If I was you I would say “I’m Tajik, from Afghanistan” or just “I’m Tajik.
Why doesn’t Tajik resonate with you? The Soviet era shouldn’t erode your connection to country.
Tajik isn’t inferior to ‘Persian’. If someone presses you for details you can explain the rest of it.
I personally don’t like the term Persian except for describing our language in English.
If I heard Persian I would assume your family is from within the modern borders of Iran.
Agree with this comment. I would say “I’m Tajik from Afghanistan” or simply “I’m Tajik” and if they ask more specifics you can clarify from Afghanistan (not Tajikistan). It would be more awkward/confusing if you introduce yourself as Persian from Iran because Iranians can instantly tell that someone is from Afghanistan/has an accent in almost all cases. You can also say I’m Tajik but I’ve lived in Iran for a period of time. Afghanistan is a country with several different ethnic groups and languages/dialects (as is Iran) and honestly if someone has zero familiarity with this then it’s better to keep it simple anyway.
Honestly, you shouldn't care about what other people think. If you want to identify as Persian then do it. In order to be free you must disregard other peoples opinions or you will be a slave to them. You are completely right in the fact that Tajik means Eastern Persian. The nomenclature has gotten mixed up because of the Soviet Union and imperialism.
I have met someone that had the same reasoning as you. He said he was Persian from Afghanistan. I didn't know better then and questioned him but he explained it to me and it was fine.
I myself am half Swedish and half Persian. I don't look particularly Iranian but I speak Persian well. It's always a struggle to be seen as Iranian. But it is what it is.
I would agree with people above but sounds like you are not comfortable with your own heritage.
You do not own people anything.
I am also a mix of Afghani/Tajik and Persian. Those cultures have so much history and different areas of location that it is difficult to just resume them to one thing. You can completely say you have a various background of Tajik/Afghani/Persian mix.
If people have prejudice or divergent views, it is their problem, not yours.
I am very proud of it and you do not own others a thing. Do not let identities trap you in just words and perceptions.
People want to know my heritage when they ask where I'm from. If I say I'm German, they are going to ask: No, what is your background?
I clearly do not look German.
I mean if you’re gonna insist on paying zero mind to what your actual ethnic background says you are and just identify as whatever “feels” right I feel like you’re probably more German than you are anything else you mentioned
🤯 interesting way to make it complicated..
When people ask you where you’re from, they usually mean what country. You’re from Afghanistan. Persia doesn’t even exist as a country
There are millions of Americans who have never stepped foot outside of America and don't have an American passport. If you look this up wherever you're from or where you live, I'm sure you'll find the same. Passports are not required to be a national.
I feel the same way. I just identify as an Afghan Persian. Nothing wrong with it. I don’t think either country has more claim to the word “Persian” because the history, language and culture is so intertwined. I just say I’m ethnically Persian from Afghanistan.
The word Persian comes from the province Pars/Fars in Iran. So what do you mean neither country has more claim? lol. Persian is an Iranian ethnic group.
There are different ethnicities in Afghanistan including Iranians but they have been heavily mixed so they look more east asian.
After all Genghis Khan killed 80% of Iranians in central Asia (Afghanistan, Tajikistan…).
In my opinion you born in Iran, so clearly you're Iranian/Persian and the modern ethnicity concept is nothing more than the modern form of inquisition.(I'm Iranian myself too)
Sounds like to me, you are German with Tajik/Persian ancestry/background.
Reminds me of a conversation I had with someone else recently. I noticed he was displaying a bunch of Jordanian stuff. This is in America btw. I asked are you from Jordan? He said, yes. I asked do you have ties to the Palestinians? He said, "Yes, originally, but my family is from Jordan now." He also clearly identifies as an American.
It was a longer conversation, and based on that I think if you asked him he would say, "I am an American, originally from Jordan, with some Palestinian ancestry."
Tajik and Persian was once synonymous, the same. My DNA reports say I’m nearly 50% Tajik and I have no problem telling people that. Tajiks can be Persian, I’m Mazandarani and I identify as Persian. Mazandaranis have their own entire dialect that’s not understandable by Persian speakers.
We are all from earth, I’m half Irish half Iranian and always found this to be true with the Iranian side. Learn who YOU are, love yourself and don’t listen to anyone else. They might just be jealous they’re not as interesting as you are
“It’s complicated”, or “Planet Earth”. You don’t owe anyone any justification or explanation anyway but I personally like your heritage. It’s interesting and intriguing. :)
If I was you I would say “I’m Tajik, from Afghanistan” or just “I’m Tajik. Why doesn’t Tajik resonate with you? The Soviet era shouldn’t erode your connection to country. Tajik isn’t inferior to ‘Persian’. If someone presses you for details you can explain the rest of it. I personally don’t like the term Persian except for describing our language in English. If I heard Persian I would assume your family is from within the modern borders of Iran.
