Armenian women from Hadjin (Source: Houri Ellezian collection. Courtesy of Antranik Dakessian)

The Dialect of Hadjin and its Characteristics

Author: Nora Sarafian-Tachjian, 25/08/20 (Last modified 25/08/20) - Translator: Simon Beugekian

Introduction

The region known as Hadjin, and which has historically been called Harkan and Ache, has given birth to its own unique dialect of Armenian. This dialect is an amalgam of classical Armenian and Cilician vernacular. Hadjin, alongside the neighboring city of Zeytun, was located in the Armenian-speaking region of Cilicia.

The people of Hadjin historically spoke a purer form of Armenian. However, due to the natural and often forced movements and displacements of the population, the local language evolved into a discrete dialect. Like other provincial Armenian dialects, the Hadjin dialect borrows from Greek, Farsi, Kurdish, and Turkish.

There is still a small number of people around the world who speak the Hadjin dialect. Their ability to retain their native tongue was predicated on many factors, including the environment in which they grew up, their knowledge and use of conventional Armenian, and the type of relationship they had with their elders (who used the dialect as a language of daily communication). The dialect used by these surviving speakers has changed over time, due to outside influences.

Etymological investigations, including dialectological studies, can only be undertaken properly when we establish the applicable dialect’s geographic range, the historical patterns of movement and travel of the population that speaks it, and the interactions that this population had with other people and languages. The usage of the same dialect in geographically disconnected areas is evidence of the speakers’ migratory movements. From a linguistic perspective, the study of dialects offers a crucial opportunity to study the influence of environment on language and to determine the origins of non-native words. Thus, dialectological investigations also contribute to our understanding of demography and anthropology.

The first comprehensive, theoretical study of Armenian dialects was Hrachia Acharian’s Hay Parparakidoutyun (Ourvakidz yev Tasavoroutyun Hay Parparneri) [Armenian Dialectology (Overview and Classification of Armenian Dialects)] (Moscow, Nor Nakhichevan, 1911). This was the first documented attempt to codify and classify Armenian dialects based on a single essential linguistic attribute: how they formed the indicative present tense and indicative past progressive tense.

According to Acharian’s system, Armenian dialects can be classified into three main branches – ԿԸ [gu], ՈՒՄ [oum], and ԵԼ [el-yel]. Based on this taxonomy, the Hadjin dialect belongs to the ԿԸ branch.

This classification system, based on a single defining trait, leads to an effective taxonomy. However, it does not fully explain the complications of and inter-relations between various Armenian dialects. It also makes no distinctions between the categories of dialect groups, dialects, and vernacular. After studying these issues, Kevork Djahougian created the foundations for a multi-faceted scientific classification of Armenian dialects in his work Hay Parparakidoutyan Neradzoutyun [An Overview of Armenian Dialectology] (Yerevan, 1972). According to Djahougian’s taxonomy, the Hadjin dialect is a sub-branch of the southwestern (Cilician) dialect group.

Djahougian’s classification takes into account various lexical, grammatical, and phonetic characteristics of spoken languages, which are then compared during the process of classification. In this article, we will attempt to use these same principles to analyze the Hadjin dialect, or, as its practitioners call it, the Hadjno lizou.

The Unique Characteristics of the Hadjin Dialect

Those who are not proficient in this dialect often find it odd and difficult to understand. However, once they become accustomed to its inflections and other characteristics, they quickly grasp that it is simply a derivative of conventional Armenian.

The variety of phonetic permutations in the Hadjin dialect can be compared to the variety found in the Zeytun dialect.

In this article, we will examine many of the characteristics of the Hadjin dialect. We have omitted any technical study of the dialect’s phonetic system.

Phonology

A defining characteristic of Cilician dialects is the replacement of the stressed vowel ա (a) with օ (o). For example, panal (to open) becomes panol (Zeytun dialect); g’ertam (I’m going) becomes gashdom (Hadjin dialect); kaghak (city) becomes kaghok (Marash dialect).

