Uncovering the Linguistic World of Iranian Armenian
Why are certain dialects stigmatized? Which factors are pivotal in transforming societal attitudes and validating the legitimacy of a dialect? How can rigorous academic studies and scholarly attention alter perceptions of a language variety? What processes and methodologies are involved in constructing a grammar? Join Dr. K and Hossep Dolatian, linguist and author of the first published grammar of Persian Armenian, as they unpack the linguistic variations of this important dialect of the Armenian language. Learn about the importance of linguistic documentation and its role in elevating the status of a language within the global community.
Dialects of Dispossession
How can a dialect be given new life after the loss of its homeland? Do dialects always need to compete with standard languages? What does it feel like to be a refugee in a shared homeland that is not one’s home? Join Dr. K and Lika Zakaryan, journalist and author of 44 Days: Diary from an Invisible War, a book later adapted into a movie, that documented Lika’s experience as an Artsakh native during the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War. She is currently the host of the Muklimandil Podcast, recorded in Yerevan, Armenia and conducted entirely in Artsakh dialects. Join Dr. K and Lika as they discuss the pressures of language conformity, the impact of transmitting language through stories, and the multifaceted challenges and efforts to sustain the vitality of dialects in exile.
Lavash and Language
What is the connection between food and language? Can they be separated or do they always live in each other’s orbits? And how do Armenians benefit from the culinary and linguistic diversity present in the culture? Dr. K is joined by Ara Zada, chef and co-author of the cookbook Lavash, who shares his journey through the gastronomical landscapes of Armenia. Dr. K and Ara take us on his journey to discover dishes made and consumed by people in Armenia and the linguistic encounters that punctuate the adventure. Their conversation traverses borders, cultures, and languages, showcasing the transformative power of sharing meals and experiences.
Linguistic Legacies: Language, Identity, and Social History
How do scholars decipher the ways people have used and thought about language in the past? How have those attitudes and practices been distorted and rewritten in modern national narratives? How do language ideologies from several centuries ago shape modern day practices? Join Dr. K and historical sociolinguist Dr. Jennifer Manoukian as they examine the language practices, attitudes, and ideologies of Ottoman Armenians and their descendants in the post-genocide Armenian diaspora. In tracing the evolution of the Armenian language through a social history, learn about some of the most prevalent myths that undergird present day attitudes and practices.
Learning in Two Languages: Dual Language Immersion in Practice
What does a typical day look like for students immersed in two languages? How does language immersion actually work? How are misconceptions about language learning challenged through immersion educational models? Join Dr. K and Dr. Nancy Hong, Director of Dual Language Immersion and Magnet Programs at Glendale Unified School District, as they delve into the unique educational model of dual immersion, highlighting its objectives of fostering functional bilingualism and biliteracy. They explore the cognitive, academic, and social advantages of learning through two languages and dispel prevalent myths associated with language immersion.
Medz Yeghern: The Politics of Naming the Armenian Genocide
How does our choice of language shape our understanding of history? What power do words hold in defining our past and current events? Join Dr. K and Dr. Vartan Matiossian, author of The Politics of Naming the Armenian Genocide, as they delve into the geneology, etymology, and chronology of Medz Yeghern – the Armenian term for the mass murder and ethnic cleansing of the Armenian ethno-religious group in the Ottoman Empire between the years 1915-1923. They discuss how the politics of naming the Armenian genocide have been navigated in academic, political, and social spheres, particularly as Armenians struggled for international recognition in the face of Turkish denial. They unpack the use, misuse, and abuse of Medz Yeghern as a reflection on the weight of language choice in shaping historical narratives and collective memory.
Polyglot Passports: Navigating Little Armenias
What experiences and motivations inspire someone to learn multiple languages? How do polyglots use language to connect with various cultures? How can the Armenian language serve as a gateway to explore vibrant Armenian communities across the globe? Join Dr. K and Rouben Koulaksezian, author of “Little Armenias: The Travel Guide of the Armenian Diaspora,” as they embark on a linguistic journey. Together, they delve into the intricacies of language acquisition, drawing from the experiences of a seasoned polyglot who is already on his tenth language. They discuss how travel and language intersect, intertwining heritage, identity, and the shared narratives of dispersed communities. They explore the nuances of learning both Eastern and Western Armenian, along with multiple other languages, and uncover the transformative power of language when approached through a diasporic lens.
