The Persian Language as a Factor in Iran's External Cultural Policy

Haghbin Mohsen Postgraduate student; Department of World Culture; Moscow State Linguistic University 119034, Russia, Moscow, Ostozhenka str., 38 p. 1 mohsen.h8866@gmail.com

Introduction

Language as a cultural phenomenon is one of the most significant elements of the international dialogue. The German educator and philosopher I. G. Herder writes that "language is the seal of our mind, thanks to which the mind acquires a visible appearance and is passed on from generation to generation" ^{[1, p. 250]}. According to him, "all sciences and arts known to the human race are created by imitation, reason and language" ^{[1, p. 255]}. In the cultural sphere, Herder emphasized the importance of language and literature. He was convinced that language is not only a tool for communication, but also a carrier of cultural values and ideas. Literature can also be used to emphasize a particular cultural value, to express it through art and poetry. M.M. Bakhtin was one of those researchers who made a significant contribution to the development of intercultural dialogue. He proposed to look at how different and sometimes fundamentally different cultures interact with each other in a completely new way: they coexist for a long time and cannot but touch each other ^{[3, p. 207]}.

The States, realizing the importance of intercultural dialogue, are making efforts to build a language policy that is aimed both at strengthening the position of the national language within the country and abroad.

Modern economic and socio-cultural processes are dialectical in nature, so phenomena such as globalization and internationalization have their opposites – localization and radicalization. The tension between them, their oppositionalism, produces questions that provoke discussion in the world of humanities, trying to see the outlines of the future.

The collapse of the Soviet Union and the subsequent formation and demarcation of new borders in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, along with the expansion of the European Union, led to a resurgence of polities and the emergence of supra-states with new challenges: defining the official language and minority languages. Due to the emergence of new difficulties of a political, cultural and linguistic nature, the need to develop an optimal language policy becomes urgent. The formation of economic unions in different regions of the world (for example, ASEAN in Southeast Asia and MERCOSUR in Latin America) also ask similar cultural and linguistic questions about which languages will be used and for what purposes ^[6].

The language policy of the State is a set of measures and initiatives implemented by the Government in order to protect the linguistic rights and interests of citizens. This includes the official languages used in state and local institutions, educational institutions, the media, as well as in business and other fields ^[4]. Language policy is multifaceted, as it can be both motivating and coercive. It includes aspects such as the allocation of an official language, bilingualism or trilingualism, strategic multilingualism, policies of assimilation, non-interference, sectoral policies, policies of differentiated legal status, internationalization of language applied to community languages, and a mixed language policy. It includes a number of sequential steps directed from theory to practice and includes defining its goals, identifying tasks that need to be solved and direct implementation ^{[2, p. 11]}.

This article mainly examines strategies for popularizing the Persian language as the official language of Iran and in intercultural communications, including in dialogue with Russia.

The Persian language as a cultural phenomenon and measures to support it at the state level

The Persian language plays a fundamental role in the cultural heritage of the Iranian people. This language is the means of communication for the majority of the inhabitants of the Iranian highlands, citizens of Afghanistan and Tajikistan, who officially speak Farsi. In addition, the local dialects of the tribes around Iran are also included in the linguistic family of the Iranian language. In general, the Persian language, along with Pashto, Kurdish, Baloch, Tajik, Ossetian, Gilaki and Mazanderan languages, belongs to the subgroups of the Iranian languages included in the Aryan (Indo-Iranian) branch of the Indo-European family. Only Azerbaijani languages (with a Persian accent), Turkmen, which belongs to the Altaic (Turkic) family, as well as Oghuz or southwestern Turkic languages on Iranian territory are considered independent. However, among these language groups, many speak the official Persian language. So native speakers of these languages in different countries of the region communicate and are connected with each other, and this contributes to their development and dissemination ^{[9, pp. 18-19]}.

