Lecture Explores the Origins of Armenian Language

NN ARBOR, Mich. — Linguist and Manoogian-Simone Foundation Post-Doctoral Fellow Hrach Martirosyan, addressed the topic of the origins of the Armenian language in his talk, “Perspectives on the Origin of Armenian Language and Culture,” which took place at the University of Michigan on January 25. Martirosyan, who holds a PhD from Leiden University, presented his lecture as part of the University of Michigan’s Armenian Studies Public Lecture series.
Martirosyan’s work in comparative linguistics gives him a unique perspective on the rise and development of Armenian dialects throughout history. His talk emphasized the interrelated nature of the Armenian lexical history and the lexical histories of Indo-European languages from what are today Iran and India. Using a variety of comparative and archeological sources, Martirosyan raised questions about the role of historical Armenian linguistic forms in drawing connections between languages today.
The lecture featured examples from contemporary standard forms of Armenian as well as lesser-known dialects. Challenging the long held popular belief that Armenian stone carvings and the English Stonehenge are related, he used modern comparative linguistics to by show the etymological specificity of the Armenian terminology. Historic studies in Armenian folklore were employed to draw connections between Armenian language and culture with other Indo-European groups. Video of this lecture is now available on the Armenian Studies Program website at http://www.umich.edu/~iinet/asp.
The University of Michigan’s Armenian Studies Program promotes the study of Armenian history, culture and society. A part of the University of Michigan International Institute, the program organizes educational opportunities for students, faculty and the community.
For more information, visit www.umich.edu/~iinet/asp/.