Classification and Analysis of Popular Titles in Tehran during the Qajar and Pahlavi Periods through Sociolinguistics

Titles have historically been prevalent within the general public since ancient times, and the tradition of conferring titles has been customary across a variety of social classes. In the context of sociolinguistics, the examination of titles introduces novel and innovative perspectives to researchers.

Background of the research:

Based on the investigation, the following research studies have been conducted in Persian on the subject of titles and title attribution:Pourabdollah (1995) on some slangs and their translation. Molaei et al (2019) have focused on the folk literature in the Qajar era. In terms of political titles in the same period, the study conducted by Mirkiaei (2019) could be noted. Zandi and Tusi (2018) analyzed the nicknames among students through a sociolinguistic approach, and finally, Zolfaghari (2015) discussed the typology of molded structures in colloquial language.The limitations observed in the preceding research can be delineated as follows: Pourabdollah's study lacks a data-driven approach and merely presents one or a few examples for each instance. In the case of Ahmadpanahi Semnani's article, it predominantly relies on historical and semantic data related to titles. The article exclusively focuses on titles attributed to rulers, resulting in a lack of comprehensiveness. Zolfagari 's investigation briefly addresses titles within the context of language structures but fails to provide concentrated analysis. The study conducted by Zandi and colleagues is confined to a constrained dataset derived from a small number of boys' and girls' schools. Mirkiaei's work adopts a historical and political perspective, whereas the research undertaken by Molaei and fellow researchers is confined to the scrutiny of specific regional endowment letters.The uniqueness of the present study resides in its investigation into the practice of conferring titles and the process of title creation as constituent components of colloquial word formation during the Qajar and Pahlavi eras in Tehran. This exploration is approached through the lens of sociolinguistics. Previous research has not undertaken an examination of this subject from this specific vantage point.

Research questions:

1. What are the semantic functions of the titles employed in Tehran during the Qajar and Pahlavi eras, and how can their semantic categorization be delineated?2. To what extent does gender contribute to the formulation of titles within the context of the examined era?3. In what ways does the pronunciation of titles, characterized by their colloquial essence, diverge from that of formal language?4. From which linguistic sources do the titles from this specific period (13th century AH in Tehran) derive?

In this study, titles from two books, The Old Tehran and Tehran's Social History in the 13th Century' by Jafar Shahri (Baf), 148 titles in total, were extracted and analyzed based on four sociolinguistic components: semantic functions of titles, gender, pronunciation, and language. Regarding semantic functions, the extracted titles were classified into eight distinct categories:Descriptive: in this context, the act of conferring titles serves to portray various aspects, including the individual's occupation and related tools, physical and bodily attributes, moral, spiritual, and personality traits, employment status, geographical location, religious affiliation, and familial lineage. Furthermore, titles may convey verbal endorsements, encompass ceremonial dimensions, involve ritualistic elements, incorporate dramatic and allegorical representations, touch on taboos, introduce humor, and even encompass derogatory connotations.In terms of frequency, descriptive titles hold the primary position during this period, followed by taboos, verbal endorsements, dramatic representations, and subsequently allegorical, derogatory, and humorous titles. Notably, a substantial number of descriptive titles predominantly reflect the prevailing discourse on occupation and economy in this era. Following that, physical and bodily attributes are given precedence, possibly due to their observable nature. Other descriptive functions exhibit lower frequency and significance.The use of taboos in titles originates from their applicability to a wide cross-section of the general population. Additionally, the inclusion of titles that rely on colloquial language, prominent in informal and spoken communication, serves as an indicator of their colloquial nature.The presence of titles emerging from ceremonial events, such as 'ta'ziyeh' (passion play), as well as non-ceremonial practices like 'siyah-bazi' (street performance) and dance, highlights the role and importance of these cultural activities within the broader public sphere. Their influence extends to domains such as title attribution.In allegorical titles, one can discern critiques directed at specific social irregularities, such as theft and ostentation, which reflect a negative perspective. In titles with comedic and derogatory tones, there exists criticism of unprofessional practitioners, playfully satirizing their methodologies.Gender: Among the total of 148 titles examined in this study, only 17 are attributed to women, accounting for approximately ten percent of the entire set of titles. This finding might imply the limited role and presence of women in societal spheres. Fifty percent of the female titles are based on physical appearance and characteristics, while others are related to their profession and religion.Overall, in terms of gender representation, it becomes evident that the investigated female titles primarily revolve around the realm of 'physical appearance.' Beneath this surface layer, there appears to be an underlying theme of illicit relationships with men, which suggests suggestive connotations.Pronunciation: Since titles are categorized within the domain of informal language, their pronunciation undergoes variations in contrast to formal language. Based on the findings of this study, these variations encompass the conversion of the vowel /ɒː/ to /uː/ and involve processes of shortening and omission.Language: In the context of the current study, 37 titles (comprising more than one-fifth of the total titles) have been loaned from four languages: Arabic, Turkish, French, and Greek. Titles formulated in Arabic or in an Arabic-style structure constitute the highest frequency, attributed to the substantial cultural and religious connections between Iran and Islam. Following that, Turkish, French, and Greek languages are prevalent. Notably, for specific titles loaned from Turkish, the loaning process has been adopted as a result of avoiding the use of particular unfavorable forms that could be detrimental to the loaner.