Armenian Lessons

[vartahoor]

Transliteration & Punctuation In Armenian

 

Hayastani Hanrapetut'yan Lezvi Petakan Tesch'ut'yan Hayereni Bardzraguyn Khorhrdi Oroshume" Hayereni Granshanneri Havak'atsui Masin Hayereni bolor gravor tarberaknern artahaytogh granshanneri havak'atsu sahmanelu npatakov Hayastani Hanrapetut'yan Lezvi Petakan Tesch'ut'yan Hayereni Bardzraguyn Khorhurde" oroshum e'`

 

Himk' e"ndunel mesropyan aybubene"` e"st avandut'i ayn miazhamanak o'gtagortselov t'vayin arzhek'ner artahaytelu hamar:

Zhamanakakits' grakan lezvi arevelahay ev arevmtahay tarberakneri, inch'pes naev mijin hayereni grut'yan gortsogh hamakargeri ar'andzahatkut'yunnern artahaytelu hamar pahpanel hetmesropyan shrjanum e"ndunvats u, o', f, ev [ligature] tar'ere" ev nerkayums hayeren tek'sterum kirar'vogh ketadrakan nshannere":

Hastatel hayereni granshanneri havak'atsui hetevyal aghyusake".

A K R

B H S

G D V

D Gh T

E Ch R

Z M Ts

E' Y W

E" N P'

T' Sh K'

Zh O Ev [ligature]

I Ch' O'

L P F

Kh J U [i.e., ow]

Ts

 

Ketadrakan Nshanner

 

. mijaket

 

, storaket

 

: verjaket

 

` but'

 

shesht [not on my keyboard]

 

paruyk/harts'akan nshan [not on my keyboard]

 

erkar/bats'akanch'akan nshan [not on my keyboard]

 

- miut'yan gtsik

 

__ anjatman gits

 

ent'amna / toghadardzi nshan [not on my keyboard]

 

' apat'arts'

 

... kakhman keter

 

.... bazmaket

 

( dzakh kor p'akagits

 

) aj kor p'akagits

 

[ dzakh ughigh p'akagits

 

] aj ughigh p'akagits

 

{ dzakh dzevavor p'akagits

 

} aj dzevavor p'akagits

 

Tsanot'.

Arevelahay bar'arannere" kazmelis u-n zeteghel w-i teghum:

ev-e" gortsatselu depk'um ayn teghadrel e"st aybubeni sovorakan kargi, aysink'n` ev kapakts'ut'yan p'okharen:

HH Lezvi Petakan Tesch'ut'yan Hayereni Bardzraguyn Khorhurd

 

*Hastatvats e' HH lezvi petakan tesch'ut'yan peti 1996 t'. hoktemberi 9-I hramanov:

[vartahoor]

Lesson one

Առաջին դաս

 

The Armenian alphabet has 38 letters composed of vowels and consonants.

 

By definition a vowel keeps its sound when kept in continuous mode e.g., the first letter of the alphabet Ա, ա which when pronounced and kept in perpetual pronunciation mode will sound [a:].as the letter "a" in "ask" when the latter is pronounced in British English.

 

In the standard British English used by the BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) the phonetic symbols are placed in square brackets which are also used as the international phonetic symbols. My typewriter will not allow me to use the standard phonetic symbols and the phonetic symbols used in American dictionaries are not the best ones to use, therefore I will use a combination of phonetic symbols to illustrate the correct pronunciation of the Armenian words as much as possible especially in the case of explosive consonants lost in the Western Armenian vernacular.

 

A consonant by definition is a letter that when pronounced and its sound kept gives the sound [e"]; For ease of understanding regarding the symbol [e"] consider pronouncing the definite article "the" in English when it appears before a word starting with a consonant, and keep the sound going, you will only hear {e"], I will elaborate on this subject later. When the definite article in English appears before a words starting with vowels e.g., the aeroplane (airplane US) the sound continues as [i:] as in the pronunciation of the word "seat", "beat", etc.

 

As to the Armenian grammar, in each lesson some grammatical point will be mentioned. For your information the parts of speech in Armenian grammar is the same as in English and other languages and are as follows:

 

Noun անուն [anun]

Adjective ածական [atsakan]

Pronoun դերանուն [deranun]

Verb բայ [bay]

Adverb մակբայ [makbay]

 

The last three will be mentioned later.

 

In eastern Armenian the letters of the alphabet are taught by their sounds and not by their names which is the method of teaching in western Armenian. The reason that in western Armenian the children are taught the names of the letters is the inability of the westerners to pronounce certain letters properly, e.g. the words «գայլ» meaning "wolf" and «քայլ» meaning "step" is pronounced the same way in western Armenian, since the explosive consonant «Գ» which should be pronounced "g" as in "girl" is pronounced [k'] as in "cat" and therein lies the difficulty of teaching the youngster and for which the only solution is to spell the word by using the names of the letters. I hope that in due time we will be able to eradicate this deficiency and adhere to the correct pronunciation as is the case in eastern vernacular and which is the standard language of the homeland.

