About the Words “Ahuric ” and “Ahrimanic” (The Dual Poles of Terminology) in the Larestani Dialect

Document Type : Original Article

Author

- Assistant Professor of Persian Language and Literature, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, University of Sistan and Baluchestan, Zahedan. Iran.

Abstract

Historical linguistic and archaeological evidence indicates the use of two types of words in written works and oral manifestations of the vernacular (orally transmitted) left over from the peoples of the ancient world; the aforementioned words were specific to the world of good and the world of evil, and existed in ancient and medieval languages, and were also transmitted orally to the modern era. The theory of the use of bipolar words for things related to Ahura Mazda and Ahriman has long been a topic of discussion among linguists and can be examined from various perspectives. Anthropology and anthropology are among these approaches. In the present study, with the aim of linking some bipolar words with religion and mythology, the study of examples related to animals, plants, and humans in the Larestani dialect has been conducted. These words have been chosen throughout history for specific meanings based on the religious, cultural, and social attitudes of the people. The use of these words has its roots in religious dualism and other issues and is less well known. The present study has examined these types of words in the Larestani dialect using a combined field-documentary method of library type. The findings of the research show that the selection of an appropriate word for a specific signified in pre-Islamic cultures, especially Zoroastrian, was influenced by several factors, including religion, emotion and feeling, gender, slang, and the like, which can be categorized into two domains: individual and collective. These words are sometimes marked and sometimes unmarked; sometimes they are used in correspondence and sometimes inconsistency.

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References

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Interviewees
Dorri, F. (81 years old), resident of Lar, illiterate, homemaker, interview date (11/01/2026)
Taheri, Sh. (74 years old), resident of Juyom, middle school education, homemaker, interview date (10/10/2025)
Fathi, Gh. (90 years old), resident of Banaruyeh, illiterate, farmer, interview date (16/06/2025)
Firouzi, K. (79 years old), resident of Deh-Fish village, illiterate, homemaker, interview date (09/04/2025)
Ghaedi, Kh. (78 years old), resident of Sharafuyeh village, traditional religious schooling (“Maktab”), homemaker, interview date (12/09/2025)
Kamjou, M. (71 years old), resident of Sharafuyeh village, traditional religious schooling (“Maktab”), homemaker, interview date (03/07/2025)
Mousavi, A. (71 years old), resident of Lar, illiterate, farmer, interview date (05/01/2026)
Eyni, Kh. (75 years old), resident of Sharafuyeh village, self-employed, interview date (08/11/2025)
Journal of Linguistics & Iranian Languages
Volume 11, Issue 1
February 2026
Pages 45-61

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History

  • Receive Date: 28 June 2026
  • Revise Date: 05 September 2026
  • Accept Date: 03 September 2026

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