Vowels

Change in Vowels

Classical Armenian

Hadjin Dialect

The stressed ա (a) is replaced by օ (o)

հայր (hayr; father)
ամպ (amb; cloud)

պօպ (bob)
օմպ (omb)

In monosyllabic words, as well as words consisting of one-and-a-half syllables, ա (a) is replaced by օ (o)

տղայ (dgha; boy)
սանտր (sandr; comb)
քաղցր (kaghtsr; sweet)
պարտք (bardk; debt)

տղօ (dgho)
սօր (sor)
քօցխ (kotskh)
պօյտք (boydk)

In two-syllable words, only the ա (a) in the second syllable is replaced by օ (o)

հիւանդ (hivant; sick)
քարայր (karayr; cave)
հանաչ (ganach; green)
երթալ  (yertal; to go)

հիւօնդ (hivont)
քայօյ (kayoy)
կանօչ (ganoch)
իշտօլ (ishdol)

In polysyllabic words, only the ա (a) in the last syllable is replaced by օ (o)

գաւազան (kavazan; staff)
ամչնալ (amuchnal; to demur)
ապարանջան (abaranchan; bracelet)
հակառակ (hagarag; contrary)

գաւազօն (kavazon)
ամաշնօլ (amashnol)
ապայանջօն (abayanchon)

հակառօկ (hagarog)

ա (a) is replaced by է (e/ē)

աչք (achk; eye)
կարճ (gardj; short)
աշակերտ (ashagerd, student)

էչք (echk)
կէյճ (geydj)
էշկէյտ (eshgeyd)

ա (a) is replaced by ե (e/y)

շահիլ (shahil; to gain)

շեյիլ (sheyil)

ա (a) is replaced by ը (u/ə)

առատ (arad, abundant)

ըռօտ (urod)

ա (a) is replaced by ե (e/y)

քալել (kalel; to walk)

քելիէլ (keliel)

ա (a) in the first syllable of a word is replaced by է (e/ē)

աշակերտ (ashagerd, student)
աչք (achk; eye)

էշկէյտ (eshgeyd)
էչք (echk)

օ (o) is replaced by է (e/ē)

օձ (ots; snake)
մօտ (mod; near)
օր (or; day)

էձ (ets)
մէտ (med)
էյ (ey)

The diphthong այ (ay) is replaced by է (e/ē)

այծ (aydz; goat)
այգի (ayki; orchard)

էծ (edz)
էգի (eki)

ե (e/y) is replaced by է (e/ē)

երկու (yergou; two)
երեսուն (yeresoun; thirty)

էյկու (eygou)
էրսուն (ersoun)

Consonants

The people of Hadjin pronounced the consonant ռ (ṙ) as ր (r). As for the consonant ր, it was replaced by the semivowel յ (y).

Most Armenian consonants retained their original pronunciation in the Hadjin dialect, with the following exceptions and special cases:

Change in Consonants

Classical Armenian

Hadjin Dialect

The letter ռ (ṙ) retains the ր (r) pronunciation

դուռ (tour; door)
փառք (park; glory)

դուռ (tour)
փօռք (pork)

In both proper and common nouns, ր (r) is replaced by յ (y)

դրամ (tram; money)
մարդ (mart; man)
քար (kar; rock)

դյօմ (tyom)
մօյդ (moyt)
քօյ (koy)

The letter հ (h) is sometimes replaced by ֆ (f) or խ (kh/x); or becomes silent

հոգ (hok; concern)
օրհնել (orhnel; to bless)
աշխարհ (ashkharh; world)
պահք (bahk, Lent)

ֆուէգ (fouek)
օխնիէլ (okhniel)
աշխօյ (ashkhol)
պօք (bok)

The letter ղ (gh/ġ) is often replaced by խ (kh/x)

եղջիւր (yeghchyur; antler)
աղքատ (aghkad; poor)

ախջիյ (akhchiy)
ախքօտ (akhkod)

At the start of a word, the letter յ (y) is sometimes dropped 

յիսուս (hisous; Jesus)
յստակ (hsdag; clear)

իսուս (isous)
իստուկ (isdoug)

The letters տ (d/t) and ր (r), when appearing together, are replaced by ռ (ṙ)

կտրիճ (gdridj; champion)
ընտրել (undrel; to choose)
սանտրել (sandrel; to comb)

կըռիճ (gridj)
հըռիէլ (hriel)
սառիէլ (sariel)

The letter տ (d/t) is sometimes not pronounced

աստղ (asdgh, star)
աստուած (asdvadz, God)

օսղը (osghe)
ասվոծ (asvodz)

The letter ռ (ṙ), without exceptions, retains the ր (r) pronunciation

փուռ (pour; oven)
փառք (park, glory)
ծառ (dzar; tree)

փուռ (pour)
փօռք (pork)
ծօռ (dzor)

If the letter ր (r) is followed by the letter ս (s), they are replaced by շ (sh; š)

հարսանիք (harsanik, wedding)

հաշնիք (hashnik)

Declension of Nouns

The declension of nouns follows conventional Armenian grammatical rules – with the addition of suffixes to the end of the words.