 

Using the Armenian Translieteration Symbols the following words with their English equivalents In the right column can be pronounced easily.

 

The transliteration symbols are placed in square brackets, next to the Armenian words. Please refier to these symbols which were previously introduced in table fashion:

 

Ասա [asa] Say (Imperative mood)

Դաս [das] Lesson

Սա [sa] This

Դա [da] That

Սար [sar] Mountain

Մատ [mat] Finger

Ծառ [tsar] Tree

Շատ [shat] Many, also very

Լավ [lav] Good

Գնա [gna] He or she

Ես [es] I

Մատներ [matner] Fingers

Սարեր [sarer] Mountains

Նավեր [naver] Ships

Դասեր [daser] Lessons

 

Please note that the suffix «եր» pronounced [er] is used to form the plural of the noun. The reason «մատ» became «մատներ»and not «մատեր» is because the finger originally was «մատն» and over time the «ն» was dropped from the singular but when plural is formed the «ն» is returned.

 

In this lesson there are 14 letters of which 3 are vowels and eleven consonants.

 

The vowels

Ա, ա Ե, ե Է, է

 

The consonants

Ս,ս Շ,շ Մ,մ Լ,լ Վ,վ Ր,ր Ռ,ռ Ն,ն

 

The explosive consonants

Դ,դ Տ,տ Ծ,ծ

 

Ասա դաս [asa das] Say lesson

Ասա սար [asa sar] Say mountain

Սա մատ է [sa mat e'] This is a finger]

Դա նավ է [da nav e'] That is a ship

Սա լավ է [sa lav e'] This is good

Դա շատ լավ է [da shat lav e'] That is very good

Ես լավ եմ [es lav e'm] I am well

 

End of the first lesson[/color][/size]

[vartahoor]

Lesson Two

Երկրորդ դաս

[Erkro'rd das]

 

So far we have learned 14 of the 38 Armenian alphabet letters in the following manner:

 

Vowels Ա, ա Ե, ե Է, է

Consonants Ս,ս Շ,շ Մ,մ Լ,լ Վ,վ Ր,ր Ռ,ռ Ն,ն

Explosive consonants Դ,դ Տ,տ Ծ,ծ

 

Ուլ [ul] kid

Լալ [lal] to cry

նալ [ge"nal] to go

Գալ [gal] to come

Սուս [sus] hush

Ուղտ [ught] camel

Թուղթ [t'ught'] paper

Ուս [us] shoulder

Ռուս [r'us] Russian

Սեվ [sev] black

Սար [sar] mountain

Սուր [sur] sharp

Սուր [sur] sword

Լուր [lur] News

Լուրեր [lurer] News

Ուր [ur] Where

Լար [lar] String

Սալ [sal] Anvil

Արուս [arus] Feminine name

Լալա [lala] Feminine name

Էշ [e'sh] Donkey «The female ass»*

 

* In the US the "ass" is used as a part of the human anatomy in a derogatory manner therefore the addition of "jack" qualifier to distinguish the animal from the anatomical part. The donkey on the other hand is seldom used in the US and instead we see we encounter the word "Jeannie Ass". The British English by pronouncing the ass in two different ways does not need any qualifier for distinctiveness.

 

Now let us construct some simple sentences:

 

Լալա սուս: Lala hush.

[lala sus]

 

Լալա գնա նստիր: Լala go sit down.

[lala ge"na ne"stir]

 

Իմ ուսը ցավում է: My shoulder is hurting.

[im use" ts'avum e"]

 

Սա ուլ է This is a kid «the animal»

[sa ul e']

 

Աննա սա Արան է: Anna this is Ara.

[Anna this is Ara]

 

Արմեն սա Արուսն է: Armen this is Arus.

[Armen sa Aruse"n e']

 

Բարեւ Արա ի՞նչպես ես: Hello Ara, how are you?

[barev Ara inch'pe's e's]

 

Լաւ եմ Արա, դու ինչպե՞ս ես: I am well Ara, how are you?

[lav em Ara, du inch'pe's e's]

 

Նունէ սա սար է Nune' this is a mountain.

[Nune' sa sar e']

 

Անուշ սա մի սուր է: Anush this is a sword.

[Anush sa mi sur e"]

 

Աննա սա սուր է: Anush this is sharp.

[Anna sa sur e']

 

The last two sentences although the same have different connotations which can be understood from the context.

In this lesson we learned the letters ու, գ, ղ, the subjective pronoun «ես» "I", the possessive adjective «իմ» "My" and some simple sentences. We also learned two of the punctuation marks in Armenian i.e., the «:» "." and the «՞» "?" . The question mark in Armenian is placed on the last syllable's vowel. Since you already know enough letters in Armenian the word for syllable in Armenian is a simple one and it is called «Վանկ» [vank].

