Kourosh Safavi (; 27 June 1956 â 11 August 2023) was an Iranian linguist, translator, and university professor. He was the vice-president of the Linguistics Society of Iran and a professor at Allameh Tabataba'i University in Tehran. His work focused on semantics, semiotics, history of linguistics, and the relationship between linguistics and literature.
A prolific translator and writer on linguistics, Safavi authored such books as An Introduction to Linguistics, Wandering in the Philosophy of Literature, Logic in Linguistics, Literature from Linguistics Standpoint, Acquaintance with Written Systems, Introduction to the History of Iranian Languages, and Applied Semantics. He also translated into Persian books written by many notable linguists and writers such as Noam Chomsky (Language and Mind and Language and Thought), Roman Jakobson, Ferdinand de Saussure (Course in General Linguistics), Hösle, Goethe (West-östlicher Diwan) and Jostein Gaarder (Sophie's World).
Early life and career
Kourosh Safavi was born in Tehran, Iran on 27 June 1956 to father Dr. Ahmad Emad al_Din Safavi and mother Parvindokht Javidpour. When he was two months old, the family migrated to Switzerland, Germany and finally Austria. Fourteen years later they returned to Iran where he earned a Mathematics diploma from Hadaf High School in Tehran. He first studied Chemical Engineering at Shiraz University, but returned to Tehran and studied German language and literature at Tehran University. There, he attended Persian literature courses taught by Dr. Shafi'ee Kadkani and Dr. Ali Ravaghi.
In his youth, Safavi was accustomed to linguistic and philological debates, as his father would have such discussions with many notable people, such as Dr. Parviz Natel Khanlari.
Safavi received his Bachelor's degree in German Language in 1971, a Master's degree of Linguistics in 1979, and a Linguistics doctorate in 1993 from Tehran University.
Death
Kourosh Safavi died on 11 August 2023, at the age of 67.
Bibliography
As writer
- 1981. Darâmad-i bar ZabânÃ
¡enâsi [An Introduction to Linguistics]. Tehran: Bongâh-e-Tarjomeh va Nashre-e Ketâb.
- 1982.VâÃ
¾enâme-ye ZabânÃ
¡enâsi [Glossary of Linguistics]. Tehran: Nashr-e- Mojarrad.
- 1988. Negâh-i be PiÃ
¡ine-ye Zabân-e Fârsi [A short History of Persian Language]. Tehran: Nashr-e- Markaz.
- 1992. Haft Goftâr darbâre-ye Tarjome [ Seven Essays on Translation].Tehran: Nashr-e Markaz.
- 1994. Az ZabânÃ
¡enâsi be Adabiyyât [ From Linguistics to Literature. Vol. 1: Verse]. Tehran: Nashr-e- Cheshmeh.
- 2000. Darâmad-i bar MaâÂÂniÃ
¡enâsi [An Introduction to Semantics]. Tehran: Pazhuheshgâh-e Farhang o Honar-e Eslâmi.
- 2001. Goftârhâ-yi dar ZabânÃ
¡enâsi [Essays on Linguistics]. Tehran: Hermes.
- 2001. Az ZabânÃ
¡enâsi be Adabiyyât [From Linguistics to Literature, Vol. 2: Poetry]. Tehran: Pazhuheshgâh-e Farhang o Honar-e Eslâmi.
- 2001. Manteq dar ZabânÃ
¡enâsi [Logic in Linguistics]. Tehran: Pazhuheshgâh-e Farhang o Honar-e Eslâmi.
- 2003. MaâÂÂniÃ
¡enâsi-ye Kârbordi [Applied Semantics]. Tehran: Hamshahri.
- 2006. Farhang-e Towsifi-ye MaâÂÂniÃ
¡enâsi [Descriptive Dictionary of Semantics]. Tehran: Farhang-e MoâÂÂâser.
- 2007. ÃÂÃ
¡nâyi bâ MaâÂÂniÃ
¡enâsi [Understanding Semantics]. Tehran: Pezhvak.
- 2007. ÃÂÃ
¡nâyi bâ Nezâmhâ-ye NeveÃ
¡târi [An Introduction to Writing Systems]. Tehran; Pezhvak
- 2007. ÃÂÃ
¡nâyi bâ Târix-e ZabânÃ
¡enâsi [A Short History of Linguistics]. Tehran: Pezhvak.
- 2007. ÃÂÃ
¡nâyi bâ Târix-e Zabânhâ-ye Irâni [A Short History of Iranian Languages]. Tehran: Pezhvak.
- 2006. Adabiyyât o ZabânÃ
¡enâsi [Literature and Linguisitcs]. Tehran: Anjoman-e `ââÂÂerân-e Irân.
As translator
- Palmer, F.R. 1976. Semantics: A New Outline. K. Safavi (trsn. Persian). 1987. [Negâh-i Tâze be MaâÂÂniÃ
¡enâsi]. Tehran, Nashr-e Markaz.
- Gaur, A. 1986. A History of Writing- 1988 [Târix-e Xatt]. Tehran: Nashr-e Markaz.
- Bürgel, J. Ch. 1976. Drei Hafiz Studien- 1986. [Se Resâle darbâre-ye Hâfez]. Tehran: Nashr-e Markaz.
- Jakobson, R. 1976. Main Trends in the Science of Language - 1997[Ravandhâ-ye Bonyâdin dar DâneÃ
¡-e Zabân] Tehran: Hermes.
- Chomsky, N.1968. Language and Mind - 1998 [Zabân o Zehn]. Tehran: Hermes.
- Saussure, F. de. 1916. Course de Linguistique Générale - 1998 [Dowre-ye ZabânÃ
¡enâsi-ye Omumi]. Tehran: Hermes.
- Thrax, Dionysius, 2nd Century B.C. Tekhne Grammatike - 1998 [Fann-e Dastur]. Tehran: Hermes.
- Historisches Wörterbuch der Philosophie. (12 Essays) - 1999 [ZabânÃ
¡enâsi o Adabiyyât]. Tehran: Hermes.
- Gaarder, J.1992. Sofies Welt. K. Safavi (trans. Persian) - Tehran: Pazhuheshgâh-e Farhangi.
- Culler, J.D. 1976. Ferdinand de Saussure - 2000. [Ferdinând do Sosur]. Tehran: Hermes.
- Chomsky, N. 1976. Language and Thought - 2000 [Zabân o AndiÃ
¡e]. Tehran. Hermes.
- Goethe, J.W. von.1819 West ÃÂstliches Diwan - 2000 [Divân-e- Qarbi-Ã
 arqi]. Tehran: Markaz-e-Goftogu-ye Tamaddonhâ and Hermes.
- Collinge, N.E. (ed.). 1990. An Encyclopaedia of Language (4 Essays) - 2005. [Zabânhâ-ye Donyâ]. Tehran. SoâÂÂâd.
References
External links