Comparative Analysis of the New and Previous Orthography Aprroved by Persian Academy of Language and Literature

Introduction
According to Article 15 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Persian script is the official writing system of the country, and all official documents, correspondence, and textbooks must be written in this script (Persian Orthography, 2022, p. 7). Considering the ethno-linguistic diversity in Iran, Persian script is one of the most important factors in maintaining the unity of our society. However, its writing conventions have been subject to arbitrary preferences and inconsistency, which has created challenges for the country’s official script. One of the solutions to this issue is the adoption of a uniform method of writing in Persian texts.
Nearly twenty years after the publication of the first edition of the Persian Orthography and in light of the extensive feedback received, as well as the challenges of Persian typesetting in computer environments and cyberspace, the Academy of Persian Language and Literature established a working group under the supervision of its Vice President for Science and Research, with the participation of a number of experts and specialists, to revise the orthography. After nearly seventy sessions, a new edition of the Persian Orthography was prepared, approved, and made ready for publication (Persian Orthography, 2022, p. 18). However, the orthographic dictionary of Persian based on the new guidelines has not yet been edited and published.
The new edition of the orthography approved by the Academy (2022) has more advantages and fewer shortcomings compared to the previous version. It seems that the working group paid relative attention to the published critiques; nevertheless, some issues remain that are expected to be addressed in future editions. It must be acknowledged that preparing an orthographic system for Persian, given the multiplicity of views in this field, is a challenging task, and thus the efforts of the working group cannot be overlooked. Even so, a critical examination of the new orthography will contribute to its improvement. The present article aims to offer a comparative analysis of the new edition and the previous version of the orthography, highlighting not only the advantages of the revised guidelines but also some of their shortcomings.
 
Literature Review
In the contemporary period, several linguists and literary scholars have expressed their views on considerations regarding Persian orthography. Among them are Bahmanyar (1942), Nātel Khanlari (1945), Behruz (1890–1971), Haqshenas (1977), Sadeqi (2006), Najafi (2008), Bateni (2009), Ashuri (2009), Safavi (2012), Kazazi (2012), Dabirmoghaddam (2012), Simai Gilani (2016), Fotouhi (2020), and others, who voiced their critical perspectives on the state of Persian script.
Following the publication of the orthography approved by the Academy of Persian Language and Literature, a number of critiques also appeared. For example, Gholamhosseinzadeh (2000), prior to the final approval of the Academy’s earlier orthography (2001), criticized its draft version in an article. Masoumi Hamadani (2002), in an article entitled “Persian Script and Computers”, discussed the unification of Persian orthography for use with spellcheckers. Majd (2008), in his article, criticized the section on the spacing or concatenation of compound words in the Academy’s orthography. Ahmadi-Nasab and Siamak (2015), in their study, examined seven top journals indexed in the Islamic World Science Citation Database across seven subject areas, focusing on the extent to which the approved orthographic guidelines of the Academy (2001) were followed.
Similarly, Sinaifar (2015), in his master’s thesis, analyzed the points of convergence and divergence between the publishing guidelines of Payame Noor University and the Academy’s approved orthography (2001). Modarres Khiabani (2018), in his article, studied the writing system used in the subtitles of the IRIB “News” and “Ifilm” channels. Ranjbar and et. al (2019) investigated the degree of conformity of the writing practices of authors and users of Persian scientific information databases with the Academy’s approved guidelines (2001). Finally, Khalilipour (2023), in his article entitled “A Review of Orthography”, critiques two issues in the Academy’s newly approved orthography (2022): the use of the ezafe marker and the spacing of compound clitics and conjunctions.
 
Methodology
The first edition of the Academy’s Persian Orthography (2014) was compared with its second edition (2023) in terms of writing and editing guidelines. Some of the editorial considerations that were expected to be included in the first edition but had no place in its structure were presented independently in the second edition, accompanied by examples. However, when comparing the examples of the first edition with those of the revised edition, certain frequently used instances still appeared to be omitted in the new version. Nevertheless, the word tables at the end of the book (common spelling mistakes) showed a notable improvement in the revised edition.
It should be noted that in the writing style of the present article, an contrastive approach has been adopted so that some rules and annotations under discussion are recalled. This enables the reader to understand the subject matter without the need for repeated reference to the “previous orthography” and its “new edition.”
 
Discussion and Conclusion
Compiling Persian orthography, given its various complexities, is by no means an easy task, and success in this field is regarded as one of the lasting achievements of the Academy of Persian Language and Literature (Persian Grammar and Orthography Committee), which will remain as a legacy in the area of Persian language planning. Clearly, the practical adoption of such an orthography is directly linked to users’ understanding of its rules and, subsequently, their cooperation. As noted in the section on the advantages of the “new edition,” this guideline has improved over the “previous edition” in certain areas such as spacing, the addition of new rules, and the provision of necessary explanations.
Considering and implementing the suggestions mentioned in the section on shortcomings, along with attention to other critiques presented, can shed light on the qualitative enhancement of the “new edition” and contribute to its greater usability for the general public.
In this regard, the role of the national media (IRIB) and the Ministry of Education in helping to cultivate and promote the “Academy-approved orthography” should not be overlooked. Aligning the writing of textbooks with that guideline, as well as holding training workshops and providing in-service courses for relevant teachers, are important points that have been neglected. It is hoped that continued bilateral meetings between the Academy of Persian Language and Literature and the Ministry of Education will lead to closer coordination and greater alignment between these two institutions. Moreover, given its vast audience, the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) can play a crucial role in promoting the Academy’s approved orthography by presenting a correct model of Persian writing in subtitles and other written sections.
 
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