elimination of a part of cultural antecedent of a region and its population. In other words, Toponymy are words that are very important in terms of cultural, political, social, geographical, historical, etc. functions, and any non-scientific and unprofessional transformation of their vocabulary or semantic structure can cause irreparable damage to the accurate understanding of a culture’s past by future generations. Toponyms form the historical, genealogical, religious, and geographical identities of villages, cities, countries, and, more broadly, all places associated with them.  In this context, the Persian rendering of Kurdish toponyms includes transformations that may damage the original meanings and pronunciation of these place names. Thus, this research aims to analyze the semantic and reading impacts of the Persian transcription of Kurdish toponyms in Kermanshah Province by examining selected Kurdish place names and their meanings among Kurdish speakers
Methods
This research was conducted using a descriptive–analytic method combined with a case study approach. Rather than examining all Kurdish toponyms in Kermanshah Province, the researcher randomly selected and studied a number of representative examples to support the research hypothesis. This article aims to consider and analyze the Persian writing feedbacks of some Kurdish Toponyms in Kermanshah province, based on their reading and meaning among Kurdish speakers.  In this research, several toponyms from urban and rural areas, as well as other locations in the province, are studied in terms of meaning and Kurdish reading. These are then compared with their transformed forms in Persian writing, focusing on the changes in both reading and meaning.
Results
Findings of this research indicate that Persian writing of Kurdish Toponyms in Kermanshah province reflects four types of semantic and reading feedbacks which include: (a) semantic and reading transformation of Toponym, (b) becoming meaningless and fading of Kurdish reading manner of Toponym (c) meaning constancy of Toponym with their Persian equivalent and fading their Kurdish manner, and (d) approximate protection of Kurdish reading manner of Toponym and not-transferring its meaning to non-Kurdish speakers. In most cases, Persian writing is based on folk etymology, or etymological interpretation grounded in guesswork and supposition, rather than linguistic accuracy.
Conclusion
Persian writing of the Kurdish Toponymys of Kermanshah province is inevitable due to the standard and formality of the Persian language and this has caused many of these Toponymys to be written in Persian, during which four feedbacks have been created. In the first point of view, the semantic transformation of place name in the course of Persian writing is due to the popular etymology of place name, which is based on speculations that do not have a scientific basis (meaning Toponymy, onomastic, and etymology), without considering the meaning of the word in Kurdish language and dialect, and based solely on the appearance of a Kurdish word with a word in Persian, a Kurdish Toponymy is written by changing some consonants and vowels in Persian, and this causes a change in the Kurdish reading and a change in the meaning of the Toponymy. In the second type of feedback resulting from the Persian writing of Kurdish toponyms, the Kurdish reading of Toponymy is lost and a word is created that has no meaning. In other words, during this feedback, no effort is made to convey the original meaning of the placeholder or even to create a meaning that, while different from the original meaning, is comprehensible in Persian language. In the third type of feedback observed in the Persian writing of Kermanshah's Kurdish toponyms, there is an intentional effort to preserve the original meaning of the place name. In this approach, the toponym is translated into Persian, and its meaning directly corresponds to that of the original Kurdish name. However, during this process, the Kurdish reading is completely lost. In the fourth and final type of feedback, efforts are made to preserve the Kurdish reading of the toponym as closely as possible when writing it in Persian. Despite these efforts, due to the structural and semantic differences between Kurdish and Persian, the original meaning is not accurately conveyed to non-Kurdish speakers. In other words, while the toponyms may be read by non-Kurdish readers, they carry no special interpretation in Persian. For Kurdish speakers, however, these toponyms retain both their Kurdish meaning and authentic reading.
Therefore, in the course of Persian writing, in most cases, a part of the reading or the meaning of the Kurdish toponyms is often compromised. In cases where these two are preserved, the result is typically incomprehensible to non-Kurdish speakers. Based on these findings, this research proposes that in the process of writing Kurdish toponyms into Persian, emphasis should be placed on preserving the Kurdish reading, while also providing the Persian translation of the meaning alongside the toponym. This approach would both respect the cultural and linguistic integrity of Kurdish place names and enhance understanding for non-Kurdish speakers.
Ethical Considerations
Not applicable
Funding
Not applicable
Conflict of interest
The authors declare no conflict of interest.