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| Pazend | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Script type | |
Period | Until 9th century |
| Direction | Right-to-left script |
| Languages | Middle Persian |
| Related scripts | |
Parent systems | |
| This article containsphonetic transcriptions in theInternational Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). For an introductory guide on IPA symbols, seeHelp:IPA. For the distinction between[ ],/ / and ⟨ ⟩, seeIPA § Brackets and transcription delimiters. | |
Pazend (/pəˈzɛnd/) orPazand (Middle Persian:𐭯𐭠𐭰𐭭𐭣;Avestan:𐬞𐬀𐬌𐬙𐬌⸱𐬰𐬀𐬌𐬥𐬙𐬌) is one of thewriting systems used for theMiddle Persian language. It was based on theAvestan alphabet, a phonetic alphabet originally used to writeAvestan, the language of theAvesta, the primary sacred texts ofZoroastrianism.
Pazend's principal use was for writing the commentaries (Zend) on and/or translations of the Avesta. The word "Pazend" ultimately derives from the Avestan wordspaiti zainti, which can be translated as either "for commentary purposes" or "according to understanding" (phonetically).
Pazend had the following characteristics, both of which are to be contrasted withPahlavi, which is one of the other systems used to write Middle Persian:
In combination with its religious purpose, these features constituted a "sanctification" of written Middle Persian. The use of the Avestan alphabet to write Middle Persian required the addition of one symbol to the Avestan alphabet: This character, to represent the/l/ phoneme of Middle Persian, had not previously been needed.
Following the fall of theSassanids, after which Zoroastrianism came to be supplanted byIslam, Pazend lost its purpose and soon ceased to be used for original composition. In the late 11th or early 12th century, Indian Zoroastrians (theParsis) began translating Avestan or Middle Persian texts into Sanskrit and Gujarati. Some Middle Persian texts were alsotranscribed into the Avestan alphabet. The latter process, being a form of interpretation, was known as 'pa-zand'. "Pazand texts, transcribed phonetically, represent a late and often corrupt Middle Persian pronunciation, and so present their own problems."[2] "The corruptions during this process are sometimes considerable."[3] Among the transcribed texts are the prefaces (dibacheh) to prayers in Avestan. These prefatory prayers are invariably written in Pazend because of the need for "accurate" pronunciation. This practice has led to the misconception that "Pazend" is the name of a language.
FollowingAbraham Hyacinthe Anquetil-Duperron's translation of some of the texts of the Avesta in the late 18th century, the term "Zend-Avesta" was mistakenly used to refer to the sacred texts themselves (as opposed to commentaries on them). This usage subsequently led to the equally mistaken use of "Pazend" for the Avestan script as such and "Zend" for the Avestan language.
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