Mysticism Studies in Literature

Recreation and Adaptation of Mystical Concepts in The Conference of the Birds: A Structural, Content-Based, and Linguistic Comparison of the Persian, Turkish, and English Versions

Document Type : Original Article

Author

somaye aghababaei

Assistant Professor of Persian Language and Literature Department of Allameh Tabatabai University

10.22054/msil.2026.20943
Abstract
Comparative literary analysis enables a deeper understanding of how concepts are represented and reinterpreted across diverse linguistic and cultural contexts. The adaptation of mystical ideas for young readers is especially significant, as adolescents are often unfamiliar with the language and style of classical mystic texts and usually require semantic localization to comprehend abstract concepts.
This qualitative study examines three adaptations of ʿAṭṭār's The Conference of the Birds—one in Persian, one in Turkish, and one in English—each written for a young audience with the aim of conveying mystical concepts to a new generation. The research explores similarities and differences in textual structure, linguistic features and register, narrative style, content transformation, and visual semiotics (including color, calligraphy, and illustrations). The findings indicate that each version employs a distinct strategy for meaning-making: The Persian adaptation remains highly faithful to the classical literary style of the source text; the Turkish version prioritizes simplified language and narrative fluidity to align with contemporary youth discourse; and the English adaptation introduces more extensive content modification to communicate mystical concepts to modern adolescent readers. The Persian and Turkish versions demonstrate closer alignment in cultural and linguistic components due to a shared Islamic cultural heritage. Across all three versions, the transmission of mysticism is achieved not only through lexical and narrative adaptation but also through an integrated semiotic system combining verbal and visual elements.
Mysticism Studies in Literature
Volume 4, Issue 8
(autumn and winter2026)
March 2026
Pages 17-85

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