The Western Armenian Language Thread

[DeadMau5]

Re: The Western Armenian Language Thread

I beleive Armenian, like all languages, is in a constant state of flux and will continue to evolve and take lone words, just as other contemporary languages do.

[yerazhishda]

Re: The Western Armenian Language Thread

Please, lets keep this thread on track...there is another thread discussing the phonology, morphology, syntax and overall linguistic development of Armenian. This thread is meant to aid in answering common (and not so common) grammar questions about Western Armenian as well as learning the language in general.

Thanks,
yerazhishda

[ArmSurvival]

Re: The Western Armenian Language Thread

Tom-- I don't see where I contradict what you're saying about the dialects, I'm saying people are free to speak however they want-- my only point was changing the dictionary to encompass everyone's slang is not a good idea.

Yerazhishda-- No problem.

[yerazhishda]

Re: The Western Armenian Language Thread

Yerazhishda-- No problem.

Thanks, ArmSurvival, I appreciate it.

[yerazhishda]

Re: The Western Armenian Language Thread

I have always been taught that the only time to use ն rather than ը as the definite article on a word ending in a consonant is before եմ, ես, է etc. (ie. before any of the auxiliary 'to be' verbs) or before էլ (EA)/ալ (WA). However, I regularly see it used at the end of words ending in consonants before any other word beginning with a vowel. A case in point would be the Njdeh quote that Armenian uses at the end of his posts: <<Մեր ժողովուրդն արանց...>>

So, what I'm asking is this: Is what I was taught correct, or can a ն be used as the definite article on a word ending in a consonant as long as it precedes a word (any word) beginning with a vowel?

This is a very good question, womble, as I have read that you are only supposed to use ն as a definite article before ըլլալ as well. I think this a very good question that maybe some of our resident grammarians can answer.

[Federate]

Re: The Western Armenian Language Thread

Thanks for the explanation.

Could the guy have also said «Ես ալ հոս եմ:» instead of «ես ալ կամ:» Do those two statements have a similar meaning?

«Ես ալ հոս եմ:» means "I'm here too" so it would not fit in this scenario as well as «ես ալ կամ:», unless you are using it to mock the guy for forgetting you . «Ես ալ հոս եմ:» would be if you're indicating to someone that you're in the same area as him. For example, you call your friend just to kill time while you're at some party and unknowingly to you he's there too and he says «Ես ալ հոս եմ:».

However, despite the fact that it does not fit as well, they generally point to the same meaning and one will understand what you mean regardless of which sentence you used.

[Federate]

Re: The Western Armenian Language Thread

So, what I'm asking is this: Is what I was taught correct, or can a ն be used as the definite article on a word ending in a consonant as long as it precedes a word (any word) beginning with a vowel?

I am not 100% sure on this one but I have seen it employed so much that I just think you can use it as long as a vowel is present after wards. It's used to help with the flow so it's read fast and together. For example «Սերժն ու Ռոբերտը» would be read "Serjnu Robert@".

An exception seems to be with the vowel Ե.

[JohnCanadian]

Re: The Western Armenian Language Thread

Armenia is not in the West like the EU or US or Canada is? Seeking clarification isn't Armenian supposed to be Indo European so its not really Western in that sense

[yerazhishda]

Re: The Western Armenian Language Thread

Armenia is not in the West like the EU or US or Canada is? Seeking clarification isn't Armenian supposed to be Indo European so its not really Western in that sense

Get out of my thread. If you want to respond to this message, please do so by PM or in another thread (Ankap).

[JohnCanadian]

Re: The Western Armenian Language Thread

Get out of my thread. If you want to respond to this message, please do so by PM or in another thread (Ankap).

Your a very rude person. I am not turkish you obviously think I am well you have no idea who I am anyway. What the xxxx is your problem, I didnt say anything wrong about your country or about the people. I was just seeking clarification. You have the xxxxing problem with me, I didnt do anything to you so sort it out. Either you dont like Westerners or Turkish people, well let me tell you somethiing, why dont you just calm the xxxx down cause your acting like a complete idiot