Perhaps the best way to define and understand the state cultural policy is to refer to official state documents (for example, the constitution), therefore, the fundamental documents of the Islamic Republic of Iran will be analyzed to identify the role of the Persian language and the mechanisms for its maintenance.

Article 15 of the Iranian Constitution deals with language issues and emphasizes the official status of the Persian language. A special role is also given to the Persian script, which is mandatory for the functioning of the official language. Official status implies the use of language in office work, official texts, and education. The national languages of the peoples of Iran can be used along with Persian in the media, as well as when studying national literatures in schools. The Arabic language also has a special role in the education system. Article 16 of the Iranian Constitution states that it is the language of the Koran, Islamic sciences, and also that this language influenced the development of Persian literature. For these reasons, he must teach in all grades from elementary school to high school graduation^[1].

The Document on the Prospects of 2025 of the Islamic Republic of Iran^[2] emphasizes the strengthening of unity and national identity based on the principles of Islam, the Islamic Revolution and the Islamic Republic. In addition, knowledge of Iranian-Islamic history, culture, civilization, and art, including the Persian language, are factors contributing to maintaining unity. "Attention to the Persian language and literature, its strengthening, popularization and expansion" is included in paragraph No. 7 of the "Principles of Cultural Policy of the Islamic Republic"^[3], approved by the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution in 1992.

Also, the "comprehensive document of international scientific relations of Iran, approved on March 6, 2018, emphasizes the expansion and application of methods and tools for promoting the Persian language in order to improve its position among international scientific languages."

It is worth noting that the "Document on the Fundamental Transformation of Enlightenment and Education", approved by the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution on September 27, 2011, emphasizes "ensuring (providing) the opportunity to teach a foreign language as part of the optional part of the curriculum in compliance with the principle of establishing and strengthening Islamic-Iranian identity"^[4].

It should be noted that the problem of learning foreign languages is becoming at the highest state level. Thus, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, at a meeting with teachers and educators, criticized the trend of excessive emphasis on learning English in Iranian schools. In particular, he stated: "This insistence on promoting the English language in our country is wrong. Of course, it is necessary to know a foreign language, but a foreign language is not limited only to English, English is not the only language of science. Why don't schools assign other languages as subjects for learning foreign languages? Why is there such persistence in English, because there are also French and German languages? The languages of the developed Eastern countries are also foreign, and they are also the languages of science" ^[7].

Thus, when considering the fundamental state documents of Iran, it should be emphasized that the country's cultural policy is based on language planning, thus, Persian is the official language, it is also a symbol of the national and cultural identity of Iranians, English is the language of international communication, and Arabic is the language of the Koran and the Islamic world.

Next, we will talk about the language policy of the Iranian state aimed at promoting and popularizing the Persian language outside the country.

Socio-cultural trends of the Saadi Foundation in Iran's language policy abroad

Currently, the promotion of the national language abroad as an element of the policy of "soft power" carries a huge potential in intercultural communications and is considered a long-term and profitable investment in the strategic policy of states.

The Persian language and literature, as one of the components and resources for the realization of Iran's "soft power," along with national customs and rituals such as the celebration of Nowruz, have potentials through which Tehran, as part of the realization of its "soft power," can promote them around the world, especially in relation to countries that share common cultural and civilizational The roots are with Iran, including in the region of Central Asia and the Indian Subcontinent ^{[10, p. 123]}.

Iranian scholar M.R. Dehiri believes that "one of the goals of Tehran's cultural diplomacy is to develop and popularize the Persian script and language in the world, especially in the countries of the Nowruz region. The Persian language as a common element of the culture of the countries of the region plays a key role in the continuity and cohesion of the territories associated with the territory of cultural Iran" ^{[8, pp. 174-175]}.

Thus, the management of cross-border national language teaching is one of the most important tasks of many States. Currently, this approach is considered one of the key components of public diplomacy. The British – through the British Council, the French – through the Alliance Francaise, the Germans – through the Goethe Institute, the Spaniards – through the Cervantes Institute and the Chinese – through the Confucius Foundation. Russian Russian Language Foundation performs this function in the Russian Federation, which promotes the Russian language and supports Russian language learning programs abroad.

