Armenian

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A language of Armenia

ISO 639-3
hye
Alternate Names
Armjanski Yazyk, Eastern Armenian, Ena, Ermeni Dili, Ermenice, Haieren, Somkhuri
Autonym
հայերէն/հայերեն‎ (hayeren)
Population

2,960,000 in Armenia (2013 UNSD). Total users in all countries: 3,843,000.

Location

Widespread.

Language Maps
Language Status

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

Classification
Indo-European, Armenian
Dialects

Erevan (Eriwan), Karabagh (Karabakh), Khvoy-Salmst (Choi-Salmst), North Komedia, Ashkharik. 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; both prepositions and postpositions; noun head final; indefinite article affix; case-marking (7 cases); verb affixes mark person, number; passives; tense; causatives; comparatives; 30 consonant and 7 vowel phonemes; non-tonal; stress on final syllable.

Language Use

Used by all. Also use Russian [rus].

Language Development
Fully developed. Bible: 1883–1994.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Armenian
Writing

Armenian script [Armn], primary usage. Braille script [Brai].

Other Comments

Christian.

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