Review: Letters Presented in Lessons 1 and 2

Lesson 3

PHONETICS

Review: Letters Presented in Lessons 1 and 2

Vowels and the Exclamation Mark

Letter Frequency and Word Frequency

Reduction of áõ and Ç to ə

Sound Frequency and Letter Frequency

DiphthongsTÇõ and T »³

GRAMMAR

Word Order: Attributes

Numeral Attributes

Noun Number

The Conjunctionsand— Táõ, »õ, ÇëÏ

Interrogation without Question Words

Separation Marks [ ª]

VOCABULARY

Question word Táõ±ñ—where?

Text: TÜáõ¿ñ

______

PHONETICS REVIEW: Letters introduced in Lessons 1 and 2

VowelsPosition in Alphabet / ConsonantsPosition in Alphabet
² ³ / [a] 1 / Î Ï / [g] 15
º » / [ye, e]] 5 / Ø Ù / [m] 20
¾ ¿ / [ē] 7 / Ü Ý / [n] 22
Æ Ç / [i] 11 / ê ë / [s] 29
àô áõ / [u, v] * / î ï / [d] 31
À Á / [ě, ə] 8 / ð ñ / [r] 32
ô õ / [v, w] 34

³¯

Vowels and the Exclamation Mark [ ¯ ]

Vowels are articulated with a free flow of air and vibration of vocal cords. The create syllables by themselves or combined with consonants. Armenian has six vowels written with eight letters. The letters à á and ú û representing the vowel [o], follow in Lessons 4 & 5.

Practically all vowels become interjections when pronounced with an emotional intonation. In writing this is indicated with the exclamation mark [ ¯ ]. Words with a special intonation carry the exclamation mark where the lexical stress is; that is, on the last vowel of the word; e.g.: ²Ù³¯Ý Wow! ²ñ»¯õ ¿: It is sunny! ºÏáõ°ñ, ÙÇݳ¯Ï »Ù: Come, I am alone!

²¯
¾¯
º¯
Ư
àõ¯
À¯

1

Gayané HagopianArmenian for Everyone

Lesson 3

Letter Frequency and Word Frequency

Different words and letters have different frequencies of usage. In this book,we introduce the letters according to their frequency in non-alphabetical order.TP[1]PT

The most frequent sounds of Armenianare presented in the first two lessons: ³, », ¿, Ç, Ý, ñ, Ù. Word frequency is different fromsoundand letter frequency, and some letters of low frequency are used in some words of very high frequency.TP[2]PT

ëÇñï

Statistics shows that people speaking different languages use approximately the same 500 words of their native tongue for everyday speech. These500 words of highest frequency in Armenian are used in the texts and dialogues of this textbook.

Reduction of áõ and Ç to [ə] ~ Á

The vowelsáõ and Çare “weak.” When they lose the lexical stress, they can shift into a weaker vowel, a schwa, which is pronounced but not written. The syllables containing the unwritten schwa are called hidden; below they are indicated with the symbol of the schwa [ə]For example: ëáõïlie and ëəï»ñlies; ïáõÝhouse and ïəݳÏsmall house; ÙáõÏmouse and ÙəÏÝÇÏsmall mouse, »ñÏÇñ country and »ñÏəñÇ country’s; ϳñÙÇñred and ϳñÙəñáñ³Ïreddish.

Shift áõ > ə
Base form / ÙáõÏ mouse / ïáõÝ house
Novel Western Armenian forms / ÙáõÏÇÏ
small mouse
ÙáõÏ»ñ mice / ïáõÝÇÏ
smallhouse
ïáõÝ»ñ
houses
Shifted standard forms / ÙəÏÝÇÏ, ÙÏÝ»ñ / ïəÝ»ñ, ïəݳÏ
Shift Ç > ə
Base form / ëÇñï heart / »ñÏÇñ country
Novel Western Armenian forms / ëÇñï»ñ
hearts
ëÇñïÇ or
ëəñïÇ heart’s / »ñÏÇñÝ»ñ countries
»ñÏÇñÇ or
»ñÏəñÇcountry’s
Shifted standard / ëəñï»ñ,
ëəñïÇ / »ñÏəñÝ»ñ,
»ñÏəñÇ

In Old and Eastern Armenian this shift is quite regular. Western Armenian, especially the spoken language, can ignore it. Thus parallel forms exist:

• In plural, asïáõÝ»ñ orïÝ»ñ, ëÇñï»ñ orëñï»ñ.
• In declension, as ïáõÝÇ orï³Ý,TP[3]PT ëÇñïÇ orëñïÇ;
• In word-building—e.g., diminutivesÙáõÏÇÏandÙÏÝÇÏ are both correct.

