The Avestan language is one of the oldest languages of civilization, the dead representative of Iranian languages today. It is known to us mainly due to the preserved ancient monument of this writing under the beautiful name "Avesta" (which is translated from the Middle Persian language as "code"). Already in the 4th – 6th centuries AD, the language was so archaic that it was used exclusively in the services of Zoroastrians. Zoroastrianism is one of the oldest world religions, based on the message of the prophet Zoroaster (or, in another transcription, Zoroaster), who received it from God himself. The basis of the teachings of this religion is a person’s free choice of the good (deeds, words and thoughts). In this religious environment, language is still used today. It is especially popular in countries such as India and Iran.
From the history of language
As mentioned above, in the IV-VI centuries, the use of the Avestan language gradually comes to naught. But when did he appear? Historical information tells us that in the 3rd – 4th centuries it was created artificially for the purpose of recording hymns of the already mentioned prophet Zoroaster. The reason for the decline in the use of language lies in the adoption of Islam (VII century), when the Avestan is replaced by Arabic - the language of Muslim worship and religious literature.
Being in its structure and nature the East Iranian language, Avestan has obvious connections with Sanskrit and ancient Persian. Specialist linguists can trace them to the preserved monuments of writing.
Features of the Avestan language
Of the characteristic features of this language, it is worth noting first of all the composition of its phonemes. So, there are 38 consonants in the language, vowels - 16. At the same time, writing in the language is made, as in Arabic, from right to left, in the horizontal direction. Given that the language is dead, it is possible (theoretically) to learn it if you wish, but it is rather difficult. Often, when learning to learn, the similarities of a language with one of the existing ones help, even better, with the one you speak yourself (there is also the opposite effect: for example, it is much easier to learn Romance languages, especially Italian, with knowledge of Latin).
Does the Avestan have something in common with the Russian?
However, from the similarities of the Avestan language and the Russian language, perhaps, only alphabetical writing and the division of words into certain grammatical categories universal for many languages in general can be noted. This will not force you to adapt to a fundamentally new type of linguistic thinking, but, alas, it will not at all serve as an aid to the development of the phonetic system
Grammar and vocabulary of the Avestan
One of the main features of the grammar of the Avestan language, combining it with other languages, is, as already mentioned, the division of words into grammatical categories. So, you can isolate verbs, adjectives, nouns, auxiliary parts of speech, numerals, and so on. Verbs, adjectives and nouns also have certain paradigms of conjugation and declension. Adverbs are immutable.
There is also a category of gender (male, female and middle); in addition to the plural and singular, there is also a dual (typical of many archaic languages; for example, it took place in Old Slavonic and Old Russian languages). Case endings are determined either by official words, or inflections (endings). The declension of nouns occurs in eight cases: Nominative, Vocal, Accusative, Creative, Dative, Suspension, Genitive and Local.
Active and passive forms are distinguished in verbs; the category of verb tense is secondary to the category of the verb form (perfect, aorist form and Praesens form). You can also distinguish verbal moods, such as indicative, optative, injective, conjunctive and imperative (familiar to most as the "imperative mood").
The vocabulary of the Avestan language is mainly of Aryan origin. Moreover, this one had a significant influence on the languages of many peoples and cultures professing Zoroastrianism, or having some other relation to it. For example, such connections can be traced in the modern Persian language, especially in the vocabulary of the so-called high, poetic style: the words "paradise", "fire" and many others have their roots in the Avestan language.