بررسی اصطلاح ناشناختۀ «سرت به گردن» در طومارهای نقّالی شاهنامه

 Abstract
One of the important sources in the research and analysis of epic works is the scrolls of Shahnameh. These scrolls are considered a valuable treasure due to the fact that they contain words and expressions that can hardly be found in other literary texts. Since the scientific and critical publication of these scrolls has increased in recent decades and the researchers’ view of these scrolls has changed compared to the past, a part of this mentioned treasure has been extracted and freed from the danger of being forgotten. However, among these scrolls, we still come across words and terms that, due to not being recorded in the old dictionaries, their meanings are not clear to the researchers, and even in some cases, have caused a wrong interpretation. This study aims to investigate an unknown term and clarify its meaning by examining several Shahnameh scrolls more closely. Surveys show that the term “Sarat b-e Gardan” is generally used when support is removed from a person and he is left alone. This term is mostly used by opponents on the battlefield and in response to the one who calls them to surrender or brags excessively about him supporter. In this case, this expression is used as profanity and mockery in two ways. First, the term will be mentioned without mentioning the name of the patron and in the other case, with the name of the patron. Second, the name of the patron is more commonly used to humiliate and belittle the abandoned person.
Keywords: Scroll, Neck, Commitment, Compilation of Dictionary, Folk Literature.
Introduction
Every nation in its history of several thousand years has literature that may not have been written down anywhere. On the other hand, in a closer examination of popular literature, we find words and expressions whose meaning, despite being written down, is not clear to everyone today. Even researchers and linguistic specialists may not understand their meaning and make false statements about them. The importance of preserving and writing down these words and terms and providing an explanation of their meaning is because many of these words and terms, apart from literary and linguistic discussions, express the customs, traditions, and culture of past peoples. Hence, their destruction leads to the disappearance of a part of the past culture of a nation. So far, words and slang terms of the Persian language have been collected in independent dictionaries.
The most important of these dictionaries are the Persian Folk Culture by Najafi (2008) and the Alley Book (Ketāb-e kuče) by Shamlou (2001). However, the term “Sar b-e gardan kardan” «سر به گردن کردن» which is the subject of this study, does not appear in these dictionaries. In this study, this term, which according to the available evidence, has a written history dating back to the Safavid period, is introduced and then its correct and precise meaning is given.
Materials and Methods
The method of this study is descriptive-analytical and its main sources are scrolls of Shahnameh. It is true that most of these scrolls have been corrected and published in recent decades, but in some cases, the author referred to the manuscripts for the correct recording of the term in the example under discussion. In addition, two unpublished manuscript scrolls have been used in the present study.
Research Findings
This study adds a term to the entry “neck” in the dictionaries. The significance of the present research is that it provides the correct form and the accurate meaning of a colloquial term, thereby facilitating the understanding of part of the text of the scrolls. To the best of the researcher’s knowledge, the term “Sar b-e gardan” (head to neck) appears in several scrolls of Shahnameh. To define this term, it should be noted that one of its main pillars, the neck, is inscribed in dictionaries in the sense of commitment and responsibility. Considering the meaning of neck and its evidence, it can be said that “Sar b-e gardan kardan-e kasi” «سر به گردن کردنِ کسی» is an allusion to abandon of someone and not accept any obligation or responsibility towards him. This proposition, which is now used and narrated in the same sense in Razavi Khorasan, Sabzevar city, and the author has heard it many times from the adults of the family in times of anger addressed to their children, is used when the father or support person, after seeing the unwise and impolite behavior of the child and the person under his care, abandons him and no longer accepts any responsibility for his behavior and actions. In fact, a father or guardian disowned the abandoned person by saying the phrase “Sarat b-e gardanat” (your head to your neck).
Discussion of Results and Conclusions
Although the meaning of abandoning an individual and having no further responsibility towards him is implicit and hidden in all the evidence of the scrolls, based on this existing evidence, angry and upset individuals use this term in response to the following individuals: 1) Someone who intends to do something without the permission of his elder; 2) Someone who is overly reliant on the support of his benefactor or king, and strives to please him to the point of risking his life, 3) Someone who, despite his low social status and lack of proper lineage, proposes to a woman with a higher social status and position; 4) Someone who calls the name of a powerful hero and warrior and asks him to come to the battlefield (This person believes his abilities are greater than his current opponent's and requests him to leave the arena so a stronger rival can come to fight him); 5) Someone who, in the heat of battle against his opponent, does not speak of him with respect and insults him; 6) Someone who does not accept the invitation of the king or a powerful individual and is unwilling to meet with him; 7) A woman who believes her position and rank is higher than another woman; 8) A person who advises his benefactor or supporter and gives him counsel; and 9) A person who does not have a royal lineage and addresses kings. Additionally, this study examined two terms “Bār āmadan-e gardan” «بار آمدنِ گردن» and “Sar be har čeh na bad-tar kardan” «سر به هرچه نه بدتر کردن» that appear in Shahnameh-e Naqalan. In the first case, it can be inferred that “gardan” is used in the sense of commitment and responsibility. The second term serves as an insult and derogatory expression towards others. In one case of the existing evidence, this term - which is very vulgar and disgusting - is associated with the word “gardan”.