The table on the right presents both the shifted forms, which represent the literary standard, and also the novel non-shifted formsquite typical and wide-spreadin modern conversational Western Armenian.TP[4]PT

Sound Frequency and Letter Frequency

The reduction of áõ and Çto [ə] is expressed in writing only in case of hyphenation. The letter Áappears for the schwa, for example: ëÁñ-ïÇ, »ñ-ÏÁñÝ»ñ, ïÁ-ݳÏ.

In the previous lessons we saw that two sounds of high frequency [e] and [v], within the same words, result in different letter frequencies: ¿and õ in WA/CO and »and í in EA/RO. The letter À Árepresents one of the most frequent sounds in Armenian, perhaps the most frequent vowel in connected speech. However, as a letter it has a quite restricted use. Try to remember in which cases À Á is written (details in previous lesson).

Diphthong Çõ

Diphthongs consist of two sound elements pronounced as one. They are written as digraphs.

²ÝÇõ »õ Æõ³Ý

ëÇõÝ ëÇõÝ

The diphthong Çõis pronounced [yu] before root consonants—e.g., ³ñÇõÝblood; ³õÇõÝfervor,ÙÇõëthe other, next;ëÇõÝcolumn; ïÇõÝthe name of the letter UïU.

In the remaining cases—that is, before vowels or at the end of a word—Çõ[iv] is a free sound combination—e.g.,³ÝÇõwheel; Æõ³ÝIvan;ÏÇõmastic, ³ñÙ³õdate (fruit).

ٳﻳÝ

Diphthong »³

The diphthong »³ is pronounced [ya]—for example, ë»Ý»³Ïroom;»³ë³Ù³Ý lilac;Ù³ï»³Ý ancient manuscript, journal. This diphthong forms the characteristic ending -»³Ý of the Armenian last names, e.g., ²ñ³Ù»³Ý. With the loss of the lexical stress it can shift into a simple » [e] in some words.[5]PT

Note: Words ending in -ÇõÝ shift the diphthong Çõ into the diphthong »³ for the genitive-possessive forms, e.g., ëÇõÝ - ë»³Ý column’s, ³ñÇõÝ - ³ñ»³Ý blood’s. Parallel to these forms, modern Western Armenian uses generalized possessive forms with the ending -Ç, that is, ³ñÇõÝÇ, ëÇõÝÇ.

Phonetic drills: Read the following words.

³Ù³Ý / vase, pot / Ý³Ù³Ï / letter
³ÙáõëÇÝ / husband / ݳõ / ship
³Ùáõñ / strong, durable / ݳõ³ëïÇ / sailor
³ÝÇõ / wheel / Ý»ñáõÙ / apology, pardon
³ï»Ý / time / Ýϳñ / picture
³ñ»õ / sun / Ýáõ¿ñ / gift, present
³ñÇõÝ / blood / áõë / shoulder
ϳñÙÇñ / red / áõëïÇ / thus, hence
ÏÇÝ / woman, wife / áõñ»ÙÝ / thus, so
Ïñ³Ï / fire / ë»Ý»³Ï / room
ٳϳÝáõÝ / last name / ëÇñï / heart
Ù³ÝáõÏ / child / ëÇõÝ / column
Ù³ïÇï / pencil / ëáõÝÏ / mushroom
ÙÇõë / next, other / ëáõï / lie
ÁÝï³ÝÇ / domesticated, tame / ï³ñÇ / year
ëáõï³ë³Ý / liar / Ýëï³ñ³Ý / bench
ÙáÙ / candle / ï³ññ / element, particle
ÙáõÏ / mouse / ï»ñ»õ / leaf

GRAMMAR

Ù¿Ï Ý³õ³ëïÇ

¨

Ù¿Ï Ý³õ

Word Order: Attributes

The attribute precedes the noun in neutral styles. TP[6]PT For Instance:

ϳñÙÇñ Ù³ïÇï / red pencil
ëÇñáõÝ Ù³ÝáõÏ / pretty child
Ù»ñÏ ëáõï / naked lie
ÇÙ ëÇñïë / my heart
²ñï³ÏÇÝ Ï³ïáõÝ / Ardag’s cat
»ñÏáõ Ýϳñ / two pictures
ï³ëÁ Ù³ï / ten fingers
»ñ»ëáõÝ ï³ñÇ / thirty years

Numeral Attributes

ï³ëÁ Ù³ï

Numeral attributes usually do not require plural nouns; e.g.:

ºë ï³ëÁ Ù³ï áõÝÇÙ »õ ²ñï³ÏÁ áõÝÇ ï³ëÁ Ù³ï:I have ten fingers and Ardag has ten fingers.

ܳñ¿Ý »ñÏáõ ݳõ áõÝÇ:Nareh has two ships.

The words Ù³ï finger and ݳõ ship, boat are in the singular form with numeral attributes ten and two.

ºë Ù¿Ï Ù³ïÇï áõÝÇÙ, ¨ ²ñï³ÏÁ`ï³ëÝÙ¿Ï Ù³ïÇï:

I have one pencil, and Ardag, eleven.

The word Ù³ïÇïpencil is also in the singular form with both attributes: Ù¿Ï, and ï³ëÝÙ¿Ï.

But:²ñï³ÏÁ áõ ܳñ¿Ý »ñÏáõ ëÇñáõÝ Ù³ÝáõÏÝ»ñ »Ý:

Ardag and Nareh are two pretty children.

The word child is in the plural form, Ù³ÝáõÏÝ»ñ, because it is the predicative, the logical center of the statement.

Ù³ïÇï

Ù³ïÇïÝ»ñ

Noun Number

Nouns differentiate singular and plural numbers.

Singular number shows one object or the general concept. It corresponds to the dictionary listing: a basic form without special endings.

Plural number shows two or more of the same object. It is formed with the endings -»ñ [er] or -Ý»ñ [ner].

Monosyllabic nouns take the ending -»ñ, e.g.: ë³ñmountain, ë³ñ»ñmountains. Polysyllabic nouns take the ending -Ý»ñ, e.g.: Ù³ÝáõÏchild, Ù³ÝáõÏÝ»ñ children. Polysyllabic words ending in -Ý in the plural have double Ý-s, pronounced as double [nn].TP[7]PT

Examples:

Monosyllabic / Polysyllabic[8]PT
Singular / Plural / Singular / Plural
áõë / áõë»ñ / ³ÙáõëÇÝ / ³ÙáõëÇÝÝ»ñ
ë³ñ / ë³ñ»ñ / ݳõ³ëïÇ / ݳõ³ëïÇÝ»ñ
ëÇñï / ëÇñï»ñ or ëñï»ñ / Ýϳñ / ÝϳñÝ»ñ
ïáõÝ / ïáõÝ»ñ or ïÝ»ñ / Ý³Ù³Ï / ݳٳÏÝ»ñ

Exception: A few monosyllabic nouns form the plural with-Ý»ñ, e.g., Ù³ï - Ù³ïÝ»ñ,ÙáõÏ - ÙÏÝ»ñ, ÙÇõëÁ - ÙÇõëÝ»ñÁP[9]PTFor some of these nouns, conversational styles prefer regularized forms with -»ñ—that is, Ù³ï»ñ, ÙáõÏ»ñ.

Ýáõ¿ñ

ݳٳÏÝ»ñ

Conjunctions áõ, »õ, ÇëÏ

The conjunctions »õ, áõ, ÇëÏare all usually translated as “and.” They have some differences in meaning and usage.

ºõ is the most frequent. It joins words in a sentence, as well as sentences and clauses; e.g.:

²ñ³Ý »õ ܳñ¿Ý Ara and Nareh

Æ٠ϳïáõë ë»õ »õ ëÇñáõÝ ¿:My cat is black and nice.

Æ٠ϳïáõë ë»õ ¿, »õ ÇÙ ïáõÝë ëÇñáõÝ ¿:My cat is black and my house is nice.