 

End of lesson #2

[vartahoor]

Lesson Three

Երրորդ դաս

[ Er-rord das

 

The Armenian Alphabet is as follows:

Ա,ա Բ,բ Գ,գ Դ,դ Ե,ե Զ,զ Է,է Ը,ը Թ,թ Ժ,ժ Ի,ի Լ,լ

[a] [g] [d] [e] [z] [e'] [e"] [t'] [zh] [ i ] [ l ]

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

 

Խ,խ Ծ,ծ Կ,կ Հ,հ Ձ,ձ Ղ,ղ Ճ,ճ Մ,մ Յ,յ* Ն,ն Շ,շ Ո,ո

[kh] [ts] [k] [h] [dz] [gh] [ch] [m] [hi]* [n] [sh] [o]

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

 

Չ,չ Պ,պ Ջ,ջ Ռ,ռ Ս,ս Վ,վ Տ,տ Ր,ր Ց,ց Ւ,ւ** Փ,փ Ք,Ք

[ch'] [p] [ j ] [r'] [v] [t] [r] [ts] [v]** [p' ] [k']

25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36

 

Օ,օ Ֆ,ֆ

[o'] [ f ]

37 38

 

The letter marked with asterisk (*), the «Յ, յ» in the new orthography is used only to form diphthongs as follows: «յա», «յե», «յի», «յո», «ույ», «ոյ» [ya] [ye] [yi] [yo] [uy] [oy]

Example of diphthongs(union of two vowels) in English are:

"ai", "ei", "oi", "ya", "ye".

 

 

**The letter «Ւ, ւ» in the new orthography is only used as part of the letter «ու».

 

The letter «Ւ,ւ», however is used by Iranian Armenians in the middle of the words where the "v" sound is needed.

In Western Armenian the «ու» letter is used where the "v" sound is needed.

 

As one can see these different substitutions under the guise of keeping the Classic Armenian (Grabar) had created confusion which was eventually eliminated by the adoption of the new orthography championed by Manook Abeghian.

The new orthography put an end to this confusion by using the letter «վ» whenever the "v" sound is needed.

The letter «Ւ,ւ», however, is important to those who are interested in studying the classic Armenian or «Grabar». In this lesson we will learn some more of the letters in the alphabet through the use of simple words.

 

Review: We learned in Lesson #1 the following

 

Vowels: Ա, ա Ե, ե Է, է

Consonants Լ,լ Մ,մ Ն,ն Շ,շ Ռ,ռ Ս,ս Վ,վ Ր,ր

Explosive Consonants: Դ,դ Տ,տ Ծ,ծ

 

In lesson # 2 we learned:

 

Vowels Ու, ու

Consonants Դ,ղ

Explosive Consonant Տ, s ,գ

 

The aim of these lessons is to introduce the correct pronunciation of the Armenian letters and to facilitate the learning of the language. To achieve this goal, it is, therefore, important to discuss Syllabification or Syllabication, a point which is not emphasized in American schools, hence the difficulty in pronouncing the foreign names for most Americans. I am sure that most of you at least on one occasion, have been asked to repeat the spelling of your name despite the clear pronounciation of it, which is frustrating to say the least. The words learned so far have mostly been monosyllabic but they can be polysyllabic (more than two) in Armenian. In English the words are classified as mono-, di-, and finally poly-syllabic which refer to words with one syllable, two syllables three syllables and finally more than three syllables.

 

A syllable «վանկ» [vank] in Armenian is defined as a unit of spoken language consisting of a single uninterrupted sound formed by a vowel, a vowel and a consonant or consonants.

 

To syllabify «վանկել» [vankel] one should only count the number of times that one has to open and close one's mouth to pronounce a word, which will then represent the number of syllables in the word, e.g., "cumbersome" has three syllables which in syllabified form appears as cum-ber-some. When syllabifying the syllables are separated from each other by a hyphen.

 

A syllable always requires a vowel without which a syllable cannot be formed. When an Armenian word has two consonants following each other at syllabification time the letter «ը» is inserted between the two consonants. The letters to be used are categorized as follows:

 

Consonats «Զ, զ», «Խ, խ»

Explosive Consonants «Կ, կ» «Ձ, ձ»

Diphthong «ույ»

 

Զանգ Bell

[zang]

 

Զան-գա-կա-տուն Belfry, bell tower

[zan-ga-ka- tun]

 

Զան-գա-հա-րել To ring

[zan-ga-ha-rel]

 

Զամ-բյուղ Basket

[zam-byugh]

 

Զըմ-րուխտ* Emerald

[zem-rukht] *The word [zemrukht] is wiitten as «զմրուխտ» without an «ը» between the first two consonants and as mentioned previously at the time of syllabilization the letter «ը» is placed between the two consonants.

 

Զգեստ (ըգ-եստ) Dress

[e"z-gesհ]

 

Զգույշ (ըզ-գույշ) Careful

[e"z-guysh]

 

Զգալ (ըզ-գալ) to feel

[e"z-gal]

 

Զսպել (զըս-պել) to restrain

[ze"s-pel] Most words starting with the letter «Զ» are pronounced as if they have an «ը» in the beginning, this also holds true for the words starting with the letter «Ս», eg, «Ստեփան» pronounced [e"s-te-p'an]

 

Here are some more words using the letters that we have learned.

