Armenian

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A language of Armenia

ISO 639-3
hye
Alternate Names
Armjanski Yazyk, Ena, Ermeni Dili, Ermenice, Somkhuri
Population

3,140,000 in Armenia (2001 census). Population total all countries: 5,924,320.

Location

Widespread. Also in Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus, Egypt, Estonia, France, Georgia, Greece, Honduras, Hungary, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Palestine, Romania, Russian Federation, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United States, Uzbekistan.

Language Maps
Language Status

1 (National). Statutory national language (1995, Constitution, Article 12).

Classification
Indo-European, Armenian
Dialects

Agulis, Akn, Arabkir, Ararat, Artvin (Artwin), Ashkharik, Astrakhan (Astrachan), Constantinople (Istanbul, Konstantinopel), Crimea (Krim), Dzhulfa (Dschugha, Dschulfa), Eastern Armenian, Erevan (Eriwan), Ewdokia (Tokat), Hamshen (Hamschen), Karabagh, Karin (Erzerum, Erzurum), Kharberd (Charberd, Erzenka, Erzincan), Khvoy-Salmst (Choi-Salmst), Kilikien, Malatya (Malatia), Mus (Musch), North Komedia, Rodosto, Sebaste, Shabin-Karahissar (Schabin-Karahissar), Shamakhi (Schamachi), Smyrna (Izmir), Syria (Syrien), Tbilisi (Tiflis), Tigranakert (Diarbekir, Diyarbakir), Trabzon (Trapezunt), Urmia-Maragheh (Urmia-Maragha), Van (Wan). Eastern Armenian (4,341,000) in Armenia and its Turkish and Iranian borderlands; Western Armenian (879,612) used elsewhere and only understood by some in Iran. In Syria, people in Kessaberen (northeastern mountain village of Kessab) and Musa Dagh village (now relocated to Lebanon) speak related varieties which other Western Armenian speakers do not understand. Most Kessaberen users now learn Western Armenian. Western Armenian (Turkey) and Ararat (Russian Federation) are easily intelligible.

Typology

SVO

Language Use

91% of the ethnic group in Russia spoke it as L1 (1979 census). All ages. Also use Russian [rus].

Language Development
Fully developed. Bible: 1883–1994.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Armenian
Writing
Armenian script, primary usage. Braille script.
Other Comments

Ethnic autonym: Haieren. Christian (Miaphysite).

Also spoken in:

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