Also,»õ can substitute for both áõandÇëÏ, as shown in the next examples.

àõjoins smaller entities of speech, mainly words in informal speech; for instance:

²ñ³Ý áõ ܳñ¿Ý / Ara and Nareh
Æ٠ϳïáõë ë»õ áõ ëÇñáõÝ ¿: / My cat is black and pretty.

ÆëÏjoins only coordinate clauses into one sentence. ²ë Ç٠ϳïáõë ¿, ÇëÏ ³ï` ϳïáõÇë ïáõÝÁ:This is my cat, and that, my cat’s home.

ÆëÏ also has an adverbial usage meaning even; for instance:

²ñï³ÏÇÝ Ý»ñÏ»ñÁ ϳñÙÇñ »Ýª ϳñÙÇñ ïáõÝ, ϳñÙÇñ ݳõ, ϳñÙÇñ ÙáÙ. ϳïáõÝ ÇëÏ Ï³ñÙÇñ ¿: Ardag’s paints are red: a red house, a red ship, a red candle: even the cat is red.

Sentences joined with the conjunctions »õ, ÇëÏ can have omitted elements of conjoined sets, for example:

²ë ïáõÝ ¿, »õ ³ëª »ñÏÇñ: This is a house, and that, a country.

ϳñÙÇñ Ïñ³Ï

Æ٠ϳïáõë ë»õ ¿, »õ ÇÙ ïáõÝëª ëÇñáõÝ:(or: ÇëÏ ïáõÝëª ëÇñáõÝ). My cat is black and my house is nice.

²ñï³Ï ï³ëÝ»ñÏáõ ï³ñ»Ï³Ý ¿, »õ ܳñ¿±Ý: Ardag is twelve years old, and Nareh?

Interrogation without Question Words

Sentences connected with the conjunctions ¨, ÇëÏeasily transform into interrogatives without questions words, cf.:

²ë ïáõÝ ¿, »õ ³±ï: This is a house, and (what is) that?

²ë Ç٠ϳïáõë ¿, ÇëÏ ³±ï:This is my cat, and that?

Questions without question words are also formed by amere change of intonation and without any change in the word order in the sentence. Examples:

²ë ïáõÝ ¿: ²ë ïáõ±Ý ¿: / This is a house. Is this a house?
γïáõÝ ÙáõÏ Ï°áõï¿: γïáõ±Ý ÙáõÏ Ï°áõï¿: / The cat eats mice. Does thecat eat mice?
γïáõÝ ³ñÙ³õ Ï°áõ￱: γïáõÝ ³ñÙ³±õ Ï°áõï¿: / Does the cat eat dates? Does the cat eat dates?

The auxiliary verb ¿can change its position coming closer to the emphasized word. This inversion is parallel to the change of the emphasis in affirmative sentences. Compare the following sentences:

²ë ²Ù»ñÇÏ³Ý ¿: / This is America.
²ë ²Ù»ñÇϳ±Ý ¿: / Is this America?
²ë ¿ ²Ù»ñÇϳÝ: / This is America.
²±ë ¿ ²Ù»ñÇϳÝ: / Is this America?
²Ù»ñÇÏ³Ý ³ë ¿: / America is this.
²Ù»ñÇÏ³Ý ³±ë ¿: / America is this?

The Question Wordáõ±ñ where?

Question words are used to request missing information in a sentence. They can begin the sentence, as in English. Also, they can take the place of the corresponding answering word. For instance, the first two questions below have the same full answer:

àõ±ñ ¿ ³ë ïáõÝÁ: or: ²ë ïáõÝÁ áõ±ñ[10] ¿:
²ë ïáõÝÁ ²Ù»ñÇϳ ¿:or: ²Ù»ñÇϳ (¿): / Where is this house?
This house is in America. or: In America.
àõ±ñ ¿ ϳïáõÝ: ²ñÇëÁ áõ±ñ ¿:
²ñÇëÁ ïáõÝÝ ¿: or: îáõÝÝ ¿: / Where is the cat?Where is Aris?
Aris is at home.or: At home.

ϳñÙÇñ ³ñ»õ

Separation Mark [ª]

The separation mark [ ª] µáõà [put] has no special equivalent in English punctuation. It is used instead of omitted parts which make contextual sense in a sentence or to explain something. Punctuation rules regulate its use. In the English punctuation system, commas, colons, or semicolons are used instead of [ ª ].

