Many scholars argue that the marginalization of a language with approximately 110–130 million speakers worldwide is not accidental. Historical processes like “De-Persianization” (Farsi-Zodayi) have involved deliberate efforts, often tied to colonial and political influences, to reduce Persian’s prominence in regions such as the Indian subcontinent, Central Asia, Afghanistan, and the Persian Gulf.
For example, in the 19th century, British colonial policies actively targeted Persian through “de-Persianization” projects to erode its cultural and administrative influence. While not directly proven to affect modern platforms like Duolingo, these long-standing attitudes may contribute to Persian’s underrepresentation in global language resources.
For deeper context, we recommend watching Professor Mohammad-Reza Shafiei Kadkani’s lecture at the University of Tehran. He explores these historical and political efforts to diminish Persian’s influence in the region.