It takes a village to raise a language: The Case of Western Armenian
How did a historian and political scientist become the force behind the largest institutional revitalization of Western Armenian in our time? What does it mean for a language to be endangered? How can a grant making institution foster the environments and resources to promote a diasporic language? Join Dr. K and Dr. Razmik Panossian, director of the Department of Armenian Communities for the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, as they explore the role of institutional vision and support as a means of cultivating contemporary cultural production and creating meaningful opportunities for Western Armenian to be utilized today.
Planet Word: The Vision(ary) Behind a Language Museum
What does a museum dedicated to words and language look like? What does it feel like in terms of experience? How can a museum bring “language to life” and convey its power, joy, and beauty? Join Dr. K and Ann Friedman, founder and CEO of Planet Word, a first-of-its-kind interactive museum in Washington DC devoted to exploring and celebrating language in all its facets. Together, they delve into Ann’s background in education, the inception of Planet Word, its dynamic evolution, and her aspirations for those who visit.
Translation: The Anatomy of Language
What is the nature of translation? Does it hinge on precision or is it inherently a creative process? Is it possible to live in a perpetual state of translation, both personally and professionally? And are some things simply untranslatable? Join Dr. K and Karén Karslyan – award winning poet, artist, and translator, as they discuss the cultural, social, philosophical, and linguistic underpinnings behind all kinds of translations. In response to Karen’s self-characterization as a medical examiner of language, they explore the multifaceted language dynamics and policies in Karen’s personal life, the drama behind his role as a medical interpreter, the nuances of translating his own literary works, and so much more.
Broadcasting Across Boundaries
What’s in a name? What is the impact of standing firmly alongside one’s Armenian heritage? And in a profession where speech is essential, what is the motivation behind using one’s personal voice for the benefit of the Armenian community? Join Dr. K and Araksya Karapetyan, Emmy Award winning television personality and anchor woman for KTTV Fox11’s Good Day L.A., as they discuss everything from unapologetic Armenianness in the workplace, language insecurities and anxieties, assimilation, all the way to their perspectives as mothers teaching Armenian as a heritage language. Listen in to discover another side to a public figure who has become a household name in Los Angeles.
Amerikatsi: The Language of Film
What is (an) Amerikatsi? How can a film endeavor to capture the Armenian spirit? And why are inclusivity and accessibility in the arts not only relevant, but necessary, in this day and age? Join Dr. K and Emmy Award winner Michael Goorjian – writer, director, and lead actor of the film Amerikatsi, as they discuss the inspiration and purpose behind the story, the ways in which it intersects with Goorjian’s personal life experiences, and the journey to rediscovering cultural heritage. Through their discussion about the film, they unpack questions about language dynamics, notions of home and homeland, hope within Armenian media, and the importance of uplifting Armenian stories.
Speak Beautifully: Language Dynamics in Armenia from an Anthropological Lens
Why is language ever changing? How do these shifts influence cultural dynamics and attitudes? And how have these phenomena manifested within the Armenian context? Join Dr. K and Lilit Ghazaryan, PhD Candidate in Linguistic Anthropology at UCLA, as they discuss everything from language purity, code mixing and switching in the diaspora, to language dynamics in classrooms in Armenia. By focusing on the language of children, the group most affected by current sociolinguistic changes, they follow the present-day trends and patterns of its most youthful speakers.
Language and Freedom: Outside the Binary
What does it mean to write with spelling freedoms? How do language purity and language anxiety hinder literary innovation? And how do unconventional ways of thinking and being encourage creativity within the Armenian language? Join Dr. K and Hrayr Varaz Khanjian, MIT trained linguist and author of #Ճիվճիվ, a bilingual collection of twitter poems, as they discuss the influences of his queerness on both the inventive format of his work and his views on language’s malleability. They explore and consider the capabilities of Armenian as a language of freedom that invites playful engagement with all its expressions and the modern world.
The Toll of the Pandemic on Armenian Mother Guilt
What is Armenian mother guilt in the diaspora? How can a pandemic impact language dynamics in the home? Why is it that our professional expertise, competence, and training often disappear when it comes to things Armenian, our families, and our own children? Join Dr. K and Dr. Lori Mesrobian, USC professor of Spanish, as they discuss the extra complications of transmitting Armenian during the pandemic, the intense grief, disappointment, and shame associated with fears of loss, and the need for local and global language resources.