 

Կարապ [karap] Swan

 

Կատու [katu] Cat

 

Կաղ [kagh] Lame

 

Կարաս [կարաս] Jar

 

To conclude this lesson here is a word that I had mentioned it previously and that is «Գետնախնձոր»þ for "Potato" (-es for plural). In the first volume of Stepan Malkhasiants' 4 volume set Armenian Dictionary, the most authoritative source, we encounter the word «գեննախնձոր»» and not «Կարտոֆիլ» its Russian equivalent. The use of the word «Կարտֆիլ» should be abandoned and the correct Armenian word substituted in all the textbooks. The same should be done for the word "Banana", which should be replaced with its armenian equivalent, i.e., «Ադամաթուզ».

Գետնախնձոր is composed of two words «գետին» + «խնձոր» and when made one the letter«ի» in «գետին» is dropped and the conjunction «ա» is placed between the two words, i.e., «գետին» becomes «գետն», and when «ա» is added at the end, new form «գետնա» is emerged and when this is combined with «Խնձոր» we get the word:ԳԵՏՆԱԽՆՁՈՐ which is syllabified as follows:

«գետ-նա-խըն-ձոր» = Potato

NOT

«Կարտոֆիլ»

In Malkhasiants' dictionary (Vol. 1) the south American plant (Solanum tuberosum) is mentioned as the source for Potato" which is widely cultivated for its starchy, edible tubers.

 

End of lesson #3

[vava]

Vartahoor - did you write these lessons your self? They're great Keep it up!

[vartahoor]

Vartahoor - did you write these lessons your self? They're great Keep it up!

 

Yes, they are my work. I started them in 1997.

I am glad that you find them useful.

Hratch V Vartanian

 

[vava]

Yes, they are my work. I started them in 1997.

I am glad that you find them useful.

Hratch V Vartanian

 

How many lessons have you written so far?

You could probably get the published! (Although it's very generous of you to offer them to the public for free)

[vartahoor]

How many lessons have you written so far?

You could probably get the published! (Although it's very generous of you to offer them to the public for free)

Dear Vava,

It is the duty of every decent armenian to offer his accumulated knowledge to his people, without expecting any monitary gain.

There exists on this forum a very knowledgeable individual by the name of Johanness who continuously contributes valueable material to us, indeed he is the only one in my opinion who keeps our spoken and written language alive, he does it for free and out of decency.

Լեզւի պահպանումը միայն երաշխիքն է մեր ժողովրդին ձուլումից փրկելու և ամէն հայի պարտականութիւնն է որ այդ լեզւով հաղորդակցւի և ոչ թէ ռուսերէնով կամ անգլերէնով:

Երբ Լեհաստանի 300,000անոց հայ գաղութը կորցրեց իր լեզուն մոռացութեան մատնւեց, նոյն ճակատագրին ենթարկւեց Ղրիմի 40,000անոց հայ գաղութը:

ՀՎՎ

Edited April 27, 2007 by vartahoor

[vartahoor]

Lesson Four
Չորրորդ դաս
[chorrord das]

In this lesson we will learn some easy conversational topics.
For help in pronunciation use your transliteration symbols.

Ողջունում Greeting
[voghjunum]
Բարեվել to greet
[bare've'l]
ԲարեՎ Hello
[bare'v]
Ինչպես How
Ինչպես ես [inch'pes][e's] How are you
ես Are (2nd p.sing. of to be)
Ինչպես եք How are you (2nd p. pl. of tto be)

The verb to be belongs to the "Anomalous Finite" group which are as follows;
.
1. to be (am, are, is, was, were)
2. to do (does, did)
3. to have (has, had)
4. shall, should
5. will, would
6. can, could
7. may, might
8. must
9. ought
10. need
11. dare
12. used to

The conjugation of the verb "to be" in English & Armenian:

"to be"
Singula Plural
I am We are
You are You are
He, she, it is They are

Լինել [linel]
եզակի [yezaki] Հոգնակի [hognaki]
Ես եմ [es em] Մենք ենք [menk enk]
Դու ես [du es] Դուք եք [duk' e' k']
Նա է [na e'] Նրանք են[ne"rank' en]

