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Parthian language

Parthian language

9.9
An old Iranian language spoken in the Parthian kingdom long ago
  • noun
  • Specialized
: lengua parta
  • The Parthian language was used in official inscriptions of the Parthian Empire.

Examples

  • The Parthian language was used in ancient texts.

  • Studying the Parthian language offers insights into Iranian linguistic history.

  • Several ancient texts have been preserved in the Parthian language.

  • What do you know about the Parthian language?

  • Several ancient texts have been preserved in the Parthian language.

  • Studying the Parthian language offers insights into Iranian linguistic history.

  • The Parthian language was used in official inscriptions of the Parthian Empire.

Synonyms

Parthian
vsParthian language
  • Specialized
9.9

An old Iranian language that is no longer spoken

is more specific, adding the northwestern regional classification

Surface Forms

Morphology

Parthian + language

The meaning is fully compositional: 'Parthian' specifies the people/region and 'language' denotes a speech system, so together they denote the language of the Parthians (or of the Parthian kingdom). The 'X language' construction is cross-linguistically common and would be readily understood by a B1 learner who knows both constituents.

Etymology

Parthian language comes from the old kingdom of Parthia: Parthian named the people and language means the way they spoke. It was the speech of Parthian rulers and everyday people long ago and is now 'extinct', so the phrase simply means that ancient language.