Armenia seeks to preserve Western Armenian
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Diaspora Armenians returning to Armenia are bringing Western Armenian into the country, creating a linguistic mix alongside the established Eastern Armenian.
Following Armenia’s independence in 1991, many people from the diaspora began moving to Armenia, introducing Western Armenian to Yerevan’s linguistic landscape. While many in Armenia appreciate the historical elegance of Western Armenian, returnees often shift to Eastern Armenian for daily life due to its dominance in official settings.
Intellectuals and political advocates are now pushing for Western Armenian to receive formal legal status within Armenia, arguing that its current lack of protection endangers the language. Armenia’s 2021-2026 Government Action Plan considered pathways to grant Western Armenian a protected status in education, schooling, and public administration. Local publishers, like Antares, are increasingly printing books in Western Armenian, shifting the language from a diaspora-based tradition to a contemporary literary presence within Armenia.
Funding from organizations like the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation is supporting these efforts, and advocates believe that creating a robust institutional presence for Western Armenian in Armenia will help ensure its survival, alongside continued support from diaspora communities.