From Hamlet's soliloquy To be or not to be
Համլետի Մենախոսությունից Լինել թե չլինել
[hamleti menakhosutyunits] linel t'e'' ch'e"linel]
Bonus Word
"Soliloquy" «Մե-նա-խո-սու-թյուն»
Մենախոսություն Մենակ + խոսել
Alone) + (speak)
Latin (Solus) + (Loqui)
Բարեւ, ինչպե՞ս ես Hello, how are you? (sing.)
Բարեւ, Ինչպե՞ս եք Hello, how are you? (pl. respectful)
Լավ եմ, դո°ւ ինչպե՞ս ես: I am fine, and you?
Լաւ եմ, դուք ինչպե՞ս եք I am fine, and how are you (respectful)
Ոչինչ: [ochinch'] Nothing
(From Russian, used only in Armenia?)
լույս [luys] Light
Բարի [bari] Good
Բարի լույս [bari luys] Good morning.
երեկո [yereko] Evening
Բարի երեկո [bari yereko] Good evening
Ցտեսութիւն:[ts'e"tesutyun] Good bye (literally until we meet again)
(Ցը-տե-սու-թյուն) Good bye
Ցը [ts'e"]Abbr. form Bye (Colloquial)
Գիշեր [gisher] Night
Բարի գիշեր: Good night
ինչ [inch'] What
Անուն [anun] Name
Անունդ [anune"t Your name]

The «դ» at the end of a noun shows possessiveness.
The POSSESSIVE ADJECTIVES in English are:
Singular Plural
My Our
Your Your
Her, his, its Their

In Armenian these adjectives can be attached to the noun or be stand alone ones which will be mentioned in future conversational topics

Անունդ ի՞նչ է: What is your name?]
Անունս Արամ է My name is Aram.
[anune"s aram e']
Անունս Նունե է My name is Nuneh,
ի՞նչ է քո անունը What is your name.
Որտեղ[ortegh] Where
Ծնվել[tsnvel] to be borne
Ծնված[tse"nvats Past tense of to be borne
Որտե՞ղ ես ծնված: Where were you borne?
Ծնել [tse"nel] to give birth, to bear a child
Ծնած [tse"nats] Past tense of the above

In Western Armenian the word «ծնած» is used instead of «ծնված».
Obviously you cannot ask a male individual «Որտե՞ղ ես ծնած» which means "Where have you given birth?".

Որտեղ ես ծնվե՞լ: Where were you borne?
Ծնվել եմ Իրանում: I was born in Iran
ծնվել եմ Ամերիկայում: I was born in America.

Some other examples are as follows:

Անգլիա-ում [anglia-um] In England (England)
Գերմանիա-ում [germania -um] In Germany
Իսպանիա-ում [ispania-um] In Spain
Իտալիա-ում [italia-um] In Italy
Լիբանան-ոմ [libanan-um] In Lebanon
Հունաստան-ում [hunastan-um] In Greece
Աուրիա-ում [suria-um] In Syria
Ֆրանսիա-ում [fransia-um] In France

End of lesson #4 Edited April 27, 2007 by vartahoor

[vava]

I'm certain this has been discussed before, perhaps even at length - probably Arpa has brought it up. But I'm still confused as to the use of Է / է (eh) & Ե ե (ye).

 

It's obvious when writing Երեվան (Yevervan) for example, at least in the case of the first Ե (ye). But how about the second?

Why not write barev as Բարէվ instead of the above Բարեվ ?

Same thing with Ինչպես էք vs. Ինչպես եք?

եք seems to me more likely to be pronounced "yek" like the persian "one" (yek, do, seh. ch'ar....)

 

 

Finally about bari louys, Բարի լույս is also used by parskahyes, not just in Armenia.

[vartahoor]

A Short Course in Modern Armenian Orthography, the Standard Language of the Republic Of Armenia:

1. Whenever you hear the sound «Հ» you write the letter «Հ» whether it is «Յարութիւն» or «Հազկերտ», therefore the name «Յարութիւն» will be written «Հարություն»

2. The «յու» in the above example replaces the «իւ» as the diphthong (երկբարբառ) «յու» already serves that sound. Therefore whenever you hear the sound "yu", e.g. իւղ, սիւն, բնութիւն you will write յուղ, սյուն, բնություն:

3. The letter «O» in Armenian will be used only in the beginning of words which start with it, e.g. «օգնել», «օշարակ», etc., in the middle of the words whenever you hear the sound "o" use the letter «ո», since all the «ո»'s in the middle of the Armenian words sound as «0», therefore to teach Armenian we should not cause confusion as to when to use «o» or «ո». To elucidate this point here are some words that have «ո» in the middle but which are pronounced as «o» and they are followed by words which have «օ» in the middle and which are also pronounced as «o», they are as follows: Սոխ, խորոտ, կոշտ, սով, ծով, բովանդակ, կով, շող եւ այլն. As is evident the letter «օ» is seldom used in the middle of the words and when it is used it is pronounced as «o», hence the redundancy of using it. Պօղոս, Մարօ (also written as Մարոյ), կարօ (Կարոյ), հօտ (flock), the latter is a bone of contention since the other «հոտ» means "scent", but one can from the context understand which one is used, i.e., «հօտ» or ««հոտ», e.g., «Ոչխարի հօտը սարն է բարձրանում» as opposed to ««Համ ու հոտով մի ուտելիք».