For example, dzar (tree), dzari (of the tree), dzare (from the tree), dzarov (with the tree). Hats (bread), hatsi (of the bread), hatse (from the bread), hatsov (with the bread).

Of course, in the Hadjin dialect, the words are pronounced dzor, dzori, dzore, dzorov/hots, hotsi, hotse, hotsov.

Conjugation of Verbs

Like conventional Armenian, the Hadjin dialect has two classes of verbs, regular and irregular. They are conjugated accordingly, just as they are in conventional Armenian.

In the present tense, verbs retain the particle ge. In the future tense, the particle bidi is replaced by bi. In the subjunctive, yete is replaced by te. In the negative imperative, the particle mi remains unchanged. For example:

Kalel (to walk): ge kelem (I am walking), bikelem (I will walk), te kelem (if I walk), mi kele (don’t walk).

When the verb begins with a vowel, the ge became a g’. For example, g’enie, meaning he/she/it does.

The verbs oudel (to eat), yertal (to go), and ouzel (to want) are exceptions and do not require the use of the particle ge.

The conjugation of irregular verbs is more complicated, as it is in every language. For example, the conjugation of the verb oudel (to eat):

  • Present tense: g’avdiem, g’avdies, g’avdie
  • Simple past tense: geyo, geyoy, geyov
  • Future tense: b’oudiem, b’oudes, b’oude
  • Imperative: m’oudey, m’oudek
  • Subjunctive:  te oudem, te oudes, te oude

Examples of the conjugation of the three main types of Armenian verbs:

  • Example of verbs with the ել (el) suffix: vazel-vaziel (to run)
  • Example of verbs with the իլ (il) suffix: haknil (to dress)
  • Example of verbs with the ալ (al) suffix: hazal-hazol (to cough)

Indicative Mood

Present

Simple past

Past progressive

Future

Future imperfect

VAZEL (to run)

 

 

 

 

Eies gu vaziem

Vazitsi

 

Gu vazi

 

Bi vaziem

 

G’ouziem ey vaziem

 

Toun gu vazies

Vazitsiy

Gu vaziy

 

Bi vazies

 

G’ouzies ey vazies

 

An gu vaze

 

Vaziets

Gu vazey

 

Bi vaze

 

G’ouze ey vaze

 

Miene gu vazienk

Vazitsonk

 

Gu vazonk

 

Bi vazienk

 

G’ouzienk ey vazienk

 

Touk gu vazek

 

Vazitsik

 

Gu vazik

 

Bi vazek

 

G’ouzek ey vazek

 

Envenk gu vazien

Vazitsin

Gu vazin

Bi vazien

G’ouzien ey vazein

 

HAKNIL (to dress)

 

 

 

 

Eies gu haknim

 

Hako

 

Gu hakni

 

Bi haknim

 

G’ouziem ey haknim

 

Toun gu haknis

Hakoy

Gu hakniy

Bi haknis

G’ouzies ey haknis

An gu hakni

Hakov

 

Gu hakney

Bi hakni

G’ouze ey hakni

 

Miene gu haknink

Hakonk

 

Gu haknonk

Bi haknink

G’ouzienk ey haknienk

 

Touk gu haknik

Hakek

 

Gu haknik

Bi haknik

G’ouzek ey haknek

 

Envenk gu haknin

Hakon

Gu haknin

Bi haknin

G’ouzien ey haknein

HAZAL (to cough)

 

 

 

 

Eies gu hazom

Haztso

 

Gu hazi

 

Bi hazom

 

G’ouziem ey hazom

 

Toun gu hazos

 

Haztsoy

 

Gu haziy

 

Bi hazos

 

G’ouzies ey hazos

 

An gu hazo

 

Haztsov

 

Gu hazey

 

Bi hazo

 

G’ouze ey hazo

 

Miene gu hazonk

Haztsonk

 

Gu hazonk

 

Bi hazonk

 

G’ouzienk ey hazonk

 

Touk gu hazok

 

Haztsek

 

Gu hazik

 

Bi hazek

 

G’ouziek ey hazok

 

Envenk gu hazon

Haztson

Gu hazin

Bi hazon

G’ouzien ey hazon

Imperative Mood

Subjunctive mood, present/imperfect

Infinitive

Past participle

Future participle

SIREL (to love)

 

 

 

 

Siyemi siye; siyitsekmi siyek

 

Siyiem; siyi
Siyies; siyiy
Siye; siyey
Siyenk; siyonk
Siyek; siyik
Siyien; siyin

Siyiel

Siyodz

Siyilou

 