From Bazar to Belote: Language as Means to Play
Are you up for a game of Belote? How did a French trick-taking card game gain such ubiquitous popularity both in Armenia and the diaspora? What is the special Armenian twist (hint: the bazar element) with its own language dynamics and social hierarchy? Though full of French, Turkish, and Russian words, why is it perceived as such an Armenian domain by players? Join Dr. K with research assistant and USC student Sarkis Tricha as they explore the roots and origins of Belote, the various game-specific terms used by speakers of Eastern and Western Armenian, the social dynamics and implications of the game, and the importance of using language as a means to play!
Armenian(s) in Russia: A Case of Linguistic Plastic Surgery
How do immigrants navigate integrating into host societies while still maintaining an orientation toward the homeland? What is the role of language in that process? What if they live in a society with a colonial/imperial legacy? Dr. K is joined by UCLA PhD candidate Anatolii Tokmantcev as they discuss the formation of Armenian communities in Russia, how Armenians are conceptualized in the Russian imagination, the factors that contribute to the quick loss of the Armenian language, and so much more. Join them for a fascinating discussion on the salience of language in particular sociolinguistic contexts.
Failures of Language & Curious Hybrids
How do colonial and diasporic histories impact language dynamics? How do these forces manifest themselves in the case of curious hybrids or third-culture kids, the characterization author Nadia Owusu uses to encapsulate her Ghanian and Armenian-American heritage, through the lens of a child growing up in various international communities? Join Dr. K and Nadia Owusu as they discuss Aftershocks, Owusu’s powerful memoir, and use it as a springboard for topics such as colonialism, inherited languages, code-switching, accents, ownership, writing, and performing belonging.
¡Ask a Mexican!
Systems of Language
How can the cultural influences and language dynamics of an immigrant household make its way to heavy metal and some of the most transformational music of its time? Going from an Armenian private school to sold out arenas around the world, Shavo Odadjian of System of a Down talks to Dr. K about how growing up speaking both standards of Armenian sparked a mindset of adaptability and perseverance throughout his life and career.
Language(s) in Therapy
How can a psychologist use language as a tool for healing, and as a method of traveling to times and locations often buried and distant in the past? If both therapist and patient are bilingual, how are language dynamics negotiated and experienced during therapy? In this episode, Dr. K sits down with clinical psychologist Mariam Vanounts to discuss the role of language(s) and non-verbal communication in various forms of therapy.
CHEERIOS
While Cheerios are commonly known as a popular breakfast food, the term has taken on a life of its own in the Armenian American context, referring to a specific way a person speaks or behaves. In this episode, Dr. K talks to a number of young Armenian Americans and immigrants from Armenia to uncover this phenomenon and determine who exactly is a Cheerios and how that label is used.
The Language of Priesthood in the Armenian Apostolic Church
What does it take to become a priest in the Armenian Apostolic Church and what role does language play in the process? In this episode, Dr. K is joined by the Parish Priest of St. John Armenian Apostolic Church, Father Mesrop Ash, to explore the different roles within the Armenian Church and understand the various procedures and processes behind ordination.
Sounds of Multilingualism: The Case of Western Armenian
What kind of influence can a dominant language have on a minority language? In this episode, Dr. K sits with linguist Dr. Niamh Kelly from the American University of Beirut to discuss why knowledge of one language, such as Arabic or English, can influence the sound system of Western Armenian. They also deconstruct different language myths regarding phonetics, accents, and “perfect” speech.
Vernaculars of Armenian Dance
Whether dancing at Armenian celebrations or watching Armenian dance companies perform on stage, it’s evident that the practice of Armenian dance is rich and diverse. In this episode, Dr. K sits with PhD student and dance practitioner Natalie Kamajian to define different types of Armenian dance and discuss what the discourse behind them says about how Armenian identity is performed.
Western Armenian in Armenia
If the official language of the Republic of Armenia is Armenian, but the commonly spoken standard is Eastern Armenian, where does that leave Western Armenian speakers? In this episode, Dr. K is joined by Vahakn Keshishian, co-founder of Aghvor Paner, a Western Armenian language website, to discuss the changing perceptions of Western Armenian and how promoting the use of the language is a fruitful way to build communities.