4. Other diphthongs (երկբարբառներ):

a. «յա» should be used to replace «եա», which is in the ending of all the Armenian names, e.g. «Վարդանեան» will change to «Վարդանյան»:

b. «ոյ» in old orthography has two pronunciations one is "ooy" when the diphthong appears between two consonants, e.g. «սոյն» in which case the new orthography uses the most phonetically logical form of «ույ» and the word therefore will be written as «սույն», the other pronunciation for the «ոյ» diphthong is to write but not pronounce it at all, e.g. «յուսոյ», «սիրոյ» և այլն, the last two in the modern orthography will be written simply as « հուսո» and սիրո», therefore why to have the «ոյ» diphthong in its old form.

c. The old «ոյ» diphthong will thus acquire the sound, e.g. «հոյ», «բոյ», «Նոյ»

5. Now comes the letter «Ե» which will replace all the «Է»-s in the middle of the words thus eliminating all the confusion of how to write «Ամէն» which is the correct version in the old orthography. Therefore the following words in the new orthography will replace their counterparts in the old one: Թեպետ, մեկ, սեր for both «սէր» and «սեր» in «հումսեր» (One should be able to understand from the context which one is to be used).

6. The letter «Վ» will replace «ու» and «ւ» wherever they sound as «վ», e.g., սւին, սուին, կռիւ, մեղաւոր (Iranahay version) or մեղաուոր (the western Armenian version),շեղւել (շեղուել), կեղւել (կեղուել): All of those will be written as Սվին, կռիվ, մեղավոր, շեղվել, կեղվել և այլն:

7. The letter «Յ» when it is not pronounced will not be written, e.g. «յուսոյ» will be written as «Հուսո», «սիրոյ» as «սիրո» «սատանայ» as «սատանա» եւ այլն:

Hratch V. Vartanian, MD Edited April 28, 2007 by vartahoor

[Gor-Gor]

In addition to several errors (including the spelling of "meghavor" in Western Armenian and your reason why Western Armenians learn the names of the letters), your writings use a syntax (choice of words) which is highly biased in favor of Soviet orthography -- the reason for which eludes me, since you peruse classical orthography in your Armenian writings. Edited April 28, 2007 by Gor-Gor

[Arpa]

Not only the poster of the above item is full of kovou qaqa, so are the authors of the rules.

Details to follow.

[Էլիա]

Այս դասերը չեմ սիրէր որովհետեւ կը պատճառէ որ մենք (արեւմտեան հայեր) հայերէն չ'գիտցող մարդոց պէս երեւինք:

[Gor-Gor]

I will state that I ABHOR Soviet orthography for many reasons (including the fact that the changes were absolutely unnecessary and that it hides the history of the language), but the one thing that absolutely unnerves me the most is the rationalizations that proponents of Soviet orthography present. Point #2 represents one of those rationalizations...

 

 

2. The «յու» in the above example replaces the «իւ» as the diphthong (երկբարբառ) «յու» already serves that sound. Therefore whenever you hear the sound "yu", e.g. իւղ, սիւն, բնութիւն you will write յուղ, սյուն, բնություն:

 

INCORRECT. The sounds of «յու» and «իւ» are different! The difference is readily apparent to my ear, and I imagine to the ears of all Western Armenians (and anyone who was raised having learned classical orthography).

 

Soviet orthography is an abomination to the Armenian language.

Edited April 29, 2007 by Gor-Gor

[Էլիա]

Soviet orthography is an abomination to the Armenian language.

It seems like these lessons are an abdomination to the Armenian language!

 

[Shahan Araradian]

INCORRECT. The sounds of «յու» and «իւ» are different! The difference is readily apparent to my ear, and I imagine to the ears of all Western Armenians (and anyone who was raised having learned classical orthography).

Yes! You are right on the money. In traditional Armenian orthography, «իւ» is pronounced either /ju/ or /ʏ/ (symbols are in the International Phonetic Alphabet) depending on context. For example, իւղ (oil) is pronounced [juʁ], while գիւղ (village) is pronounced [kʏʁ] (NOT [kjuʁ]!!).

 

I'm glad that Armenians were able to resist the attempt to Russify and then destroy the Armenian orthography. Other Soviet Republics were not as steadfast in protecting their linguistic culture: Belarussian traditional orthography was destroyed by the Soviets:

 

http://www.hri.org/news/balkans/rferl/1998...0.rferl.html#25

[vartahoor]

Այս դասերը չեմ սիրէր որովհետեւ կը պատճառէ որ մենք (արեւմտեան հայեր) հայերէն չ'գիտցող մարդոց պէս երեւինք:

Դուք արդեն ինչպես երևում է ձեր նախադասության կառույցիդ հայերեն չգիտեք: Ավելի լավ կլիներ հայերեն քերականություն և ոճաբանություն սովորեք հետո սկսեք մեծ-մեծ խոսել:

Վարդահուր

 

[Arpa]

What I said above still stands. Not only that, they are also full of bullkaka.

