Meaning of 'opegh tsopegh'

[gjtorikian]

I'm trying to find the definition, etymology, or spelling for this word. It appears in a Saroyan short story, translated as "haphazardly put together." But growing up I never heard this word, so I'm wondering if it is Armenian, or Kurdish, or what.

Many thanks.

[Lucin]

Re: Meaning of 'opegh tsopegh'

I'm trying to find the definition, etymology, or spelling for this word. It appears in a Saroyan short story, translated as "haphazardly put together." But growing up I never heard this word, so I'm wondering if it is Armenian, or Kurdish, or what.

Many thanks.

"Apegh tspegh" generally means nonsensical, irrelevant talk. So depending on the context in Saroyan's short story, "haphazardly put together" could be correct. I'm surprised you have never heard of it, it is a common Armenian word and is spelled as "Ափեղ ցփեղ". For instance, we say; "Ափեղ ցփեղ է խոսում:"

[Federate]

Re: Meaning of 'opegh tsopegh'

"Apegh tspegh" generally means nonsensical, irrelevant talk. So depending on the context in Saroyan's short story, "haphazardly put together" could be correct. I'm surprised you have never heard of it, it is a common Armenian word and is spelled as "Ափեղ ցփեղ". For instance, we say; "Ափեղ ցփեղ է խոսում:"

Welcome back Lucin jan, haven't seen you on in awhile! Also, thanks for the detailed answer .

[Lucin]

Re: Meaning of 'opegh tsopegh'

Welcome back Lucin jan, haven't seen you on in awhile! Also, thanks for the detailed answer .

Thank you dear, miss you too. Have been quite busy with school... How are you doing?

[gjtorikian]

Re: Meaning of 'opegh tsopegh'

"Apegh tspegh" generally means nonsensical, irrelevant talk. So depending on the context in Saroyan's short story, "haphazardly put together" could be correct. I'm surprised you have never heard of it, it is a common Armenian word and is spelled as "Ափեղ ցփեղ". For instance, we say; "Ափեղ ցփեղ է խոսում:"

The story is "Lucy Garoghlanian" and it's one of my favorites. The line is:

Melik, said my grandmother. My husband Melik. If he was sober, he spoke quietly, his voice rich and deep and gentle, and if he was drunk, he roared like a lion and you’d think God in Heaven was crying lamentations and oaths upon the tribes of the earth. No other man have I heard who could speak in this way, drunk or sober, not one, here or in the old country.

And when he laughed? I said.

When Melik laughed, said my grandmother, it was like an ocean of clear water leaping at the moon with delight.

I tell you, my grandmother would walk away with every silver loving cup and gold ribbon in the world.

Now she was angry, ferocious with the tragic poetry of her race.

And not one of you opegh-tsapegh brats are like him, she shouted. Only my son Vahan is a little like him, and after Vahan all the rest of you are strangers to me. This is my greatest grief.

Opegh-tsapegh is untranslatable. It means, somewhat, very haphazardly assembled, and when said of someone, it means he is no particular credit to the race of man. On the contrary, only another fool, someone to include in the census and forget. In short, everybody.

And when he cried? I said.

My husband was never known to weep, said my grandmother. When other men hid themselves in their houses and frightened their wives and children by weeping, my husband rode into the hills, drunk and cursing. If he wept in the hills, he wept alone. With only God to witness his weakness. He always came back, though, swearing louder than ever, and then I would put him to bed and sit over him, watching his face.

She sat down with a sigh and again stared bitterly around the room.

These books, she said. I don’t know what you expect to learn from books. What is in them? What do you expect to learn from reading?

I myself sometimes wonder, I said.

Notice in the story he uses "o," while you use "a." Maybe it's a colloquial thing? My parents certainly never used it; when they wanted to insult me they'd use Arabic

[Lucin]

Re: Meaning of 'opegh tsopegh'

The pronunciation I said is definitely from the Eastern Armenian dialect, and it is with an "a", while Mr. Saroyan (and perhaps his characters) are Western speakers. I'm not even sure whether it is different in Western Armenian as I don't know it quite well unfortunately.

I have also enjoyed greatly Saroyan's short stories

[Federate]

Re: Meaning of 'opegh tsopegh'

Ափեղ ցփեղ is written and pronounced the same way in both dialects. While this is merely an assumption, Saroyan probably uses an "O" (opegh tsapegh) because that's just how he transliterates the sound the "Ա" makes, according to his ear. Take for example the word "opportunity"... when you pronounce this word, you don't pronounce the 'O' like the 'O' in orange. You pronounce it slightly like an 'A'.

[Federate]

Re: Meaning of 'opegh tsopegh'

Thank you dear, miss you too. Have been quite busy with school... How are you doing?

I'm doing good Lucin jan, hoping you will stick around Good luck with school.