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ACADEMICS CONSIDER ARMENIAN DIASPORA, PRESERVATION OF CULTURE
tert.am
22.05.12
Fewer Armenian Americans are speaking the language of their native
country, eroding the ability of the diaspora to preserve its culture,
according to an expert at UCLA who addressed a conference organized
at the Central Library on Saturday, glendalenewspress.com reports.
Since 1970, the use of the Armenian language has decreased dramatically
in all areas of diasporan life, including weddings, baptisms, schools
and newspapers, said Hagop Gulludjian, a lecturer of Armenian studies
at UCLA.
Language is key to the survival of ethnic identity, particularly
because the Armenian diaspora appears to be permanent, he added.
"Ultimately, the world is language," Gulludjian said.
While Armenian organizations focused their efforts on education
during the first half of the 20th century, today's diaspora favors
issues that are less related to cultural survival, Gulludjian said,
including recognition of the Armenian genocide and assistance to
homeland, he added.
He proposed the creation of a "critical mass" of users of the language,
which will result in more books and newspapers being published in
Armenian and the language being used more often in homes, churches
and at social events.
Organizers of the conference - the ARPA Institute and library officials
- gave him a choice, he noted: make his presentation in Armenian or
English, which left him with a difficult choice.
"If I speak in Armenian, the older generation, plus educated immigrants
from the Near East, will understand me," he said.
However, non-Armenian speakers and those who speak Armenian, but
maybe not to the point of understanding abstract thoughts, will not.
Another topic discussed at the conference was the apparent lack of
coordination among the three political parties of the diaspora with
the Armenian government, according to Stephan Astourian, executive
director of the Armenian studies program at UC, Berkeley.
He said the parties claim that they have power, but have done little
during the past 20 years. He said one organization should be set up
to represent all Armenian communities.
Also discussed was a paper by Simon Payaslian, chairman of modern
Armenian history and literature at Boston University, which looked
at how diasporan communities are declining in the Middle East and
United States - but for different reasons.
In the Middle East, there's an exodus of Armenians, while in the
United States, he attributed the trend to assimilation.
tert.am
22.05.12
Fewer Armenian Americans are speaking the language of their native
country, eroding the ability of the diaspora to preserve its culture,
according to an expert at UCLA who addressed a conference organized
at the Central Library on Saturday, glendalenewspress.com reports.
Since 1970, the use of the Armenian language has decreased dramatically
in all areas of diasporan life, including weddings, baptisms, schools
and newspapers, said Hagop Gulludjian, a lecturer of Armenian studies
at UCLA.
Language is key to the survival of ethnic identity, particularly
because the Armenian diaspora appears to be permanent, he added.
"Ultimately, the world is language," Gulludjian said.
While Armenian organizations focused their efforts on education
during the first half of the 20th century, today's diaspora favors
issues that are less related to cultural survival, Gulludjian said,
including recognition of the Armenian genocide and assistance to
homeland, he added.
He proposed the creation of a "critical mass" of users of the language,
which will result in more books and newspapers being published in
Armenian and the language being used more often in homes, churches
and at social events.
Organizers of the conference - the ARPA Institute and library officials
- gave him a choice, he noted: make his presentation in Armenian or
English, which left him with a difficult choice.
"If I speak in Armenian, the older generation, plus educated immigrants
from the Near East, will understand me," he said.
However, non-Armenian speakers and those who speak Armenian, but
maybe not to the point of understanding abstract thoughts, will not.
Another topic discussed at the conference was the apparent lack of
coordination among the three political parties of the diaspora with
the Armenian government, according to Stephan Astourian, executive
director of the Armenian studies program at UC, Berkeley.
He said the parties claim that they have power, but have done little
during the past 20 years. He said one organization should be set up
to represent all Armenian communities.
Also discussed was a paper by Simon Payaslian, chairman of modern
Armenian history and literature at Boston University, which looked
at how diasporan communities are declining in the Middle East and
United States - but for different reasons.
In the Middle East, there's an exodus of Armenians, while in the
United States, he attributed the trend to assimilation.