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COLUMNIST KASBARIAN RELEASES DIKRANAGERD-ARMENIAN DIALECT DICTIONARY
By Contributor // December 9, 2013
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2013/12/09/columnist-kasbarian-releases-dikranagerd-armenian-dialect-dictionary/
Teaneck, N.J.-After years of compilation, a new dictionary of
words and expressions from the Dikranagerd-Armenian dialect is
now available. Titled, "Inch g'usis": A Dikranagerdtsi Vernacular
Handbook," the term "Inch g'usis" literally means "What do you say?"
in the dialect of Dikranagerd.
Authored by Charles Kasbarian, "Inch g'usis": A Dikranagerdtsi
Vernacular Handbook showcases the earthy and humorous dialect of
Dikranagerd, presented in English transliteration. Kasbarian is
also known as "C.K. Garabed," the columnist behind "Uncle Garabed's
Notebook," which has appeared in The Armenian Weekly for almost
25 years.
No one knows how many Armenian Genocide survivors were integrated
into Turkish society, nor how many native Armenians may remain,
though hidden away. In either case, there are few, if any Armenians
in the Diarbekr region of Western Armenia (present-day Turkey) who
still speak the native dialect. As a result, it is likely that the
dialect of Dikranagerd will become extinct in our lifetime. Aside
from this obvious fact, Kasbarian explained his reasoning for creating
"Inch g'usis?": "The Dikranagerd dialect is my native language. In my
childhood, while trying to converse with non-Dikranagerdtsi Armenians,
I would get laughed at for what they perceived to be a queer way of
speaking. But in my maturity, I realized that there was a lot to be
said for dialects - the one of Dikranagerd in particular."
As such, Kasbarian took on the task of trying, in some small way, to
document elements of the Dikranagerd dialect for posterity. And so,
he began to note Dikranagerdtsi words and phrases, which grew into
the present collection. "And far from being laughed at," Kasbarian
continued, "linguistic scholars have consulted me on the virtues of
the dialect which they feel is worthy of preservation."
To make the work widely accessible, Kasbarian decided to put the
handbook online. The work can be freely accessed on Kasbarian's
Armeniapedia page:
http://www.armeniapedia.org/wiki/Dikranagerdtsi_Vernacular_Handbook_In_English_Tran sliteration
Included are words and terms "A" through "Z", a section on
Dikranagerdtsi nicknames, and an Armenian alphabet mnemonic. Arranged
alphabetically and containing a pronunciation key, the handbook
offers many colorful phrases, interjections and exclamations such
"Kher eghnah" ("May it be useful or good," often said when somebody
sneezes); "Leghin badri" ("May his gall bladder burst," meaning "May
he drop dead."); "Jivit godreh, doun nusdi" ("Break your leg, stay at
home," meaning "Stop gadding about."); and "Kna kni" ("Go to sleep,"
meaning "Get out of here."). Parents of young children are cautioned
that there are many ribald entries.
Kasbarian grew up, during the Great Depression, in Union City, New
Jersey - which was once heavily populated by Dikranagerdtsi Armenians.
Over the years, he has presented folk tales and skits in the
Dikranagerdtsi dialect at cultural evenings held in the New Jersey
area. Also in progress on his Armeniapedia page are his The Dikranagerd
Mystique Armenian Cookbook; a number of articles about growing up
Dikranagerdtsi; Oyin Mi Tavli, a one-act play in the Dikranagerd
dialect; and The Dictionary of Armenian Surnames.
Says Kasbarian of "Inch g'usis?", "like everything else, there are
bound to be missing
words and phrases and even mistakes, in which case readers should
feel free to bring them to the attention of the author." Kasbarian
can be reached at [email protected]
By Contributor // December 9, 2013
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2013/12/09/columnist-kasbarian-releases-dikranagerd-armenian-dialect-dictionary/
Teaneck, N.J.-After years of compilation, a new dictionary of
words and expressions from the Dikranagerd-Armenian dialect is
now available. Titled, "Inch g'usis": A Dikranagerdtsi Vernacular
Handbook," the term "Inch g'usis" literally means "What do you say?"
in the dialect of Dikranagerd.
Authored by Charles Kasbarian, "Inch g'usis": A Dikranagerdtsi
Vernacular Handbook showcases the earthy and humorous dialect of
Dikranagerd, presented in English transliteration. Kasbarian is
also known as "C.K. Garabed," the columnist behind "Uncle Garabed's
Notebook," which has appeared in The Armenian Weekly for almost
25 years.
No one knows how many Armenian Genocide survivors were integrated
into Turkish society, nor how many native Armenians may remain,
though hidden away. In either case, there are few, if any Armenians
in the Diarbekr region of Western Armenia (present-day Turkey) who
still speak the native dialect. As a result, it is likely that the
dialect of Dikranagerd will become extinct in our lifetime. Aside
from this obvious fact, Kasbarian explained his reasoning for creating
"Inch g'usis?": "The Dikranagerd dialect is my native language. In my
childhood, while trying to converse with non-Dikranagerdtsi Armenians,
I would get laughed at for what they perceived to be a queer way of
speaking. But in my maturity, I realized that there was a lot to be
said for dialects - the one of Dikranagerd in particular."
As such, Kasbarian took on the task of trying, in some small way, to
document elements of the Dikranagerd dialect for posterity. And so,
he began to note Dikranagerdtsi words and phrases, which grew into
the present collection. "And far from being laughed at," Kasbarian
continued, "linguistic scholars have consulted me on the virtues of
the dialect which they feel is worthy of preservation."
To make the work widely accessible, Kasbarian decided to put the
handbook online. The work can be freely accessed on Kasbarian's
Armeniapedia page:
http://www.armeniapedia.org/wiki/Dikranagerdtsi_Vernacular_Handbook_In_English_Tran sliteration
Included are words and terms "A" through "Z", a section on
Dikranagerdtsi nicknames, and an Armenian alphabet mnemonic. Arranged
alphabetically and containing a pronunciation key, the handbook
offers many colorful phrases, interjections and exclamations such
"Kher eghnah" ("May it be useful or good," often said when somebody
sneezes); "Leghin badri" ("May his gall bladder burst," meaning "May
he drop dead."); "Jivit godreh, doun nusdi" ("Break your leg, stay at
home," meaning "Stop gadding about."); and "Kna kni" ("Go to sleep,"
meaning "Get out of here."). Parents of young children are cautioned
that there are many ribald entries.
Kasbarian grew up, during the Great Depression, in Union City, New
Jersey - which was once heavily populated by Dikranagerdtsi Armenians.
Over the years, he has presented folk tales and skits in the
Dikranagerdtsi dialect at cultural evenings held in the New Jersey
area. Also in progress on his Armeniapedia page are his The Dikranagerd
Mystique Armenian Cookbook; a number of articles about growing up
Dikranagerdtsi; Oyin Mi Tavli, a one-act play in the Dikranagerd
dialect; and The Dictionary of Armenian Surnames.
Says Kasbarian of "Inch g'usis?", "like everything else, there are
bound to be missing
words and phrases and even mistakes, in which case readers should
feel free to bring them to the attention of the author." Kasbarian
can be reached at [email protected]