We will time-travel to the time of Christ by looking at the language and culture of Afghanistan. In this PowerPoint, you will see a student’s wooden chalk board to help Afghan children learn verses from the Khoran, an Afghan Coloring Book, and a straw picture of Two Important Afghan Words: “Muhammad” and “Allah”
The Afghan language (Dari) is rich in metaphor. The Afghan word for a Prickly Pear Cactus is “zabane mader showhar” (which translates as “mother-in-law’s tongue.” The Afghan word for Ostrich is “shotor-morgh” which translates as “elephant hen.” The Afghan word for Popcorn is “chos e fil” which means “elephant’s fart. Another Afghan word for Popcorn is “pof e fil” which means “elephant’s puff.” The Afghan word for Lady Bird (the insect) is “kafsh duzak” which means “little shoe-smith.” A Turkey in Afghan Persian is “fil morgh” which means “elephant chicken.” And a Turtle is “sang posht” which means “rock back.”
Our favorite Afghan metaphor is their word for Walnut. A Walnjt is called “chahar maghs” which means “four brains.” If you think about it, that’s what a Walnut actually looks like—four brains.
From 1967-1969, when the Nilsen family lived in Kabul, Afghanistan we saw many beautiful English signs that were mostly misspelled, but the misspellings are perfectly logically. Our favorite sign advertised flowers, and the wording on the sign was “Flower and Buket Maker.” It took us a while to figure this one out. What the sign meant to saywas “Flower and bouquet maker.”
I studied Central Asian Societies including Afghanistan at Harvard with the late Richard Frye, one of the greatest living authorities on Iran and its surrounding regions.
Without commenting substantively upon what you say in your question, I would note that it is well known that Afghanistan from the time of conquest by Alexander the Great to the present has consisted of around 200 tribes and just about as many dialects and languages. It certainly has had a rich and varied history and is an interesting subject of study.
But I do not believe it would correct to state that Dari is the Afghan language. Dari is one of many Afghan languages. For example, the Pashtuns are numerous and speak a different language or dialect known as Pashto.
I would certainly do some more historical research on Afghanistan and its many ethnic groups and linguistic groups and consider revising some aspects of this letter.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pashtuns
Art K
Art: I was unaware that the linguistic diversity in Afghanistan is so diverse. My two years were spent at Kabul University, where I was mostly in contact with university professors. For this group, Dari, and Pashto were the two most prominent languages. But my observations were based on a very limited set of speakers, so thanks for presenting me with the insights I needed for the larger population. I'm recommending your comment. Thanks for sending it.
Hi! Dear Prof. Nilsen: It is certainly true that Dari and Pashto are the two most prevalent languages in modern Afghan history, but by way of background there is a great deal of complexity to the tribal structures, the linguistic diversity and the various dialects. For this reason Afghanistan has always been notoriously difficult to unite politically.
However, your work is most excellent and I found it very interesting, and I am certain were he alive, Prof. Frye, my mentor, would have found it most fascinating!
I have a Harvard classmate who was doing work recently for several years as a volunteer in Afghanistan educating women on their human rights and educating them. Unfortunately this work ended when the USA withdrew from Afghanistan, and we all know the aftermath with regards to womens' rights and womens' education.
I should note that my essential text for learning about Afghanistan was the classic text by Dupree, Afghanistan (1973), since revised (1980). We also studied many other sources, including the propaganda radio broadcasts to the Central Asians by both Russia and China, which were available in the Harvard libraries. And of course many obscure journals.
https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/afghanistan_louis-dupree/417702/item/42750980/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=low_vol_f%2fm%2fs_standard_shopping_customer_aquisition&utm_adgroup=&utm_term=&utm_content=688842569242&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwpbi4BhByEiwAMC8JnerYF68FDg_utTMyhFb86KwIJ8U2NqEFPSsLin62waNo5j2Ru2VD_hoCc0YQAvD_BwE#idiq=42750980&edition=44620173
Again, thank you for your most interesting post, and congratulations on your excellent work.
Many regards,
Art K
History of ideas is an excellent methodology to apply on that study. Good job, Dr. Nielsen
Hello,
The potato in Dari is Seb-Zamini, which is an apple of the earth, or earthy apples.
This article could be useful in the differences between Afghani Dari and Iranian Persian.
http://bak3900.blogfa.com/post/80
Many words use such metaphors in Afghan Dari, and some are also mixed with Arabic terms.
Mazen: Excellent. In French a potato is a "pomme de terre" (apple of the earth), like Dari's "Seb Zamini."
Don and Alleen Nilsen have prepared PowerPoints for each chapter of their Language of Humor (Cambridge University Press, 2019).
If you would like to receive the PowerPoint related to any of the following chapters, please request it from Don Nilsen on Research Gate or at [email protected] :
Chapter 1: Introduction & Humor Theories Chapter 2: Humor in Anthropology & Ethnic Studies Chapter 3: Humor in Art Chapter 4: Humor in Business Chapter 5: Humor in Computer Science Chapter 6: Humor in Education Chapter 7: Humor in Gender Studies Chapter 8: Humor in Geography (International Humor: Books, Conferences and Organizations) Chapter 9: Humor in Gerontology Chapter 10: Humor in History Chapter 11: Humor in Journalism Chapter 12: Humor in Law Chapter 13: Humor in Linguistics Chapter 14: Humor in Literature Chapter 15: Humor in Medicine and Health Chapter 16: Humor in Music Chapter 17: Humor in Names and Naming Chapter 18: Humor in the Performing Arts Chapter 19: Humor in Philosophy Chapter 20: Physical Humor Chapter 21: Humor in Politics Chapter 22: Humor in Psychology Chapter 23: Humor in Religion Chapter 24: Humor in Rhetoric and Composition Chapter 25: Humor in Sociology
If you would like to receive any of the PowerPoints above, please contact Don Nilsen on Research Gate, or e-mail me at [email protected] .
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