History of Indo-European Languages...

[dusken]

I believe the Eastern pronounciation is correct and Western spelling and words are correct. I could be wrong.

However, all languages have dialects and all languages evolve.

[Darorinag]

No, what I meant to say is that - when you're reading something from a paper or whatever. Like you write parev with a "pen" (I'm talking about writing the word in Armenian letters, not English letters like we always do here) and pronounce it "barev". Or is parev written with a "beh" in eastern Armenian?!? If you actually pronounce "pen" (the second letter of the alphabet), the sound is "P" not "B". It doesn't matter that the order compared to English is A, B and Aip, Pen.. etc. Anyone get what I'm saying?!?!

[xBaron Dants]

No, what I meant to say is that - when you're reading something from a paper or whatever. Like you write parev with a "pen" (I'm talking about writing the word in Armenian letters, not English letters like we always do here) and pronounce it "barev". Or is parev written with a "beh" in eastern Armenian?!? If you actually pronounce "pen" (the second letter of the alphabet), the sound is "P" not "B". It doesn't matter that the order compared to English is A, B and Aip, Pen.. etc. Anyone get what I'm saying?!?!

Yes, I get what you're saying.

But, the real sound of "pen" is "b".

[dstyle]

Ya, the correct dialect is Eastern Armenian, the correct spelling is Western Armenian. DAmn Stalin.

[HyeJinx1984]

Ya, the correct dialect is Eastern Armenian, the correct spelling is Western Armenian. DAmn Stalin.

Since I can't read or write, I wonder what dialect my family speaks. We use the B sounds more than the P sounds.

[Tres Bien]

if you know where youre family is from originally ...then youll know if you speak western or eastern...
If you use b as prounansation- in barev for example, then you speak eastern most probably.

[dusken]

Have we not already discussed the dialectal differences to death in other threads where such a discussion would be on topic?

[HyeJinx1984]

if you know where youre family is from originally ...then youll know if you speak western or eastern...
If you use b as prounansation- in barev for example, then you speak eastern most probably.

Thanks


ffffffffffff

[jgm1975]

Indeed all languages have dialects, and they are a source of wealth, diversity and originality. I know of many different French dialects. But all the French write Daniel as "Daniel", while among Armenians, we have "Daniel" and "Taniel". It is as if some English-speaking people referred to a "nav" as "boat", while others referred to it as a "poad". There are dozens of Italian dialects, yet all Italians write the name Marc as "Marco", while among Armenians there is "Markos" and "Margos". The Western Armenian and Eastern Armenian division is a result of the Armenian language having been desecrated by foreign powers bent on eliminating the originality of the Armenian language. While now it may not be seen as a significant problem, compared to the significant economic problems affecting Armenia, it is something that can create further divisions among Armenians, divisions that a small nation can not afford. I speak Western Armenian, yet sometimes when I listen to Eastern Armenian, I really have to pay attention because I may not understand. Also, when a non-Armenian asks me to write his name using the beautiful Armenian alphabet that he enjoys to see, I am embarrassed because if the guy's name is "Brian", based on the first letter that I use, some Armenians will read it "Brian" while others will read it "Prian". Language is the most important element of any culture. Many countries have been torn on this issue (Canada, Belgium), while others have been united as a result of a common language (Italy, Germany). Today we have de-facto two Armenian languages, both with inaccuracies compared to the original language (although the pronunciation of Eastern Armenian is more exact). That is feeding into this "Hayastantsis vs. others" mentality. We already have divisions among Diaspora Armenians (Beyrutsis vs. Halesbtsis vs. Bolsetsis), let's not make things worse. We are notorious for this "battles of the -tsis". We Armenians like to compare ourselves to Jews and Turks. To Jews because of the similarities in terms of being an oppressed nation spread around the world that has survived throughout the millenniums, to Turks because of the obvious historical episodes. Yet the Jews reformed the Hebrew language in the 19th century when they realized that it was drifting apart due to foreign influences on the language, while the Turks adopted the Latin alphabet in the 20s to make the language more modern. If Jews and Turks can take steps to reform their language, the most important part of a culture, to build cohesion, retain or regain the purity of the language and give generations to come a solid foundation of their identity, so can Armenians. I think that this is more than a mere dialect issue. It is a question of saving the sanctity of the Armenian language, and it is not difficult to reconcile both variants to have a single language. Anyway, if people think it is not a big deal, so be it...

[Tres Bien]

one step forward in percerving the armenian langauge could easily done if those who use russian words or or arabic for example, use the armenian for it instead, as mostly its not very complicated words.

"xi"(incho), "karas",(garokhes), and inputs as "ara"...,
must be REMOVED from your vocabulary list. The best way to percerve the armenian langauge, or at least sparing us sensitive people from getting sick

"We Armenians like to compare ourselves to Jews and Turks."

I have one word to say, -LOL.