Speaking Armenian

[HyeJinx1984]

If you think that government creates industry you are having a pipe dream. First of all, if you want jobs, destroy all regulations, and important export tax, and wage laws, and that sort of crap, and companies will pour in Armenia for cheap labor and providing alot of jobs.

I never once mentioned "government" in my post, anon-jan... I don't trust government to do anything for anyone, and I wasn't reffering to outsiders coming in wanting cheap labor.. Armenian industries by and for Armenian people whose products could also benefit other countries, thus getting us economically stable.

[Inna]

I can't. Well, not anymore. When I was about 4 and a half years old, my parents and I moved from Yerevan to Russia and that's when my Armenian began to fade. My dad told me that I used to speak perfect Armenian and....and....and...Russia screwed it up for me. I went to a Russian school, had Russian friends and Armenian just slipped away from me. I still know a little bit but just a little. When I was 10, we moved to the States and well, I'm fluent in Russian (speak, read and write) but not in Armenian. I really need to go to Yerevan. Getting homesick more each day. Now if you'll excuse me, I'll go cry my little eyes out in the corner.

Awww...don't feel bad...I've had the same experience..I went to an Armenian school when I lived in Armenia, I even learned how to read and write, but once we moved to the US when I was 7 the language completly left my head, I can't speak it at all. When you have parents speaking Russian at home, and teachers and friends speaking English at school it tends to be hard on a kid to continue speaking and learning a langauge that at that age was of no importance to me.

Of course I would love for my kids to learn Armenian but it wouldnt be fair for me to force it on them if I dont speak it myself, unless their dad speaks it then I guess I would make my husband teach the kids. The only reason language, any language for that matter, is important is because of communication, and I dont necessarilly feel that my kids should be forced to learn Armenian just so they can speak to other Armenians, I'd rather them speak Russian so they can communicate with their aunts, uncles and cousins, who all speak Russian. Having a good relationship with my family is far more important to me than having a good relationship with other Armenians. It's not like I wouldnt want my kids to have a relationship with other Armenians, I just feel that family comes first.

[Virgil]

Awww...don't feel bad...I've had the same experience..I went to an Armenian school when I lived in Armenia, I even learned how to read and write, but once we moved to the US when I was 7 the language completly left my head, I can't speak it at all. When you have parents speaking Russian at home, and teachers and friends speaking English at school it tends to be hard on a kid to continue speaking and learning a langauge that at that age was of no importance to me.

Of course I would love for my kids to learn Armenian but it wouldnt be fair for me to force it on them if I dont speak it myself, unless their dad speaks it then I guess I would make my husband teach the kids. The only reason language, any language for that matter, is important is because of communication, and I dont necessarilly feel that my kids should be forced to learn Armenian just so they can speak to other Armenians, I'd rather them speak Russian so they can communicate with their aunts, uncles and cousins, who all speak Russian. Having a good relationship with my family is far more important to me than having a good relationship with other Armenians. It's not like I wouldnt want my kids to have a relationship with other Armenians, I just feel that family comes first.

So, basically you consider yourself Russian? What part of you is Armenian?

Sorry, but this is just lame. From what I can tell you do not want to learn Armenian and would not because your "family comes first", but yet you come to a Armenian forum to "liberate" yourself, is this right? Why not just assimilate into Russian society?

Yes, communication is important, which is why if you do not know Armenian you can never communicate with Armenians and if you can not communicate with Armenians you will never actually be part of the Armenian culture.

[Inna]

If you get the jobs, you'll get the people. I'm sure many Armenians, (Hakhverdian's "Lavakooyn Dgherk") will go back as soon as they know that they can make a descent living, and work in their respective fields. If not from LA, many of those in Russia (many of whom have bought property in Armenia lately) certainly will.

I agree with you..I'm positive the Armenians in Russia would move back if they had good jobs available in Armenia..most Armenians arent getting treated well anyways in Russia so to be able to go back to a country where they can get the respect they deserve, have a good home, and have a job than I dont see any reason why they wouldnt move back....I'm almost sure that most of my relatives that live in Russia today would move back to Armenia if good jobs became available and lasted for a long time.

[Inna]

So, basically you consider yourself Russian? What part of you is Armenian?

Sorry, but this is just lame. You are basically telling us that you do not want to learn Armenian and your "family comes first", but yet you come to a Armenian forum to "liberate" yourself.

Why not just assimilate into Russian society?

I am Armenian...and knowing the language doesnt make you anymore or any less of an Armenian. Russian was my first language, it was my parents first language, it was my aunts, uncles, cousins first language..that doesnt make us all russian. I might be able to speak to a Russian in their language, but I connect with Armenians more than I do with anybody else.
I dont think you understood me correctly....all I said was that if I was going to force my kids to speak any other language than it would only be fair of me to force them to learn Russian just so they wouldn't forget their family and would be able to speak with them.
I never said I didnt want to learn Armenian...I plan to learn it.

[sleuth]

When I was in Armenia it was little bit sad because nobody ever realized that i'm armenian...I was real russian girl for them..

I am inclined to agree with u.

I know excatly how u feel.And no matter how well u read ,speak,write in Armenian , no matter how much u want to be part of them,they still treat u like a Russian girl.Have u ever been treated like a binbo in a streets of Yerevan.
When bunch of illiterate Aremnian guys trying to hook u up or impress you with theire broken Russian,and when they realize that your Armenian is almost perfect they label you: Russian-Aremnian!! In Aremnian it sounds Rusahay
Thats really sad.

And how long i am going to suffer from *terarjekutyan barduyt*(Aremnain!!!! what a beautiful,rich language).
(In Russian* komplex nepolnocennosti*)