What GorGor and others are saying is that իւ was never meant to sound like Յու/you, but like the French U as in une. In most cases many western speakers still sound it that way, specially in regional dialects. We don’t say “dzyun” we say “dzun” ,like the French U, we don‘t say “gyugh“ we say “gugh“, again like the French U.

As if of all the people Armenians were in such a dire situation that they had to “simplify” orthography. It is like “if you can’t bring the mountain then you go to the mountain”, rather than educate the people and raise the level of their literacy we bring literature to the level of their illiteracy.

Of all the people…

Why don’t the English write it as Inglish and the French write “franseh” instead of Francais? Why do the English write n a t i o n an pronounce it as neyshun, why don’t they change it to “neyshun”, and why dor the French still write it as nation and not as “nasyon”?

Soviet orthography whatever the garbage, it is for the illiterata. They should worry about words like informatsya, ekonomya, revolutsya, korruptsya etc. as if we don’t already have words for those.

Once again, those so called orthographers shoukd first learn the Armenian language and see the value of each and every letter be they Յ, Է or Ւ.

They are so full of it their eyes are turning brown.

Speaking of stupidity. They remove the letters E HI and Hyun to make it less cumbersome and complicated but they add “yev” as the 37th letter and provide it with a key on the already overcrowded keyboard.

Do you want to know the definition of “stupid”??!!

 

Edited April 29, 2007 by Arpa

[Gor-Gor]

 

In Western Armenian the word «ծնած» is used instead of «ծնված».

Obviously you cannot ask a male individual «Որտե՞ղ ես ծնած» which means "Where have you given birth?".

 

 

What is the point of this?

 

If you do not know enough about Western Armenian, please do not speak about it with authority.

 

«Որտե՞ղ ես ծնած» (actually «Ու՞ր ծնած ես» or «Ու՞ր ծներ ես», colloquially) asked to a male in Western Armenian would not be confusing because "to give birth" is signaled only by the phrase «ծնունդ տալ».

 

You clearly have lots of knowledge about Eastern Armenian and Soviet orthography -- but please, do refrain from speaking authoritatively on issues pertaining to Western Armenian. You are only hurting your credibility.

[SAS]

Yes! You are right on the money. In traditional Armenian orthography, «իւ» is pronounced either /ju/ or /ʏ/ (symbols are in the International Phonetic Alphabet) depending on context. For example, իւղ (oil) is pronounced [juʁ], while գիւղ (village) is pronounced [kʏʁ] (NOT [kjuʁ]!!).

 

I'm glad that Armenians were able to resist the attempt to Russify and then destroy the Armenian orthography. Other Soviet Republics were not as steadfast in protecting their linguistic culture: Belarussian traditional orthography was destroyed by the Soviets:

 

http://www.hri.org/news/balkans/rferl/1998...0.rferl.html#25

Շահան,եթե

 

Կուղացի Համպոյին դունը գռիվ էր ինգեր, ապա կՈՒղ...

 

Ինձ մոտ այն տպավորությունն է ստեղծվում, որ շատերը երբեք չեն լսել կենդանի գրական հայերեն և իրենց գիտեցած հայերենից ելնելով, առանց դույզն իսկ կասկածելու(կներեք, գուցե դո՞ւզն ) սկսում են նույնիսկ հայերեն հնչյունաբանություն(հնչիւնաբանութիւն) սովորեցնել:

 

Ռուսախոս հայերը տի-ն արտասանում են ծի ու երբ սկսում են հայերեն խոսել, ապա նանց մոտ Տիրանը դառնում է՝ Ծիրան, Տիգրանը՝ Ծիգրան, տիկինը՝ ծիկին և այլն: Ինձ թվում է, թե օտարության մեջ ծնված- մեծացած հայերի մեջ ևս տեղի է ունեցել նմանատիպ հնչյունական խոտորում:Այլապես գիւղը պետք է նրանց մոտ ևս հնչեր գյուղ և ոչ թե ՝ գՈՒղ,

հնչիւն = հնչՅՈՒն, որովհետև եթե ասենք հնչուն, ապա գոյականը կդառնա ածական: Իսկ դրանք տարբեր բաներ են:Օրինակ՝

 

Քայլում էր հանգիստ, նիրհած գիշերով, հնչուն զանգերի անուշ ղողանջով...

Զանգակներն, ասես, հեկեկում էին և ծորում հատ-հատ հնչուն արցունքներ...

Ավ.Իսահակյան

 

Եվ մութ այրերից մամռոտ ժայռերի,

Թավուտ ծմակի լոին խորքերից,

Մանուկ հասակիս հնչուն ծիծաղի

Արձագանքն ահա լսում եմ նորից։

Թնդում է զվարթ աղմուկը բինի,

Բարձրանում է ծուխն իմ ծանոթ ուրթից

Ու բոլորն, ահա, նորից կենդանի

Ելնում են աշխույժ վաղորդյան մ ութից,

Ու թա՜րմ, ցողապատ լեռների լանջում...

