Modern Armenian Explained

Modern Armenian (Armenian: աշխարհաբար, ashkharhabar or ašxarhabar, literally the "secular/lay language") is the modern vernacular (vulgar) form of the Armenian language.^[1] Although it first appeared in the 14th century, it was not until the 18-19th centuries that it became the dominant form of written Armenian, as opposed to Classical Armenian (grabar or the "language of the book").^[2] It has two standardized forms: Western Armenian and Eastern Armenian, mostly spoken—in the 19th century—in the Ottoman and Russian empires, respectively.

The first novel written in Modern Armenian is Khachatur Abovian's Wounds of Armenia, first published posthumously in 1858.^[3] Besides Abovian, other prominent advocates of the use of Modern Armenian were Mikayel Nalbandian^[4] and Raphael Patkanian.^[5] Pataknian's father, Gabriel, published Ararat, the first Modern Armenian periodical in the Russian-controlled Caucasus.^{[6] [7]}

Notes and References

1. Book: Nichanian . Marc . Mourning Philology: Art and Religion at the Margins of the Ottoman Empire . 2014 . Oxford University Press . 9780823255245 . 41 Oxford University Press . ...our vulgar language [ashkharhabar]....
2. Book: Nersessian . Vrej . Vrej Nersessian . The Bible in the Armenian Tradition . 2001 . Getty Publications . 9780892366408 . 36.
3. Book: Nichanian, Marc. Writers of Disaster: Armenian Literature in the Twentieth Century. 2002. Gomidas Institute. Princeton, NJ. 9781903656099. 87.
4. Book: Bardakjian . Kevork B. . A Reference Guide to Modern Armenian Literature, 1500-1920: With an Introductory History . 2000 . Wayne State University Press . 9780814327470 . 138 .
5. Book: Adalian, Rouben Paul. Rouben Paul Adalian

   . Historical Dictionary of Armenia. 2010. Scarecrow Press. Lanham, Maryland. 978-0-8108-7450-3. Rouben Paul Adalian. xlvii.

6. Book: Hacikyan. Agop Jack. Agop Jack Hacikyan. Basmajian. Gabriel. Franchuk. Edward S.. Ouzounian. Nourhan. The Heritage of Armenian Literature: From the eighteenth century to modern times. 2005. Wayne State University Press. Detroit. 9780814332214. 316.
7. Book: Suny . Ronald Grigor . Ronald Grigor Suny . Looking Toward Ararat: Armenia in Modern History . 1993 . Indiana University Press . 9780253207739 . 59 .