Efforts Underway To Globalize Persian Language

Tehran, May 26, IRNA - An Iranian official said recently that efforts are underway by the National Center for Globalization Studies to improve the international status of Persian language and globalize it. Mohammad Reza Dehshiri, the deputy head of the center, added that the Islamic Culture and Relations Organization and the Sa’di Foundation are shouldered with the task to make programs and policies to promote the Persian language in other countries. One of the priorities on the agenda of the center is how to globalize the Persian language, he said. So far, the official noted, the UN has accepted English, French, Spanish, Russian, Arabic and Chinese as official international languages. Dehshiri said, “we intend to hold a meeting with specialized organizations and explore ways to achieve this.” He said one of the preconditions for a language to become international is to have at least 500 million speakers across the world. He added that expat Persian language professors and learners should carry out activities in this regard including requesting the UN to register Persian language as an international one. “We must provide the opportunity for Iranian NGOs to interact with NGOs in other countries,” he underlined./end