The Classification of the Persian Alphabet Based on Writing Structure

Heretofore studies on the features of the Persian alphabet have only been in the realm of linguistics, especially its branches, phonetics and phonology, therefore we are facing with lack of a classification of the alphabet based on script studies and writing structure. Around one thousand years ago, Ikhvān al-Safā in their Treatise on Music shortly put forward some points about the structure of the Arabic alphabet, but their classification is very simple and general, so it has not provided details and accuracy. Character(s), in Persian language: neviseh(-hā), including letters, numbers, and other writing signs, themselves, are formed by component(s) that we can call them nevisak(-hā). Major components (nevisak-hā-ye asli) are common in the structure of several characters, and therefore provide an exact base for the classification of the alphabet. The major components are: vertical component, horizontal component, circular component (dāyereh), jagged component (dandāneh), counter component (cheshmeh), leg component (pāyeh), dot component (noqteh). Also, the classification is possible in terms of linkability; in some letters, due to the existence of pāyeh, the left side connection is impossible. This phenomenon divides the alphabet into two categories: one side connection or taksūpeyvand (minority) and two side connection or dosūpeyvand (majority). On the other hand, in the form of lower case, many letters in the Persian alphabet depend on “korsi-ye dandāneh” completely or partly that in turn divides the forms of lower case into two categories: taksūpeyvand (in the beginning of a multi-letter connection) and dosūpeyvand (in the middle of a multi-letter connection).