Rumi's Innovation in Word Combinations in the Persian Language

Rumi's neology ability is unparalleled, as some evidence of which is demonstrated in this paper.  In this study, we investigate Rumi’s coinage, focusing on compound words. Using an analytical-descriptive approach, we studied every verse in three books of Masnavi, identifying all original coinages and novel constructions. To make sure that the identified words were unprecedented and true coinages, they were searched in dictionaries and other databases. Rumi's word coinage has already attracted some scholars’ attention (see Zarrinkoob, 1383; Sotoudeh, 1376). Hassani Ranjbar and Al-Sadat (1395) examined Rumi’s use of creative lexical units. Similarly, Maryam Blori theorized lexical innovations in Rumi’s work. compounding is the main coinage strategy used by Rumi. Likewise, it is the most frequent word-formation process in Persian, as more than 70% of new words created by the Iranian Language Academy are created using compounding (Tabatabyi, 1386). Therefore, this area merits further research.  The two most common lexical compounds in Persian lexical bundles combining two nouns or a noun with an adjective. Some of Rumi's coined lexical compounds are as follows: "Chonibakhsh", "Omidlis", "Fanaja", "Stiz Fel", "Abandish", "Saqr Parvardgan", "Soleimanikon". Concerning the latter type, the compound noun-adjective construction is formed by combining a variable component (adjective) and a fixed component (noun). These combinations are very generative and diverse, in the sense that they can be drawn upon to create further similar lexical units. The structure of this type of compound is as follows: Variable word (adjective) + fixed word (Kish) =: Composite adjective :⇒ Andishekish (Rumi, 1373: Volume 4 / 765) Variable word (noun) + Fixed word (objective adjective) =Composite adjective:⇒ "Narzadeh"(Rumi, 1377: 603) Variable word (noun/ prefix/ adjective) + Fixed word (noun here Del+ Plural sign) =Plural adjective⇒ Sagdelan (Rumi, Volume 2, 405( The variable word (noun, adjective) + the fixed word (the root of the verb plus the infinitive) = infinitive⇒ Eshghparvari. (Rumi, 1998: 730) Variable word (noun) + Fixed word (noun) =Composite adjective⇒ Sabrkho (Rumi, 1373: Volume 3/1850) Variable word (noun) + Fixed word (Angiz/ adjectives) = Composite adjective⇒ Zafarangiz (Rumi, 1373: Volume 1/3989) Variable word (noun) + Fixed word (Afkan The immutable component of the verb) = Composite adjective⇒ Kesadafkan (same, Volume4 / 1095) Variable word (adjective / noun) +Fixed word )Row + component of the verb)= Compound adjective ⇒ Eshghamizrow ((same, Volume1 / 768) Descriptive and additional combinations are another important compounding element in Rumi's works. Here are some of the rare compositions of Masnavi: "Hayatistan Bichun", "Chunibakhsh", "Shir-e-Saidavardehi" and "Hasti Bal-Ashkan", "Balayayat" (Balayat To), "Dig-e Dolatba", .. The important conclusion to draw from the findings is Persian has rich potential for generating new lexical units utilizing its already existing repertoire of words. Given Rumi's orientation towards Sufism and his need to express mystical concepts, he took proper advantage of this potential of Persian.  Some unique contributions of this study are as follows. The derived lexical coinages are discussed here for the first time. Secondary, in terms of rhetoric, Rumi's coining strategies are diverse. He may create a noun or a gerund from a preposition or use an adjective in an object position. Occasionally, Rumi builds a new lexical compound by dropping a connective letter or creating a gerund or an adjective from certain nouns. Finally, he may at times use a locative suffix with a content word, clip a noun phrase or and create a gerund from an adjective.