Western dialect vs. Eastern dialect

[Mos]

I live in the US, but speak the Eastern dialect, with Russian words, (basiclly the dialect people speak in Armenia). However, all the Armenians I know in my area have a Western dialect, and when they hear me speak, they comment that i don not know the real Armenian basically saying that I do not know Armenian. Well, they might say it in the states, but when they go to Armenia they will see that the motherland speaks the eastern dialect. Anybody else ever experience this?

ps. take no offense western dialect speakers,

[Ouzounian]

Re: Western dialect vs. Eastern dialect

There isn't a really big difference between the two right? I myself am learning Eastern and am finding that most "p's" are switched to "b's" and ect...for instance "Parev" to "barev". It mostly just sounds a little different on some words. But I am still learning...correct me if I am wrong.

[Ouzounian]

Re: Western dialect vs. Eastern dialect

Your (somewhat) right.
Alot of words are similar but the Eastern dialect uses alot of Russian words as where in the Western dialect there are no russian words but instead we, (Im saying we, because I speak in the western dialect) use alot of Arabic words.

Ah, ok that makes sense, thanks for the information. Would you say that both dialects take a lot of words from the russian and arabic vocabulary, or just a small few? Im sure it didnt start off that way long time back, but since the evolution of languages is ever changing and being influenced by neighboring countries a lot of slang gets picked up, I guess that comes when one knows more than their Armenian Language, they tend to mix the languages together causing this effect.

[Siamanto]

Re: Western dialect vs. Eastern dialect

However, all the Armenians I know in my area have a Western dialect, and when they hear me speak, they comment that i don not know the real Armenian basically saying that I do not know Armenian.

What is real Armenian? By the way, can it be that they're joking simply because they don't understand you? I just hope that they don't mean it.

[Siamanto]

Re: Western dialect vs. Eastern dialect

In the Western dialect there are no russian words but instead we, (Im saying we, because I speak in the western dialect) use alot of Arabic words.

Would you say that both dialects take a lot of words from the russian and arabic vocabulary, or just a small few?

The above may be true of those who lived in Arabic speaking countries but not all Western speaking Armenians; there exist many communities - France, Greece, Bulgaria... - where Western Armenian is spoken and Arabic words are not used. Different Armenian Communities use words of the language spoken in the host country.

[melikianAvak]

Re: Western dialect vs. Eastern dialect

Ah, ok that makes sense, thanks for the information. Would you say that both dialects take a lot of words from the russian and arabic vocabulary, or just a small few? Im sure it didnt start off that way long time back, but since the evolution of languages is ever changing and being influenced by neighboring countries a lot of slang gets picked up, I guess that comes when one knows more than their Armenian Language, they tend to mix the languages together causing this effect.

I learned from my parents as did everyone I knew. Dad was western and mother eastern. Neither used Arabic or Russian words. A few turkish words.
They came to the US in 1921 and 1923. Second languages were: Mother spoke Russian and Dad spoke turkish and greek, they did not use any Russ words at all, and only a very few turkish.

[Alexzan]

Re: Western dialect vs. Eastern dialect

I speak both Eastern and western (Mostly western)
I don't see a HUGEEEE difference but it still gets complicated for me sometimes. And I don't want to sound rude but, why do some eastern speakers get mad when we use "gor"

[Lucin]

Re: Western dialect vs. Eastern dialect

I speak both Eastern and western (Mostly western)
I don't see a HUGEEEE difference but it still gets complicated for me sometimes. And I don't want to sound rude but, why do some eastern speakers get mad when we use "gor"

I don't get mad when you say 'gor' in your conversation but when I have asked what it means exactly, none of you guys have been able to give a clear answer.

[Siamanto]

Re: Western dialect vs. Eastern dialect

I speak both Eastern and western (Mostly western)
I don't see a HUGEEEE difference but it still gets complicated for me sometimes. And I don't want to sound rude but, why do some eastern speakers get mad when we use "gor"

A couple of comments:

1. "Gor" is used to fill a shortcoming of the Armenian language where the continuous forms of verb tenses do not exist - i.e. I am going, I was going etc. By the way, other languages - i.e. the French - lack the continuous form.

2. "Gor" seems to be a *urkish influence; in fact, the *urkish suffix "yor" is equivalent to the Armenian "gor"

3. "Gor" is only used in spoken Armenian and is not considered proper Armenian

4. I was puzzled when I heard Armenians from Aleppo, Syria use "eh" instead. For instance, instead of "gou kam gor," they say "Gou kameh." I don't know if all Armenians from Syria, use the same suffix to form the continuous form???

5. It is possible to avoid using it - at least in most cases, if not all; but, it requires some effort and it's not always straightforward. I wonder how the continuous form is expressed in Eastern Armenian?

I don't get mad when you say 'gor' in your conversation but when I have asked what it means exactly, none of you guys have been able to give a clear answer.

Can it be that you have missed the explanation or "discarded" it? With you, it happens so frequently.






Note: I have chosen to auto censor the words "*urk," "*urkish" or *urkic" because it is commonly perceived as unpleasant and offending, evokes unpleasant emotions and imagery and is pregnant with immoral and evil connotations

[Alexzan]

Re: Western dialect vs. Eastern dialect

Ill give an example for when it has been used

"Einch gines gor"

Which in eastern would be Einch anumes?

A couple of comments:

1. "Gor" is used to fill a shortcoming of the Armenian language where the continuous forms of verb tenses do not exist - i.e. I am going, I was going etc. By the way, other languages - i.e. French - lack the continuous form.

2. "Gor" seems to be a *urkish influence; in fact, the *urkish suffix "yor" is equivalent to the Armenian "gor"

3. "Gor" is only used in spoken Armenian and is not considered proper Armenian

4. I was puzzled when I heard Armenians from Aleppo, Syria use "eh" instead. For instance, instead of "gou kam gor," they say "Gou kameh." I don't know if all Armenians from Syria, use the same suffix to form the continuous form???

5. It is possible to avoid using it - at least in most cases, if not all; but, it requires some effort and it's not always straightforward. I wonder how the continuous form is expressed in Eastern Armenian?