Western Armenian

[shiner]

Considering the Armenian state survives and even becomes strong, and hopefully Armenian as a language does not become extinct in the future, what do you all think of the future of Western Armenian. I think that there is a good chance the Western Armenian dialect will disappear in the future (except for literature and historical manuscripts). This is not necessarily bad as long as some other form of Armenian remains, but it is still something to think about.

[MJ]

We have discussed this topic in the past.

 

Regardless of how I feel about this matter (and I love the Western Armenian), I think the Western Armenian has no future. Perhaps, in some colonies, it may still exist as a family language for one or two generations. But that's about it.

 

The survivability of a language, especially its written form of communications, depends on the heritage that is being communicated in that language, and the numbers of people who do advance it further.

 

It is clear that no professional books are going to be written in Western Armenian. Neither Armenian Science nor other technical or professional literature is going to choose the path of Western Armenian as the media of communication.

 

Sure there will be a handful of competitive and competent professionals and writers writing handful of books in Western Armenian, but I strongly doubt that this possibility itself may serve the cause of survival of the Western Armenian.

 

BTW, I don't want to make this issue as an issue of Western vs. Eastern Armenian dialects. Unless some global issues are adequately resolved in the strategic national domain, there is no way that Eastern Armenian would survive in Diaspora beyond 2-3 generations, either, I think.

 

Over the long run, the Armenian (Eastern) language would survive only in Armenia, and in those (minority) families of Diaspora, which would maintain active relationship with Armenia.

 

[ March 30, 2001: Message edited by: MJ ]

[Pilafhead]

I agree with you, Martin. This is all very sad and worse yet, unavoidable. The written language is probably already on its death bed in the Diaspora.

 

What will happen to the literature written in Western Armenian? Will it eventually only be accessable to a select few?

 

Does all this really matter in the long run? I think it does, but I can easily see the contrary argument.

[MJ]

Mike, I think that even now it is accessable to a select few.

P.S. BTW, in my high school days in Armenia, the Western Armenian literature was an equally significant part of the High School Literature curricula.

[ March 30, 2001: Message edited by: MJ ]

[Pilafhead]

There just seem to be much more pressing problems in the Diaspora than preserving the language.

 

And Armenia has more important problems than preserving Western Armenian.

[Kazza]

It matters! One of the only solid ways to trace a person's heritage is by the languages they have passed down. HIstory books can always get lost and destroyed and (god forbid!) through a politticsl regime that could happen in the future.