Examples:

²ë ïáõÝ ¿, »õ ³ëª »ñÏÇñ: / This is a house and this, a country. / [ª] is used because the auxiliary verb is not repeated (omitted copula).
²ñ³Ù »ñ»ëáõÝ ï³ñ»Ï³Ý ¿, ÇëÏ ²ñï³Ïª ï³ëÝÙ¿Ï: / Aram is thirty years old, and Ardag, eleven. / [ª] is used because of the omitted predicate—ï³ñ»Ï³Ý ¿.
ºë ²ñï³ÏÝ »Ù, »õ ³Ýª ܳñ¿Ý: / I am Ardag, and that (is) Nareh. / [ª] indicated the omitted copula. Note that the verb form does not matter; the second clause assumes: ²ë ܳñ¿Ý U¿:U

Text

ÇÝùݳÝϳñ

[inknanəgar]

TÜàô¾ð

ºë ²ñï³ÏÝ »Ù: ÆÙ ³ÝáõÝë ²ñï³Ï ¿, »õ ٳϳÝáõÝëª îÇñ³ïáõñ»³Ý: ºë »ñÏáõ ³ÝáõÝ »õ Ù¿Ï Ù³Ï³ÝáõÝ áõÝÇÙ: ÆÙ ³ÝáõÝÝ»ñ¿ë Ù¿ÏÁ ²ñï³Ï ¿, »õ ÙÇõëÁª ²ñÙ³Ý:[11]

ºõ ²ñÇë Ù¿Ï ³ÝáõÝ áõÝÇ, ³Ý ¿ª ²ñÇë:

²ñÇëÁ ÇÙë ¿, Ç٠ϳïáõë ¿, »õ »ë ²ñÇëÇÝ ï¿ñÝ »Ùª ²ñÇëÇÝ ²ñï³ÏÁ:

ܳñ¿Ý

²ëÇ Ü³ñ¿Ý ¿: ºë ï³ëÝÙ¿Ï ï³ñ»Ï³Ý »Ù, »õ ܳñ¿Ýª ï³ëÝ»ñÏáõ: ܳñ¿Ý ëÇñáõ¯Ý ¿:

ºë Ù³ïÇï áõÝÇÙ: àõ±ñ »Ý ÇÙ Ù³ïÇïÝ»ñë: ܳñ¿ÇÝ Ýáõ¿ñ ï³Ù: ÆÙ Ýϳñë ﳱ٠ܳñ¿ÇÝ: ÆÙ Ýϳñë Ïáõ ï³Ù:

²ëÇϳ ²ñÇëÇÝ ÝϳñÝ ¿:

- ²ë ÝϳñÁ ëÇñáõ±Ý ¿, ܳñ¿°:

- êÇñáõÝ ¿:

- ²ë ÇÙë ¿, ÇÙ Ýϳñë ¿£ Üáõ¿ñ ¿:

- ºõ ²ñÇëÁ Ýϳñ áõÝDZ: ²ñÇëÇÝ ÝϳñÁ ïáõ°ñ:



Explanations to the Text

ÆÙ ³ÝáõÝÝ»ñ¿ë Ù¿ÏÁ ²ñï³Ï ¿ / One of my names is Ardag / ²ÝáõÝ-Ý»ñ-¿-ë is the plural ablative of ³ÝáõÝ. The ablative case has the ending -¿. Usually it is translated with the prepositions of or from.
»õ ÙÇõëÁª ²ñÙ³Ý: / and the other, Arman. / Omission of the auxiliary verb assumes a pause in intonation expressed by the separation mark put [ ª ].
ºõ ²ñÇë Ù¿Ï ³ÝáõÝ áõÝÇ, ³Ý ¿ª ²ñÇë: / And Aris has one name, that is, Aris. / [ª] has only tonal significance as a pause.
ºõ »ë ²ñÇëÇÝ ï¿ñÝ »Ùª ²ñÇëÇÝ ²ñï³ÏÁ: / And I am Aris’s master, Aris’s Ardag. / [ª] in this case can be translated into English lexically with the words that is.
àõ±ñ »Ý ÇÙ Ù³ïÇïÝ»ñë: / Where are my pencils? / àõ±ñ is a question word for place and direction.
ܳñ¿ÇÝ Ýáõ¿ñ ï³Ù: / I shall give a present to Nareh. / The subject »ë I is omitted because the verb ï³Ù refers only to it. No special word for shall is used, the verb ï³Ù is in subjunctive form which translates into I shall, will give, I wish I give, why don’t I give, etc. depending on the context.
ܳñ¿-ÇÝ is a dative case form translated usually with the preposition to. The sentence has two objects: direct, Ýáõ¿ñ and indirect, ܳñ¿ÇÝ.
ÆÙ Ýϳñë ﳱ٠ܳñ¿ÇÝ: / Shall I give Nareh my picture (painting, drawing, photo)? / The direct object is emphasized by word order. The word Ýϳñ can be translated differently, depending on the context. Cf. my picture,or ÇÙ Ýϳñë, depicting me, belonging to me, shot or drawn by me.
ÆÙ Ýϳñë Ïáõ ï³Ù: / I give her my picture. / Ïáõ ï³Ù is the simple present, first person, singular of the verb to give. The simple present is formed from the subjunctive (base) form ï³Ù with the particle Ïáõ.
ÆÙ Ýϳñë ¿: / Itis my picture. / The subject (it) can and is often omitted due to special verbal endings which assume it.

ASSIGNMENTS

Lexical Exercises

1. Copy the new words to the text in your vocabulary.
2. Read the text, translate it, and copy it. Retell the text. Try to improvise it.
3. Make oral sentences of your own using the words you know.
4. Find nouns with articles in the text. Explain their usage and write the same words without articles.
5. Write the plural of the following nouns according to the sample:

ë³Ý / ë³Ý»ñ / Ù³ÝáõÏ / Ù³ÝáõÏÝ»ñ
ë¿ñ / Ýáõ¿ñ
ëáõÝÏ / ϳïáõ
ï¿ñ / ï³ñÇ
ïáõÝ / Ù³ïÇï
ݳõ / ³ÝáõÝ
ÙÇõë / ë»Ý»³Ï
Ù³ï / ݳõ³ëïÇ
ÙáõÏ / Ïñ³Ï

6.Translate the following expressions into English, and use them in sentences of your own using the definite articles or Ý.

ϳñÙÇñ ³ñÇõÝ, ϳñÙÇñ Ïñ³Ï, ϳñÙÇñ ³ñ»õ, ϳñÙÇñ ëÇñï.

Ù¿Ï Ï³ï³Ï, Ù¿Ï ³ÝáõÝ, Ù¿Ï Ý³Ù³Ï, Ù¿Ï Ù³Ï³ÝáõÝ, Ù¿Ï Ýáõ¿ñ.

»ñÏáõ ï³ñÇ, »ñÏáõ ëÇõÝ,»ñÏáõ ï³ñ»Ï³Ý, »ñÏáõ Ù³ÝáõÏ, »ñÏáõ ï»ñ»õ.

ÇÝÁ áõë, ÇÝÁ ³ÝÇõ, ÇÝÁ ³ñ»õ, ÇÝÁ ÁÝÏ»ñ.

Ù»ñ ϳïáõÝ, Ù»ñ ïáõÝÁ, Ù»ñ ï³ñÇÝ.

Ç٠ϳïáõë, Ç٠ݳٳÏë, ÇÙ ³ï»Ýë, ÇÙ Ýϳñë, ÇÙ ÁÝÏ»ñë.

ë»õ ëáõÝÏ, ë»õ ÙáõÏ, ë»õ ϳïáõ, ë»õ ëáõï.

ëáõñ áõë, ëáõñ ݳٳÏ, ëáõñ ï»ñ»õ, ëáõñ ϳï³Ï.

ëÇñáõÝ Ýϳñ, ëÇñáõÝ Ý³õ, ëÇñáõÝ Ù³ÝáõÏ, ëÇñáõÝ Ýáõ¿ñ.

ÙÇõë ëÇõÝÁ, ÙÇõë ݳõ³ëïÇÝ, ÙÇõë ϳïáõÝ.

7.Transform the following into questions and translate them.