Սուս... ակա՛նջ արա,–֊ հովիվն է կանչում.

Հ.Թումանյան

 

ԷԼԵԳԻԱ

Մեռնում է օրը։ Իջավ թափանցիկ

Մութի մանվածը դաշտերի վրա.

Խաղաղ-անչար է, պայծառ գեղեցիկ,

Անտրտունջ նինջը մահացող օրվա...

 

Պարզ ջրի վրա եղեգը հանդարտ

Անդողդոջ կանգնած էլ չի շշնջում,

Լռին խոկում են երկինք, գետ ու արտ,

Եվ ոչ մի շարժում, ու ոչ մի հնչյուն...

 

Ես կանգնած եմ լուռ, անչար է հոգիս,

Թախիծս խաղաղ անուրջի նման.

Էլ չեմ անիծում ցավերը կյանքիս,

Էլ չեմ տրտնջում վիճակիս ունայն...

Վ.Տերյան

 

[Gor-Gor]

SAS: Tuk artyok pakhdavorutyune unetsadz ek lsadz ellaloo arevmdahayerene gam barsgahayerene, iprev gentani lezuner? Te ayo, shad hsdag bidi ellar tsezi ays nuite. Yergoo parparnern al «իւ» tsayne nuyn gerbov ge hnchen. Yev ayt hnchume ge nmani voch «ու»-ի yev voch al «յու»-ի կամ «եու»-ի. Edited April 29, 2007 by Gor-Gor

[SAS]

Gor-Gor,

 

ոչ մեկն էլ չգիտի, թե երբ Մաշտոցը հնարեց այբուբենը, իւ-ն ինչպես էր հնչում: Բայց ելնելով այսօրվա արտասանությունից, ընդունված է, որ գրական հայերենում գիւղ պետք է հնչի գՅՈՒղ, հնչիւն՝ հնչՅՈՒն և այլն: Շատ բարբառներում ընդհանրապես չկա գյուղ, այլ կա միայն գԵղ\գԷղ\գիԷղ\գյԷղ:

 

Ես կասկածում եմ, որ Դուրյանի կամ Վարուժանի ժամանակ գրական արևմտահայերենում գիւղը

հնչում էր գուղ կամ կուղ: Խոսելով բառերի արտասանության մասին, հարկավոր է մոռանալ բարբառները և դիտրակել միայն զույգ գրական հայերենները:

 

Եթե արևմտահայերեն կենդանի լեզու ասելով հասկանում եք սփյուռքահայերի լեզուն, ապա՝ այո:

Edited May 2, 2007 by SAS

[SAS]

Բոլորին, բոլորին, բոլորին.

Վաշինգտոն, կներեք՝ Ուաշընգթըն, Սպիտակ տուն,

Լոս-Անջելես, Նյու-Յորք, Փարիզ,

Հալեպ,Բեյրութ, Աթենք, Կ.Պոլիս

Եվ այսպես շարունակ՝ առանց կանգառի

 

Մի՞թե Սփյուռքի հայկական դպրոցներում աշակերտներին սովորեցնում են, ասենք, բախտավորություն բառը գրել ՊախԴավորություն: Եթե ոչ, ապա ինչո՞ւ եք գրում: Չէ՞ որ ես կարդում եմ ձեր գրածը և ոչ թե լսում ասածը:

[Gor-Gor]

Gor-Gor,

 

ոչ մեկն էլ չգիտի, թե երբ Մաշտոցը հնարեց այբուբենը, իւ-ն ինչպես էր հնչում: Բայց ելնելով այսօրվա արտասանությունից, ընդունված է, որ գրական հայերենում գիւղ պետք է հնչի գՅՈՒղ, հնչիւն՝ հնչՅՈՒն և այլն: Շատ բարբառներում ընդհանրապես չկա գյուղ, այլ կա միայն գԵղ\գԷղ\գիԷղ\գյԷղ:

 

Ես կասկածում եմ, որ Դուրյանի կամ Վարուժանի ժամանակ գրական արևմտահայերենում գիւղը հնչում էր գուղ կամ կուղ: Խոսելով բառերի արտասանության մասին, հարկավոր է մոռանալ բարբառները և դիտրակել միայն զույգ գրական հայերենները:

 

Եթե արևմտահայերեն կենդանի լեզու ասելով հասկանում եք սփյուռքահայերի լեզուն, ապա՝ այո:

 

Your Mashdots argument is a fallacy. We do not know how many of our sounds were pronounced many centuries ago; that is correct. Languages change and evolve, of course. However, that DOES NOT MEAN that our next step should be to ALTER the language's orthography to correspond to how we pronounce those sounds today. THAT IS THE PROBLEM. Doing so cheapens the language and robs it of its history.

 

As for this: Բայց ելնելով այսօրվա արտասանությունից, ընդունված է...

 

Excuse me? Accepted by whom? Oh yes, I know. You mean to say "Because Armenians in Armenia pronounce it a certain way, then that is the accepted way."