Day 10 - Wizārišhnī čhatrang ud nihišhnī nēvardašhēr

On day 10, we will read the short but interesting Middle Persian treatise dedicated to the invention of chess and backgammon. In the beginning, we will go over the homework and discuss questions students might have had at home; then we will read the text of Wizārišn ī čatrang.

Homework and questions - At the beginning of the class students will be given a chance to ask questions related to the grammatical, lexical, and stylistic aspects of the text, after which a brief introduction to the new text will be given.

Reading - After checking the homework and answering the questions students had, we will read the text of Wizārišn ī čatrang and explanations related to the difficult grammatical, lexical and stylistic aspects of the texts will be given. The reading of the text will be accompanied by interesting and stimulating discussions of the cultural, etymological, religious, and historical aspects of the text.

Discussion and conversation - After completing the text, the remaining time will be dedicated to various activities related to enhancing the understanding of the text and language. Conversations and discussions in Persian and English will be conducted, thus encouraging active participation among students.

Text (excerpt from Wizārišn ī čatrang):

ēdōn gōwēnd kū andar xwadāyīh ī husrawag {husraw} anōšag ruwān az sačidarm ī wuzurg, šahryār ī hindūgān-šā, abar uzmūdan ī xrad ud dānāgīh ī ērānšahrīgān ud sūd-iz ī xwēš nigerīdan rāy, čatrang ēd juxt, šāzdah tāg az uzumburd ud šāzdah tāg az yākand ī suxr kard frēstīd. abāg ān čatrang hazār ud dō-sad uštar bār zarr ud asēm ud gōhr ud morwārīd ud jāmag ud nawad pīl u-š čiš ī mādagīg kard abāg frēstīd ud tatragatwas čiyōn andar hindūgān pad wizēn būd abāg frēstīd. pad frawardag ōwōn nibišt ēstād kū: abāyēd čiyōn ašmā nām pad šāhān-šāhīh pad amā hamāg šāhān-šāh hēd, abāyēd kū dānāgān <ī> ašmā<-iz> az ān ī amā dānāg-tar bawēnd; agar čim ī ēn čatrang wizārēd, ēnyā sāk <ud> bāj frēstēd.