This book is the first authoritative survey of the historical developments of Persian grammar, from the first attested work some 200 years ago to the present day. It examines the development of Persian linguistic thought in five different periods, and analyses the underlying assumptions of the grammars belonging to each period in light of contemporary ideas on the nature of grammar and new frameworks for grammatical analysis. This historical survey shows the profound influence of Arabic and Western linguistic thinking on the development of Persian grammar, as well as a dramatic shift of perspe
