A slim volume called Colloquial Persian recently came my way; a basic language primer published in 1941.

The book was published at a rather fascinating political juncture. In 1941, in response to Germany’s relentless eastward push into the USSR, Britain and the USSR launched a joint invasion of Iran, which was then ruled by Mohammad Reza Shah. The Shah had adopted a neutral policy in the war, but the country was of too much strategic significance to let it lie open when the German army was heading in that general direction.

The preface to the book is interesting and telling, given the context:

It is only in recent years that Western eyes have begun to look with close attention at the extensive (though not thickly populated) country of Iran. Though for many it is still the country of Haji Baba, of Persian carpets and Persian cats, yet there is a growing realization that the new Iran is a portent of some significance in the Middle East of to-day…

The wartime context would seem to explain the prevalence of military terminology in the vocabulary list at the back of the book; the authors helpfully tell you how to say things like ‘court-martial’, ‘platoon’ and ‘about turn!’ in Persian.

However, Colloquial Persian isn’t just a handbook for British soldiers. In the conversation sections there are pages dedicated to ‘domestic’ situations, which teach British women how to order Iranian servants around. Probably there were British people, even families, living in Iran on a medium- to long-term basis.

You can really tell that Colloquial Persian was written at a time when Britain still had an empire, where traditional upper-class norms apparently held sway. The conversational set-pieces are inhabited by haughty Englishmen and women who tyrannise their small army of domestic staff in a very ‘colonial-overlord’ manner. Iran was never part of the British Empire, but presumably this was how the British expected to speak to socially inferior natives such as office employees, domestic servants and guides.

The example conversations, which alternate between master/mistress and servant or employee, are old-fashioned in the extreme.

‘Polite phrases’
Is your master at home?
Yes, Sir, he is here; please come in while I inform him.

‘Domestic’
Sir, your tea is ready.
What is the time? Why haven’t you brought it in time?
Sir, it is not my fault; just when the water had boiled the kettle was upset and it was all spilt on the ground.

Reza, when breakfast is finished, come to me and I will read you the shopping list.
Very well, madam; shall I give you last week’s account as well?
This has gone up a lot; why is that?
How should I know, madam? Everything has gone up in the bazaar.
Now go at once to the bazaar, and bring a chicken and whatever good vegetables are to be had.

This evening we have guests; everything must be clean and nice.
Yes, madam; I will tell the cook at once. How many guests will there be?
Four people are coming.
If there are ladies, I will get some flowers from the gardener, and decorate the table.

What is the matter with the house-boy? Why is he shouting?
He is fighting with the cook; I don’t know what is the matter.
Then tell him to come in and do his work; there is a lot of dust on this table.

‘At work’
Ali Jan, you are the laziest of all the men; why don’t you do your work?
What are you saying, sir? There is no compulsion; if I don’t wish to work, I won’t.
Very well; as you like. You are discharged; go to the office and get your money.
I shall complain to the police.
Just as you wish. But we don’t want men like you here.

‘In the office’
Boy, where have you put my pen and blotting-paper?

‘In camp’
Supper is ready, sir.
Thank goodness! Good heavens, what has happened to this meat?
How should I know, sir? There was no stove, so I made a fire of some pegs and cooked it like that.

And lastly, somewhat ominously:

‘Lesson VII’
If I had known that it would be like this, I would never have come here.

See also: Before the Revolution: images of secular Iran