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Echoes Across Centuries: Phonetic Signatures of Persian Poets

arXiv:2603.14443v1 Announce Type: new Abstract: This study examines phonetic texture in Persian poetry as a literary-historical phenomenon rather than a by-product of meter or a feature used only for classification. The analysis draws on a large corpus of 1,116,306 mesras from 31,988 poems written by 83 poets, restricted to five major classical meters to enable controlled comparison. Each line is converted into a grapheme-to-phoneme representation and analyzed using six phonetic metrics: hardness, sonority, sibilance, vowel ratio, phoneme entropy, and consonant-cluster ratio. Statistical models estimate poet-level differences while controlling for meter, poetic form, and line length. The results show that although meter and form explain a substantial portion of phonetic variation, they do not eliminate systematic differences between poets. Persian poetic sound therefore appears as conditioned variation within shared prosodic structures rather than as either purely individual style o

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Kourosh Shahnazari, Seyed Moein Ayyoubzadeh, Mohammadali Keshtparvar · · 1 min read · 8 views
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arXiv:2603.14443v1 Announce Type: new Abstract: This study examines phonetic texture in Persian poetry as a literary-historical phenomenon rather than a by-product of meter or a feature used only for classification. The analysis draws on a large corpus of 1,116,306 mesras from 31,988 poems written by 83 poets, restricted to five major classical meters to enable controlled comparison. Each line is converted into a grapheme-to-phoneme representation and analyzed using six phonetic metrics: hardness, sonority, sibilance, vowel ratio, phoneme entropy, and consonant-cluster ratio. Statistical models estimate poet-level differences while controlling for meter, poetic form, and line length. The results show that although meter and form explain a substantial portion of phonetic variation, they do not eliminate systematic differences between poets. Persian poetic sound therefore appears as conditioned variation within shared prosodic structures rather than as either purely individual style or simple metrical residue. A multidimensional stylistic map reveals several recurrent phonetic profiles, including high-sonority lyric styles, hardness-driven rhetorical or epic styles, sibilant mystical contours, and high-entropy complex textures. Historical analysis indicates that phonetic distributions shift across centuries, reflecting changes in genre prominence, literary institutions, and performance contexts rather than abrupt stylistic breaks. The study establishes a corpus-scale framework for phonetic analysis in Persian poetry and demonstrates how computational phonetics can contribute to literary-historical interpretation while remaining attentive to the formal structures that shape Persian verse.

Executive Summary

This article presents a novel computational approach to analyzing phonetic signatures in Persian poetry, examining 1,116,306 mesras from 31,988 poems written by 83 poets. The study draws on six phonetic metrics to identify poet-level differences while controlling for meter, poetic form, and line length. The results reveal systematic differences between poets and a multidimensional stylistic map that categorizes phonetic profiles. Historical analysis indicates that phonetic distributions shift across centuries, reflecting changes in genre prominence, literary institutions, and performance contexts. This study establishes a corpus-scale framework for phonetic analysis in Persian poetry and demonstrates the potential of computational phonetics in literary-historical interpretation. By shedding new light on Persian poetic sound, this research contributes to a deeper understanding of the language's linguistic, literary, and historical contexts.

Key Points

  • ▸ The study analyzes a large corpus of Persian poetry to identify phonetic signatures of individual poets.
  • ▸ Phonetic metrics are used to estimate poet-level differences while controlling for meter, poetic form, and line length.
  • ▸ A multidimensional stylistic map reveals recurrent phonetic profiles, including high-sonority lyric styles and hardness-driven rhetorical styles.

Merits

Strength in Methodology

The study employs a robust computational approach, utilizing six phonetic metrics to analyze a large corpus of Persian poetry.

Insights into Persian Poetic Sound

The research provides new insights into the phonetic characteristics of Persian poetry, shedding light on the linguistic, literary, and historical contexts of the language.

Contribution to Literary-Historical Interpretation

The study demonstrates the potential of computational phonetics in literary-historical interpretation, offering a new tool for analyzing and understanding the evolution of Persian poetry.

Demerits

Limitation in Scope

The study focuses on a specific corpus of Persian poetry, which may limit its generalizability to other languages or poetic traditions.

Technical Complexity

The computational approach employed in the study may be challenging for non-experts to replicate or understand, potentially restricting its accessibility and applicability.

Expert Commentary

This article represents a significant contribution to the field of literary analysis, offering a novel approach to understanding the phonetic characteristics of Persian poetry. The study's use of computational phonetics to identify poet-level differences and phonetic profiles provides new insights into the language's linguistic, literary, and historical contexts. However, the study's focus on a specific corpus of Persian poetry may limit its generalizability to other languages or poetic traditions. Nevertheless, the research demonstrates the potential of computational phonetics in literary-historical interpretation, offering a new tool for analyzing and understanding the evolution of Persian poetry.

Recommendations

  • ✓ Future studies should explore the application of computational phonetics to other languages and poetic traditions, potentially expanding our understanding of phonetic characteristics in literature.
  • ✓ The study's multidimensional stylistic map could be used to develop a more nuanced understanding of poetic styles and genres, informing literary-historical interpretation and cultural heritage preservation.

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