Expert: Behzad - 7/5/2009

Question
Dear Behzad,

Please could you indicate where there are ezafes, and where there are not ezafes, in the following names:

شاه عباس بزرگ - شاه عباس دوم
محمدرضا شاه پهلوی
محمد مصدق

Wikpedia says: Mohammad Mosaddeq (Persian: محمد مصدق , pronounced [mohæmmæd-e mosæddeq]...
Does this mean that all Persian full names (i.e. name plus surname) are linked with ezafe, including yours?

Best wishes,

Simon

Answer
Dear Simon,

Sha:h abba:s-e bozorg
Sha:h abba:s-e dovom
Mohammadreza: sha:h-e Pahlavi:
Mohammad-e mosaddegh

It can be said that all the Persian full names can be linked with eza:fe although when it sounds good they are pronounced without eza:fe especially when the first name ends in a vowel. Example:
آیدا مصدق is normally pronounced ”a:ida: mosaddegh” though it can be “a:ida: ie mosaddegh”
لاله مصدق can be pronounced ”la:le mosaddegh” or ”la:le ie mosaddegh”. When I want to call this name I vaguely say an “ie” between first and last name or prolong the last vowel of the first name a bit.

The eza:fe between first and last name might be because many (probably most of the) Persian surnames are adjectives or in some cases combination of the first name and the last name has a special meaning. However, I am so unsure whether it is the reason or not. Besides, all of the full names, including mine, can be without eza:fe, but some of them may sound strange. For example, nothing is wrong with mohammad mosaddegh, but people are more used to say mohammad-e mosaddegh.

I can say that it also may depend on the occasion. For example, when a list of names is read the eza:fe is usually used except for the names with vowel at the end. On the contrary, when someone is mentioned by his or her full name in a conversation eza:fe is not used. Example:
من امروز بهزاد علوی را دیدم.    Man emro:z ”behza:d alavi:” ra: di:dam.

Best regards,
Behzad