An Etymological Study of Toponyms in Shirazi Dialect

Toponyms are among the words that have been more resistant to linguistic changes. It is a fact that the dominance of the Persian language has caused many alterations in the structure of some older vocabulary in the local dialects. Toponyms have also been undergoing such changes; however, they show more resistance in comparison to the other words because they have been dwelled in the collective memory of the locals, and it guarantees their survival. Due to the lack of familiarity with the ancient structure of such toponyms, there are many "folk etymologies" made to describe the origins of the toponyms. The present research is an attempt to introduce the following toponyms in Shiraz, as well as investigate the historical backgrounds of those words and suggest some probable etymologies for them: bâlâkaft, barmdelak, pâyēkutâ, tâq-e ōskurū, tul-ē parwast, talxdâš, derâk, dreky, dozak, fahandiž, qalât, qomšæ, katasbes, kušan, kaftarak and gūyum.