Florence Avakian
A Nor’easter with pounding rain and howling winds, did
not prevent more than 60 brave souls in attending a fascinating forum
on “Western Armenian in the 21st Century: A Dialogue About Challenges
and New Approaches.” The panel discussion was held in the Eastern
Prelacy of the Armenian Church in New York on October 16. The departing
point of the discussion was the recent publication by the SAS of the
collective volume Western Armenian in the 21st Century: Challenges and New Approaches, edited by Bedross Der Matossian and Barlow Der Mugrdechian.
Mary Gulumian, director of ANEC, welcomed everyone and introduced the
topic and panelists. Dr. Christopher Sheklian, director of the Zohrab
Information Center, served as moderator of the discussion. He began by
bringing greetings from Bishop Daniel Findikyan, Primate of the Eastern
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America, who he said “is deeply
committed to a problem we all have to tackle,” and hopes that different
organizations will continue to work together to address the vitality of
Western Armenian.
The panelists included Dr. Vartan Matiossian, Executive Director of
the Armenian Prelacy and a distinguished Armenian Studies scholar; Jesse
Siragan Arlen. a Ph.D candidate in Near Eastern Languages and Cultures
at UCLA; and Gilda Kupelian, director of the Armenian Studies Department
at the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America.
Dr. Sheklian set things in motion by asking how Western Armenian can
be incorporated, and used in daily life, in every venue, and for all
kinds of things.
* Not Impossible to Learn Armenian
Dr. Matiossian, born in Uruguay, has written, taught and been
published in English, Armenian and Spanish for 40 years. He stated that
anyone can learn Armenian, and use it daily.
“Our defeatism should be taken away. It’s important to be proactive,”
the scholar said. “One should not wait to be taught by someone. It’s
necessary to want to learn the language and make it relevant to daily
life.” He also stressed the importance of producing material for this
purpose.
Gilda Kupelian emphasized the importance of supporting Armenian
schools, their structure and curriculum. “We have to use strategy. The
work has to be planned, and not done by accident.” She emphasized that
Armenian schools need financial allocations for resources and teacher
training. One possibility for a new resource Kupelian suggested was the
creation of “Armenian centers” where the language could be used in an
enjoyable, natural environment.
Jesse Arlen stressed three necessary components: firstly, “CHOICE –
Armenian being presented as a beautiful thing, not for money, but for
meaning and value. Secondly, [Armenian] as a VIRTUAL ENTITY, since
today’s technology offers a large number of items on line. And thirdly,
[Armenian] as a PROACTIVE part of our daily lives.”
* Importance of Technology
Sheklian pointed out that because of today’s growing technology,
daily newspapers are no longer the dominant force they used to be.
Therefore, he asked the panelists to offer specific tools and material
that can be used today to foster learning Western Armenian.
Matiossian explained that “our institutions need to develop any kind
of publications for those over the age of eight. Things should be
contemporary,” he said, adding as example the recent seven-volume
Western Armenian translation of the “Chronicles of Narnia.” He recalled
that when the Eastern Armenian translation of “Harry Potter” came out in
Armenia, the kids there went crazy with excitement.”
Jesse Arlen continued with this theme saying that “Harry Potter” type
of books that resonate with youth are important. He added that whatever
material that is developed should also try to employ current technology
that is especially popular with younger people. He gave the concrete
example of an Instagram account “Lsetsink” (“We heard”), which presents
funny snippets “overheard” by the managers of the account—but in
Western Armenian.
* Value Needs to Be Intrinsic
The moderator asked about the difference between valuing or loving
the language as an imposition versus using the language, adding that,
“Its value needs to be intrinsic. It needs to be used in daily life.”
Kupelian reaffirmed the need to cultivate the intrinsic value of
Armenian, saying that the best students in the school she directs are
“those odars married to Armenians. They want to learn Armenian.”
Cultivating this intrinsic value, she added, requires the support of
community leadership. Kupelian insisted parental and community
encouragement to use Western Armenian is crucial for implanting this
desire to learn the language.
A lively question and answer session with the audience followed. In
response to a question about the role of the Republic in Armenia in
fostering Eastern or Western Armenian, Matiossian said that “we in the
diaspora sold ourselves in the name of Armenia, and therefore our lack
of sufficient funds is also tied to that concept,” suggesting that the
diaspora must foster the learning of Western Armenian and support a
thriving life in diaspora as well as in the Republic of Armenia. In
order for this to happen, Matiossian insisted, we need the support of our
leadership and we must “put our money where our mouth is.”
“Absolutely crucial is that the Armenian language be used every single day,” he stressed strongly in conclusion.
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