To accomplish this task, the Saadi Foundation was established in Iran, named after the great poet Saadi Shirazi, the author of Golestan and Bustan, which were created in Persian and are part of Iran's cultural heritage. The Charter of the Saadi Foundation, approved at the 673rd meeting of the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution on October 26, 2010, states: "In order to spread the Persian language and literature abroad, as well as for synergy and consistency in activities related to this area, a center called the Saadi Foundation is being established to, based on the objectives, He was responsible for the strategic management and implementation of educational, research, cultural and media activities in the field of the dissemination of Persian language and literature abroad in coordination with the Organization of Culture and Islamic Relations of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The pillars of the Foundation are as follows: 1 – the top management of the Foundation (the President of the country), 2 – the Board of Trustees of the Foundation, 3 – the Chairman of the Foundation.

It is worth noting that the membership of high-ranking government officials in the Foundation's Board of Trustees in itself determines their great synergy and coordination in promoting strategic policy and implementing educational, research, cultural and media activities focused on the Persian language. The Foundation does not have an independent representative office in countries where the Organization for Culture and Islamic Relations has cultural affairs attaches, so the attaché himself is considered a representative of the Saadi Foundation.

In order to familiarize foreign audiences with Iranian culture and history, it is necessary to create and multiply courses in Iranian studies and the Persian language abroad. Such a fundamental foundation as the Persian language forms the idea of the identity of the Iranian people. According to experts, the methods of its broad teaching need to be standardized, and based on these motives, the Saadi Foundation was established on April 21, 2013, as the central organizing body authorized to disseminate the Persian language and literature abroad. His activities are based on current global trends, and he has developed his own AMFA (Persian Language Skill Test) standard. The Saadi Foundation has Persian language learning centers both inside Iran and in more than 40 centers outside the country, while courses are conducted face-to-face and online ^[5].

The opening of the Persian Language Center at the Cultural Representation of Iran in Moscow in December 2015 in the presence of the head of the Foundation, G. Haddad Adel, and Russian and Iranian professors of the Persian language was one of the foundation's effective measures towards popularizing this language in Russia.

Persian language courses are held annually with the issuance of a certificate of completion, as well as master classes in Persian calligraphy. The celebration of Iranian national holidays (in particular, Nowruz, Yalda Night, perpetuation of the memory of Persian-speaking poets with the invitation of Iranian scholars, professors and students of the Persian language) are part of the multi-vector activities of this center. Moreover, these events are also held with the support of the Cultural Representation and the Center of the Persian Language in other Russian cities, such as St. Petersburg and Kazan, whose universities have departments of the Persian language.

Problems and prospects of development of cultural relations with the Russian Federation

Currently, Iran is looking for strategic partners within the framework of the "Look to the East" strategy. This strategy is aimed at the cultural and economic development of the countries of Eastern civilization. Iran's historical, cultural, and national characteristics indicate that it belongs to this type of civilization. The Russian Federation, as a key player in the Eurasian space, positively assesses this initiative. Both the Iranian strategy of "Looking East" and the Russian ideas of Eurasianism have much in common, which inevitably leads to a rapprochement between the countries. In addition, it is important to note that in relation to the Middle East and the Islamic world as a whole, Russia adheres to special positions within the framework of its strategy ^{[5, pp. 48-49]}. In addition, Iran's recent accession to organizations such as the SCO and BRICS, as well as the signing of a free trade agreement with the Eurasian Union, is a turning point in expanding Iran's trade and economic relations with the member states of these organizations, and all this requires all states, especially the Russian Federation and Iran, to purposefully build and promote their language policy, taking into account the realization of long-term and mutually beneficial interests in favor of the peoples of the two states.

