Kourosh Safavi

Kourosh Safavi (27 June 1956 – 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 Zabânshenâsi [An Introduction to Linguistics]. Tehran: Bongâh-e-Tarjomeh va Nashre-e Ketâb.
1982.Vâenâme-ye Zabânshenâsi [Glossary of Linguistics]. Tehran: Nashr-e- Mojarrad.
1988. Negâh-i be Pishine-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 Zabânshenâsi be Adabiyyât [ From Linguistics to Literature. Vol. 1: Verse]. Tehran: Nashr-e- Cheshmeh.
2000. Darâmad-i bar Ma’nishenâsi [An Introduction to Semantics]. Tehran: Pazhuheshgâh-e Farhang va Honar-e Eslâm-i.
2001. Goftârhâ-yi dar Zabânshenâsi [Essays on Linguistics]. Tehran: Hermes.
2001. Az Zabânshenâsi be Adabiyyât [From Linguistics to Literature, Vol. 2: Poetry]. Tehran: Pazhuheshgâh-e Farhang va Honar-e Eslâm-i.
2001. Manteq dar Zabânshenâsi [Logic in Linguistics]. Tehran: Pazhuheshgâh-e Farhang va Honar-e Eslâm-i.
2003. Ma’nishenâsi-ye Kârbordi [Applied Semantics]. Tehran: Hamshahri.
2006. Farhang-e Towsifi-ye Ma’nishenâsi [Descriptive Dictionary of Semantics]. Tehran: Farhang-e Mo’âser.
2007. Âshnâyi bâ Ma’nishenâsi [Understanding Semantics]. Tehran: Pezhvak.
2007. Âshnâyi bâ Nezâmhâ-ye Neveshtâri [An Introduction to Writing Systems]. Tehran; Pezhvak
2007. Âshnâyi bâ Târix-e Zabânshenâsi [A Short History of Linguistics]. Tehran: Pezhvak.
2007. Âshnâi bâ Târix-e Zabânhâ-ye Irâni [A Short History of Iranian Languages]. Tehran: Pezhvak.
2006. Adabiyyât va Zabânshenâsi [Literature and Linguisitcs]. Tehran: Anjoman-e `â’erân-e Irân.
As translator
Palmer, F.R. 1976. Semantics: A New Outline. K. Safavi (trsn. Persian). 1987. [Negâh-i Tâze be Ma’nienâsi]. Tehran, Nashr-e Markaz.
Gaur, A. 1986. A History of Writing- 1988 [Târix-e Xat]. 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 Dâne-e Zabân] Tehran: Hermes.
Chomsky, N.1968. Language and Mind - 1998 [Zabân va Zehn]. Tehran: Hermes.
Saussure, F. de. 1916. Course de Linguistique Générale - 1998 [Dowre-ye Zabânenâsi-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 [Zabânenâsi va 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 va Andie]. Tehran. Hermes.
Goethe, J.W. von.1819 West Östliches Diwan - 2000 [Divân-e- Qarbi-arqi]. Tehran: Markaz-e-Goftegu-ye Tamaddonhâ and Hermes.
Collinge, N.E. (ed.). 1990. An Encyclopaedia of Language (4 Essays) - 2005. [Zabânhâ-ye Donyâ]. Tehran. So’âd.
References
External links
Home page in Allameh Tabatabayi University website
1956 births
2023 deaths
20th-century linguists
21st-century linguists
Linguists from Iran
Semanticists
Writers from Tehran
Iranian translators
Linguists of Iranian languages
Linguists of Persian
Translators of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Translators of Noam Chomsky
Translators of Ferdinand de Saussure
Faculty of Letters and Humanities of the University of Tehran alumni