1. Îñ³ÏÝ áõ ³ñ¨Á ϳñÙÇñ »Ý:
2. ܳñ¿Ý ïáõÝÝ ¿:
3. ²ñï³ÏÁ »ñÏáõ ³ÝáõÝ áõÝÇ:
4. ÆÙ Ýϳñë ï³Ù ܳñ¿ÇÝ:
5. γïáõÝ ÙáõÏ Ïþáõï¿:
6. ²ñ³ÙÁ ݳõ³ëïÇ ¿:
7. ²ñï³ÏÁ Ù³ÝáõÏ ¿:

8.Translate the following into Armenian:

1. This is my room.
2. My house is red. It’s mine.
3. And that is Aram’s home.
4. Where is this house? It is in America.
5. This is a black cat. The cat eats mice.
6. It is Ardag’s cat. Where is the cat?
7. The cat’s name is Aris. This is Aris’s picture.
8. Where is Nareh? Where are my paintings?
9. Where are the pencils? These are my pencils.
10. I give Nareh my heart. Give Nareh a picture.
11. The ship has eleven sailors. That is a black ship.
12. I have ten fingers and one heart.
13. He has two pictures and I have one.
14. She has one name and I have two names.

______

Rules:

• The diphthong Çõ before root consonants is pronounced [yu]—e.g., ³ñÇõÝ, ëÇõÝ, ÙÇõë.
• The vowels áõ, Ç canshift into a schwa if they lose the stress—e.g.,ïáõÝ - ïݳÏ, ëÇñï - ëñï»ñ.
• Á is seldom written and never stressede.g. ë³°Ýïñ, Ù³°Ýñ, ÁÝÏ»°ñÁ.
• Á as a definite article is attached to words ending in a consonant, and - , to words ending with a vowel, e.g., ÙáõÏUÁU, ϳïáõUÝU, ²ñï³ÏUÁU, ܳñ¿UÝU.
• Á is more frequent in the function of the definite article than Ýbecause the majority of words in Armenian end in a consonant.

1

Gayané HagopianArmenian for Everyone

TP[1]PT See the alphabet in Appendices 1-3.

TP[2]PT For example, helloUµU³ñ»õ, big, greatÙ»UÍU, breadѳUóU, to go»ñUÃU³É. The underlined are not frequent letters which will be introduced gradually in the next lessons.

TP[3]PT This is a special grammatical shift, called inflection or inner declension, different from the phonetic shift described above. See Irregular Declension in Lesson 11 and Appendix 7.

TP[4]PTSee details on vowel reductions resulting from word derivation in Lessons 6 and 11.

TP[5]PT Here are a few examples to illustrate this rule:سï»Ý³¹³ñ³ÝMuseum of Ancient Manuscripts in Yerevan, literally, library; Ù³ï»Ý³·Çñ scribe; ë»Ý»Ï³å»ïchamberlain; ë»Ý»Ï³ÏÇó room-mate (the latter has a parallel form, ë»Ý»³Ï³ÏÇó,because the vowel reduction is no longer active in modern Western Armenian). These are given in a footnote as not all the letters used have been introduced.

TP[6]PTIn poetry or emphatic speech the reverse order is possible.

TP[7]PT Double sounds are not very characteristic for Armenian. But whenever they occur, they are sound double.

TP[8]PT Note: words with schwa in a stem-final cluster have two syllables but form the plural with -»ñ, e.g., ³ëïÕ - ³ëïÕ»ñ, í³·ñ - í³·ñ»ñ,while words with a schwa in a stem-initial position or in the first syllable form the plural as regular polysyllabic words with -Ý»ñ , e.g., ëïáõ»ñ - ëïáõ»ñÝ»ñ, Ïñ³Ï - Ïñ³ÏÝ»ñ.

TP[9]PT These nouns (Ãáé, »½, ÓáõÏ, áï, Ó»é) in fact have a plural with-»ñ, but they ended in -TÝT in Krapar and this final -TÝT resurfaces in grammatical forms and in word-building.

[10]áõñ is a relative-interrogative pronoun, details see in Lesson 13.

[11]“To tell the truth, my real first name is Ardavazt but I cannot write it yet. My mom picked up the name Ardag for me before I was born, on her visit to Yerevan. I like it too, though my dad calls me Ardavazt, and others call me Ardo.”