Calligraphy and Art in Time of Crisis
In this episode, Dr. K sits with renowned Armenian calligrapher Ruben Malayan, three weeks into the 2020 Artsakh War, to discuss the breadth and impact of his work, as it relates to Armenian culture and society. They also unpack the crucial role of arts and humanities in moments of rupture.
For more on Malayan’s work, visit armeniancalligraphy.com and 15levels.com.
Comedy in a Time of War
Vulgar vocabulary and cursing in a time of war? Hand-in-hand with an increased interest in learning and teaching Armenian? In this episode, Dr. K is joined by comedian Mary Basmadjian as they discuss her ability to break all kinds of gender and cultural norms, while simultaneously teaching the Armenian language through comedic skits such as “Vartoush Vocabulary.”
A Day in the Life of an Interpreter
In this episode of Language Therapy, Dr. K is joined by Khachatur Adumyan, one of Armenia’s most sought-after interpreters, who has interpreted for every Armenian prime minister since independence. They talk about the linguistic, cognitive, and ethical demands of the job, the nuances of interpreting from and into Armenian, and the day-to-day realities of an interpreter, all in the context of the Artsakh war and the pandemic.
Karabakh: What’s in a name?
Karabakh or Artsakh? Where do all the different names for this region come from? In this episode of Language Therapy, Dr. K talks to historian George Bournoutian, an expert on the history of Armenia and the Caucasus, to discuss the historical, political, and linguistic legacies of this region’s various place names.
1.5 Generation: All Kinds of Guilt
Who is a 1.5 generation immigrant? What is the connection between generation and language? What are the challenges of transmitting Armenian as a 1.5 generation parent? And what’s with all the guilt and shame? Dr. K is joined by attorney and co-founder of ToTalk Armenian, Armine Bazikyan, as they discuss Armine’s family’s struggles with language transmission and ToTalk as a possible solution.
Robin the Robot
What is the connection between artificial intelligence, psychology, and language? Who/what is the world’s first emotionally intelligent hospital robot and what’s the connection to Armenia? Dr. K talks to Karen Khachikyan, CEO and co-founder of Expper Technologies, the company behind Robin the Robot, as they discuss Robin’s emotional and linguistic capacities in helping children overcome their stress, isolation, and anxiety in a hospital setting. Dr. Shant Shekherdimian and Dr. Mineh Badmagharian also join the conversation.
Speak English: You’re confusing the child!
What kinds of language policies do multilingual families enact when the language or languages in the home are not the same as the dominant language outside the home? What if each parent speaks a different language? What types of reactions and attitudes do families have to deal with when they set specific family strategies for language transmission? Dr. K is joined by Los Angeles Times journalist, Esmeralda Bermudez, in a deep conversation about language, identity, immigration, heritage, and the parenting choices she and her Armenian husband make in their multilingual family.
Read Bermudez’s piece on raising a multilingual daughter here: https://lat.ms/31lXw4M.
François Grosjean on Myths and Realities of Bilingualism Pt. 2
Dr. K is joined by world-renowned psycholinguist and international authority on bilingualism, François Grosjean, as they debunk some of the most prevalent myths about bilingualism. How can we nurture a happy bilingualism? What are the best family strategies and educational models? What are the advantages and disadvantages of bilingualism? Dr. Grosjean is the author of Bilingual: Life and Reality (Harvard University Press, 2010), among other books, and the very popular Psychology Today blog, “Life as a Bilingual.”
François Grosjean on Myths and Realities of Bilingualism Pt. 1
Who is considered a bilingual? What does the day to day reality look like for those who lead their lives in two or more languages? And why are there still so many persistent myths about bilingualism and bilinguals? Dr. K is joined by world-renowned psycholinguist and international authority on bilingualism, François Grosjean, as they demystify bilingualism. He is the author of Bilingual: Life and Reality (Harvard University Press, 2010), among other books, and the very popular Psychology Today blog, “Life as a Bilingual.”
Justice in Translation
Introducing Language Therapy with Dr. K, a new podcast about language in the Armenian context. Discover the quirky nuances, fun, & frustrations of language, as Dr. Shushan Karapetian delves into topics & questions you didn’t even know you were curious about.
In this inaugural episode, Dr. K is joined by Gegham Mughnetsyan, as they discuss his recent Armenian translation of Martin Luther King Jr.’s Letter from Birmingham Jail (https://bit.ly/3eAOPsO). How do we talk about racial justice in Armenian?