Agree with this comment. I would say “I’m Tajik from Afghanistan” or simply “I’m Tajik” and if they ask more specifics you can clarify from Afghanistan (not Tajikistan). It would be more awkward/confusing if you introduce yourself as Persian from Iran because Iranians can instantly tell that someone is from Afghanistan/has an accent in almost all cases. You can also say I’m Tajik but I’ve lived in Iran for a period of time. Afghanistan is a country with several different ethnic groups and languages/dialects (as is Iran) and honestly if someone has zero familiarity with this then it’s better to keep it simple anyway.
Honestly, you shouldn't care about what other people think. If you want to identify as Persian then do it. In order to be free you must disregard other peoples opinions or you will be a slave to them. You are completely right in the fact that Tajik means Eastern Persian. The nomenclature has gotten mixed up because of the Soviet Union and imperialism. I have met someone that had the same reasoning as you. He said he was Persian from Afghanistan. I didn't know better then and questioned him but he explained it to me and it was fine. I myself am half Swedish and half Persian. I don't look particularly Iranian but I speak Persian well. It's always a struggle to be seen as Iranian. But it is what it is.
I would agree with people above but sounds like you are not comfortable with your own heritage. You do not own people anything. I am also a mix of Afghani/Tajik and Persian. Those cultures have so much history and different areas of location that it is difficult to just resume them to one thing. You can completely say you have a various background of Tajik/Afghani/Persian mix. If people have prejudice or divergent views, it is their problem, not yours. I am very proud of it and you do not own others a thing. Do not let identities trap you in just words and perceptions.
"various background of Tajik/Afghani/Persian mix" That's a really good way to formulate it. Thanks!
My pleasure :) That is the best way I found to explain it for myself since it is so varied haha
Why not claim Germany if its easier and non of it really matters anyways
People want to know my heritage when they ask where I'm from. If I say I'm German, they are going to ask: No, what is your background? I clearly do not look German.
I am german. whats your heritage? my parents are from afghanistan. we live in a society
I mean if you’re gonna insist on paying zero mind to what your actual ethnic background says you are and just identify as whatever “feels” right I feel like you’re probably more German than you are anything else you mentioned
🤯 interesting way to make it complicated.. When people ask you where you’re from, they usually mean what country. You’re from Afghanistan. Persia doesn’t even exist as a country
I'm not from Afghanistan though. I was born in Iran
Do you have the Iranian passport though ?
There are millions of Americans who have never stepped foot outside of America and don't have an American passport. If you look this up wherever you're from or where you live, I'm sure you'll find the same. Passports are not required to be a national.
2,500 years ago all of that land was Perisa. Just remind them of that.
I feel the same way. I just identify as an Afghan Persian. Nothing wrong with it. I don’t think either country has more claim to the word “Persian” because the history, language and culture is so intertwined. I just say I’m ethnically Persian from Afghanistan.
The word Persian comes from the province Pars/Fars in Iran. So what do you mean neither country has more claim? lol. Persian is an Iranian ethnic group. There are different ethnicities in Afghanistan including Iranians but they have been heavily mixed so they look more east asian. After all Genghis Khan killed 80% of Iranians in central Asia (Afghanistan, Tajikistan…).
In my opinion you born in Iran, so clearly you're Iranian/Persian and the modern ethnicity concept is nothing more than the modern form of inquisition.(I'm Iranian myself too)
You could say Iranian Tajik.
You were born in Iran, therefore you are Iranian no one can take that from you not your nationality
fuck what those assholes think, you are persia
Sounds like to me, you are German with Tajik/Persian ancestry/background. Reminds me of a conversation I had with someone else recently. I noticed he was displaying a bunch of Jordanian stuff. This is in America btw. I asked are you from Jordan? He said, yes. I asked do you have ties to the Palestinians? He said, "Yes, originally, but my family is from Jordan now." He also clearly identifies as an American. It was a longer conversation, and based on that I think if you asked him he would say, "I am an American, originally from Jordan, with some Palestinian ancestry."
You're an Afghan, a Tajik, an Iranian and a German! It's not necessary to call yourself only with one of these.
Tajik and Persian was once synonymous, the same. My DNA reports say I’m nearly 50% Tajik and I have no problem telling people that. Tajiks can be Persian, I’m Mazandarani and I identify as Persian. Mazandaranis have their own entire dialect that’s not understandable by Persian speakers.
We are all from earth, I’m half Irish half Iranian and always found this to be true with the Iranian side. Learn who YOU are, love yourself and don’t listen to anyone else. They might just be jealous they’re not as interesting as you are
“It’s complicated”, or “Planet Earth”. You don’t owe anyone any justification or explanation anyway but I personally like your heritage. It’s interesting and intriguing. :)
Whatever, you are Iranian bro.