Armenian dialects explained

The Armenian language has two standardized forms: Western Armenian and Eastern Armenian. Before the Armenian genocide and other significant demographic changes that affected the Armenians, several dozen Armenian dialects existed in the areas historically populated by them.

Classification by Hrachia Acharian

Classification des dialectes arméniens (Classification of Armenian dialects) is a 1909 book by the Armenian linguist Hrachia Acharian, published in Paris. It is Acharian's translation into French of his original work Hay Barbaṙagitutʿiwn ("Armenian Dialectology") that was later published as a book in 1911 in Moscow and New Nakhichevan. The French translation lacks dialectal examples.

Acharian surveyed the Armenian dialects in what is now Turkey, Armenia, Georgia, Iran, Azerbaijan and other countries settled by Armenians.

Unlike the traditional division of Armenian into two dialect groups (Western Armenian and Eastern Armenian), he divided Armenian into three main dialect groups based on the present and imperfect indicative particles that were used. He called as the -owm (-ում) dialects, -gë (-կը) dialects, and -el (-ել) dialects.

After the Armenian genocide, linguists Gevorg Jahukyan, Jos Weitenberg, Bert Vaux and Hrach Martirosyan have extended the understanding of Armenian dialects.

-owm dialects

1Yerevan

Erivan, Novo-Bayazet, Ordubad, Shamshadin, Shulaver, Havlabar quarter (Tbilisi)
: Bayazid, Kulp

2Tbilisi

Tbilisi (except Havlabar quarter)

3Artsakh

Shusha, Elisabethpol, Nukha, Baku, Derbent, Ağstafa, Dilijan, Karakilis, Kazak, Lori, Jebrayil, Goris
Qajar Persia: Karadagh, Mujumbar; Lilava quarter of Tabriz
: Burdur, Ödemiş villages near Izmir

4Shamakha

Shamakhi, Kuba and nearby villages

5Astrakhan

Astrakhan, North Caucasus
Qajar Persia: Tabriz

6Julfa

Julfa
Qajar Persia: Isfahan (New Julfa quarter), Shiraz, Hamadan, Bushehr, Tehran, Qazvin, Rasht, Bandar-e Anzali

7Agulis

-el dialects

1Maragha Qajar Persia: Maragha and surrounding villages
2Khoy Qajar Persia: Khoy, Salmas, Maku, Urmia
: Igdir, Nakhichevan;
Zangezur settlements: Kori, Alighuli, Mughanjugh, Karashen, Alilu, Angeghakot, Ghushchi-Tazakend, Tazakend, Uz, Mazra, Balak, Shaghat, Ltsen, Sisian, Nerkin Kilisa
3Artvin

Artvin, Ardahan, Artanuj, Olti

-gë dialects

1Erzurum

Erzurum, Ispir, Kaghzvan
: Kars, Alexandropol, Akhalkalak, Akhaltskha

2Mush

Mush, Sasun, Bitlis, Khizan, Khlat, Arjesh, Bulanikh, Manazkert, Khnus, Alashkert
: Aparan; Mets Kznut and surrounding villages;
4 villages in Javakhk: Eshtia, Ujmana, Toria, Martuni

3Van

Van, Diadin, Moks, Bashkale, Shatakh
: Basargechar and surrounding villages

4Diarbekir

Diarbekir, Lice, Hazro, Hazzo, Khizan, Severek, Urfa (Edesia)

5Kharberd-Yerznka

Kharpert, Yerznka, Balu, Tchapaghjur, Chmshkatsag, Charsanjak, Kghi, Dersim, Kamakh

6Shabin-Karahisar

Shabin-Karahisar, Akıncılar

7Trebizond

Trebizond, Bayburt, Gyumushkhane, Kirasun

8Hamshen

Hamshen, Ünye, Fatsa, Terme, Çarşamba
: Sukhumi, Sochi, Poti,

9Malatia

Malatia, Adıyaman

10Cilicia

Hadjin, Zeytun, Marash, Kilis, Alexandretta, Payas, Svedia

11Syria

Aramo

12Arabkir

Arabkir, Divrig, Gürün, Darende, villages of Kesaria

13Akn

Akn and surrounding villages

14Sivas

Sivas and 45 surrounding villages

15Tokat

Tokat, Amasia, Marsivan, Ordu, Samsun, Sinop

16Smyrna

Smyrna, Manisa, Menemen and surrounding villages

17Izmit

Nicomedia, Adapazar and the following villages: Yalova, Partizak, Geyve, Ortaköy, Sölöz, Benli, İznik, etc.,

18Constantinople
19Rodosto

Rodosto, Malgara

20Nakhichevan-on-Don

Nakhichevan-on-Don, Rostov-on-Don, Stavropol, Yekaterinodar, Yekaterinoslav, Anapa, Maykop, Taganrog, Dneprovskaya, Nogaysk, Novocherkassk, Theodosia, Simferopol, Karasubazar, Bakhchysarai, Eupatoria

21Austria-Hungary Poland
Bukovina, Transylvania, Hungary

Sources

. Hrachia Acharian. Classification des dialectes arméniens. Classification of Armenian dialects. PDF. July 8, 2012. 1909. Librairie Honore Champion. Paris. French.