The Russian language is of great importance for Russia as a tool for achieving strategic goals in foreign policy. This is done in accordance with the "Concept of state support and promotion of the Russian language abroad"^[6]. The widespread use of the language will contribute to a positive perception of Russia, as well as help improve diplomatic contacts.

Russian Russian was one of the first languages taught at the Faculty of Foreign Languages at the University of Tehran at the same time as the foundation of this university, but for two decades the Russian language was not taken very seriously. Perhaps the reason was Iran's excessive attention to the development of Western languages, especially English. However, the growing relations between Iran and Russia have contributed to the fact that the Iranian authorities have begun to pay more attention to teaching Russian in Iran. Currently, Russian language departments exist in more than 10 Iranian universities. In April 2017, the Russian World Foundation Center was opened at the University of Tehran in the presence of Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Education and Science V. Nikonov. The foundation's centers were also opened at other Iranian universities, for example, at Firdowsi University in Mashhad, Isfahan University and Gilan University.

In April 2018, a meeting was held in the State Duma between the Chairman of the Committee on Education and Science V. Nikonov and the then Iranian Minister of Education and Upbringing of Iran S. M. Batkhai. The parties discussed the prospects for the development of education systems in Russia and Iran, and special attention was paid to strengthening educational and humanitarian ties, including school, student and academic exchanges, and especially the study of the Russian language in Iran. The parties stressed the importance of creating a working group to expand linguistic cooperation^[7].

During the All-Russian competition "Teacher of the Year 2023" in Sochi, Vladimir Putin, the President of the Russian Federation, said: "We have very good relations with Iran, and we will do everything possible to develop this." In his opinion, Russia is interested in establishing Russian-language educational institutions with Russian methods of teaching and raising children in countries such as Iran^[8].

Conclusion

Summarizing all the above statements, it can be confirmed that in the context of globalization, language is increasingly becoming the most important tool for the implementation of integration processes and the development of intercultural communication between states, since it is a key factor in promoting common values of countries and at the same time contributes to the expansion of cultural and humanitarian relations in various fields.

Iran's emphasis on popularizing the Persian language in the countries celebrating Novruz, as well as neighboring countries, its desire to demonopolize the English language inside, its proximity to Russia, which has many cultural and historical similarities with Iran, and their simultaneous membership in regional and international structures such as the SCO, BRICS and the EAEU, require more attention from The authorities of both countries are involved in developing a targeted language policy towards each other.

The emphasis of the authorities of both Russia and Iran on the importance of language as one of the most important factors in the implementation of "soft power" in cultural diplomacy and their efforts to strengthen and promote the national language of their country among the peoples of other countries has a positive impact on the development of all areas of cooperation, including cultural, economic and military between the two states, which guarantees the realization of the national interests of the two countries in the region.

Therefore, in order to strengthen the cultural rapprochement between the two countries, it is recommended to conclude memoranda, agreements and contracts in Russian and Persian, which should be put on the agenda of the two states. Of course, it is considered necessary to cooperate with the two competing Foundations Saadi and Russian World in holding joint events, such as honoring celebrities, poets and writers of these countries, as well as cultural exhibitions, festivals, cinemas, etc. in order to strengthen the solidarity of peoples and familiarize them with the culture of another country.

^[1] URL: https://www.shora-gc.ir/0001Dv (Date of request: 09/16/2024)

^[2] URL: https://www.shora-gc.ir/00004t (Date of request: 08/18/2024)

^[3] URL: https://www.pcci.ir/fa/tahghighat/entesharat/magazin/faslname2/siyasat (Date of request: 09/20/2024)

^[4] URL: https://sccr.ir / (Date of access: 08/23/2024)

^[5] URL: https://saadifoundation.ir/fa (Date of request: 09/11/2024)

^[6] URL: http://kremlin.ru/acts/news/50644 (Date of request: 09/23/2024)

^[7] URL: http://duma.gov.ru/news/26807 (Date of request: 07/21/2024)

^[8] URL: https://ria.ru/20231004/iran-1900559287.html (Date of request: 08/15/2024)