The Fate of the Armenian Language
I am fearful for the fate of the Western Armenian language. In 2010, Western Armenian joined UNESCO’s list of endangered languages. Each language on the list is assigned a severity level on a five-tiered scale ranging from vulnerable to extinct. Western Armenian joined the list with the status of definitely endangered (the tier following vulnerable), which means it’s a language that “children no longer learn as their mother tongue at home.”
Western Armenian is the language spoken by many Diasporan Armenians around the world. From this beloved language blooms our culture. Our Armenian Diaspora heritage, values, identity, humor and community are all framed and more robustly appreciated through language. Western Armenian binds our communities and brings a new perspective to our culture.
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Michael, you write that “you are fearful for the fate of the Western Armenian language”. Your fears are not unfounded. But I am glad to read that you have set a goal for yourself to become fluent in Armenian. Such attitude and determination by the young and upcoming give hope for the perpetuation of the Western Armenian language. Յաջողութիւն քեզի։
I like to challenge myself to learn languages that most don’t speak. Not dead languages but those still spoken today. Armenian (Western Armenian) eludes me on common apps or open learning platforms like duolingo etc. Where is a good place to start myself from?
I want to learn Western Armenian as part Armenian myself, sadly my great grandmother did not teacher her daughter Armenian, so she doesn’t know so my dad doesn’t know and I dont know Armenian. But I want to learn to speak Armenian and help keep the language alive while doing so. I don’t know any Armenian people so I can’t practice with them. Any suggestions?
Put AI software in computers that when Armenian is typed in English alphabet converts the typed subject into Armenian alphabet, so that Armenians will learn to read Armenian.