Changes From The Arabic Writing System
The following is a list of differences between the Arabic writing system and the Persian writing system:
- A hamze (ء) is neither written above an alef (ا) to denote a zabar or piš nor below to denote a zir.
- The final kâf ﮏ is typically written without a flourish, while in Arabic it would be ﻚ.
- The Arabic letter tāʾ marbūṭa (ة), unless used in a direct Arabic quotation, is usually changed to a te (ت) or he ه because tāʾ marbūṭa is a grammatical construct in Arabic denoting femininity. Since Persian grammar lacks gender constructs, the tāʾ marbūṭa is not necessary and is only kept to maintain fidelity to the original Arabic spelling.
- Two dots are removed in the final ye (ی). Arabic differentiates the final yāʾ with the two dots and the alif maqsura (except in Egyptian Arabic), which is written like a final yāʾ without two dots. Because Persian drops the two dots in the final ye, the alif maqsura cannot be differentiated from the normal final ye. For example, the name Musâ (Moses) is written موسی. In the final letter in Musâ, Persian does not differentiate between ye or an alif maqsura.
- The letters pe (پ), che (چ), že (ژ), and gâf (گ) are added because Arabic lacks these phonemes, yet they occur in the Persian language.
- Arabic letter waw (و) is used as vâv for, because Arabic has no and standard Iranian Persian has only within the diphthong .
- In the Arabic alphabet hāʾ (ﻩ) comes before wāw (و), however in the Persian alphabet, he (ﻩ) comes after vâv (و).
Read more about this topic: Persian Alphabet
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