What cultural traits do Armenians share?

[rabinovich]

For a word's derivation to be scientifically proven it would have to have at least some similarity. How can the derivation be explored in the first place? No similarity = same origin not noticed. Or did I miss something?

No that's not how it works. There are certain rules for each language's history that show which sounds changed to which during its development. Say, in English and Germanic languages older "p" may have changed to "f" or "h" in certain cases. In Armenian "l" changed into "gh" in almost all native words and old borrowings. Say, "angegh"-angel, "Ghukas"-Lucas, there's plenty, I just can't remember now.

So by taking two words and tracing back to their older forms, one can see the connection/relation that has become unrecognizable through centuries of isolated development of the languages.

[rabinovich]

For a word's derivation to be scientifically proven it would have to have at least some similarity. How can the derivation be explored in the first place? No similarity = same origin not noticed. Or did I miss something?

I just remembered one good example.
The word "unknown", look at its cognates:

Gothic: unkunžs
Sanskrit: ajnatah
Old Armenian: ancanaut'
Greek: agnotos
Latin: ignotus
Old Irish: ingnad

So our modern word "ancanot" is really the same thing as English "unknown", although we use it in a narrow meaning of "unknown person". As you see, their being cognates is not directly visible, but knowing the language rules and history lets you establish this connection.

I am guessing that Russian "neznakomiy" iz another cognate of the same word, at least a partial one.

[ArmoBarbi]

Well "neznakomii" is really "ne znakomii" coming from the word "znakomii" - "znakomit" (to introduce) or "znakomitsya" (to meet). Although I am seeing a link to the word "znat" (to know), so maybe...

[ArmoBarbi]

No that's not how it works. There are certain rules for each language's history that show which sounds changed to which during its development. Say, in English and Germanic languages older "p" may have changed to "f" or "h" in certain cases. In Armenian "l" changed into "gh" in almost all native words and old borrowings. Say, "angegh"-angel, "Ghukas"-Lucas, there's plenty, I just can't remember now.

So by taking two words and tracing back to their older forms, one can see the connection/relation that has become unrecognizable through centuries of isolated development of the languages.

I see. That makes more sense, thanks.

[Shoshan]

Rabinovich:"I have many more suggestions in case you're interested. We might open a new thread for that though, or PM me later."

Why must we open a new thread? This is a: "What cultural traits do we share?" thread after all.

Armobarbi:"I did remember how my grandma would feed everyone as if it was her purpose in life whether they asked or not."

This alone made me feel like I had found the right forum.

Armenian Kid: "my gradma reminds me of the mom in that movie also lol. i thought it was great when the guy kept trying to put windex on everything."

'Nuff said.

I just had a thimble-sized portion of raki and I'm giggling.... It made me wonder if booze is yet another thing that sets us apart. I have never heard of an alcoholic Armenian. Not one.

[ArmoBarbi]

I havent either, but listen to this:

My mom used to work in an Azeri village when she first began her teaching career, and it was like on the border with Armenia and had a lot of Russians.

Every now and then a group of Armenian vendors would come with home made booze and sell it to the Russians not drinking it themselves just for the profit.

Long story short... every important post in the village including in the school was held by a woman, because all the men were too drunk! (this cracked me up)

[ArmoBarbi]

Btw, Shoshan, I have a good friend (otar) that lives in Boulder, CO. He said that there is a club there that is owned by a rich Armenian guy.

[Anonymouse]

What cultural traits do ArmoBarbi, Shoshan, rabinovich, and magdalinka share (aside from being Armenian)? They all post prolifically in this thread.

[ArmoBarbi]

Funny

Kind of like you, wino, and I post in another thread. I guess you are just like us! Dont pass out.

[Shoshan]

ArmoBarbi:
cracked me up too!

"What cultural traits do ArmoBarbi, Shoshan, rabinovich, and magdalinka share (aside from being Armenian)? They all post prolifically in this thread."

And this should bother us... why?