Software Translates Eastern to Western Armenian Dialects
Feb 3rd, 2010 | Category: Social
YEREVAN (ARKA), February 3–In Armenia, with the participation of specialists of the Armenian language, a computer program that performs translation from the Eastern Armenian dialect to Western Armenian has been developed, the Minister for Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan informed.
“At the base program there are approximately 40,000 processed words, and now with a touch of a button, users will be able to see the translation from the Eastern to Western Armenian dialects,” she said.
According to the minister, the program will be presented in 10 days in Yerevan.
The Minister also noted that this year’s Mother Language Day will be celebrated with a special celebration on February 21, in the building of the Yerevan National Opera and Ballet after Alexander Spendiarov.
Furthermore, the Deputy Minister of Diaspora, Stepan Petrosyan, said that in order to promote the native dialect of the Armenian Diaspora, this year a number of literary competitions will take place, with the active involvement of educational institutions not only from Armenia, but the Diaspora as well.
“There will be a contest for the best institution of the Diaspora, organized jointly with the Union of Armenians of Russia and World Armenian Congress, as well as competition for the best work in schools and university,” he said.
Petrosyan emphasized the need to promote the Armenian language in the Diaspora, by increasing the number of Sunday schools, virtual colleges and libraries in the Western Armenian dialect.
How’s this, the people that speak the western dialect should instead try to learn real (eastern) Armenian, like the one spoken in Armenia!!!
The overwhelming majority of Armenians in the world speak Western Armenian. And that includes a tiny minority in the Republic of Armenia who were born there. The debate about what dialect of Armenian–Eastern or Western–is “real Armenian” is a volatile one and unfortunately there won’t be a consensus about how the language will transform any time soon. Eventually decisions will need to be made to agree upon a unified, commonly spoken language that Armenians in both the diaspora and Armenia can speak freely to eliminate communication problems that exist today. Mutual criticism has to be replaced by understanding and tolerance.