HAKNIL (to dress)

 

 

 

 

Hakiymi hakni; hakekmi haknik

 

Haknim; hakni
Hakoy; hakniy
Hakov; hakney
Hakonk; haknonk
Hakek; haknik
Hakon; haknin

Haknil

Haknodz

Haknillou

 

HAZAL (to cough)

 

 

 

 

Hazomi hazoy; hazatsekmihazok

Hazom; hazi
Hazos; haziy
Hazo; hazey
Hazonk; hazonk
Hazok; hazik
Hazon; hazin

Hazol

 

Hazatsodz

 

Hazilou

 

Examples of Suffixes

- viarchuvi (in the Hadjin dialect); archevi (conventional Armenian); in front (English).
- voueyhalivouey; alevor; grizzled | dzoutsvouey; dzotsvor; pregnant.
- ouedyeghoued; yughod; oily | mazoued; mazod; hairy.
- gonlalgon; lalgan; weepy | baydgon; bardagan; indebted.
- voniygvon; irigvan; of the evening | shiyvon; kishervan; of the night.
- onkmeyonk; mayrenk; of the mothers.
- vodzkkhosvodzk; khosvadzk; speech | kilvodzk; kalvadzk; gait.
- voutsidivouts; yedeven; from behind.

Formation of Plurals

In the Hadjin dialect, plurals are formed in several ways:

  • - ni: tkalni; tkalner; spoons | urzanki; Abrankner; possessions | tsyanni; tsyer; horses.
  • - sdanni: hikisdanni; hokiner; souls | ekisdanni; aykiner; orchards.
  • - niey: lerniey; lerner; mountains | dzarniey; dzaraner; servants | turniey; trner; doors.
  • - iey: koughiey; kogher; thieves | khoudiey; khoder; grasses | goutiey; goter; handles.
  • - dek: aghpiydek; yeghpayrner; brothers | aghchgundek; aghchigner; girls | bulzdek; bzdigner; children | gundek; giner; women.
  • - ik: osgik; vosginer; golds | moytik; marter; people.
  • - vuni: tservuni; tserker; hands | kutvuni; kiter; noses.
  • - vouenk: tservouenk; tserkerov; with the hands.

The Days of the Week in the Hadjin Dialect

Giyegi (Giragi; Sunday)
Eygoushepti (Yergoushapti; Monday)
Iyekshepti (Yerekshapti; Tuesday)
Bakey (Chorekshapti; Wednesday)
Hinkshepti (Hinkshapti; Thursday)
Ouypot (Ourpat; Friday)
Shapot (Shapat; Saturday)

Periods of Time and Numbers

Vaygyon (vayrgyan; minute)
Sahat (jam; hour)
Dihiy (tar; century)
Ey (meg; one)
Eygey (yergou; two)
Amis (amis; month)
Dayi (dari; year)
Shafokh (ardou ganoukh; early morning)
Geaey (gesor; noon)
Iyguvon (irigoun; evening)

Two Conversations in the Hadjin Dialect

Below, we present the transcripts of two recorded conversations with two different speakers of the Hadjin dialect, alongside their English translations. The first speaker is Boghos Ganachian (1929-2017), born in the Nor Hadjin (New Hadjin) neighborhood of Lebanon. The second speaker is Yeghisapet Tapanian-Oghloukian (1943-2019), also born in the Nor Hadjin neighborhood of Lebanon.

These two conversations are evidence that the Hadjin dialect, despite some of the changes it sustained over time, always retained its nature as a fundamentally Armenian dialect. The two transcripts are snapshots of the dialect as spoken by different generations.

Boghos Ganachian

First Conversation in the Hadjin Dialect (Boghos Ganachian)

English Translation

“Inchots igik Shamen Tamasgosen?”

“How did you make your way here from Damascus?”

“Hadjno Moutasarrufu eygou askoy gu ghuyge, katsek Toyos Vaybedu peyek. Gashdon Toyos Vaybedin kev gu g’asen, te Moutasarrufu ke g’avze. Moytu gu g’ene, gashdo.

“The moutasarref [governor] of Hadjin sent two soldiers and ordered Master Toros to be brought to him. The soldiers went to Master Toros and told him that he was being summoned by the moutasarref. The man went and presented himself.”

Oh, payev igiy Toyos Varbed.

‘Oh, welcome, Master Toros.’

Payev disonk.

‘Good to see you.’

Nisd! Keno eygou hod ghayfe aso te piyen.’ Neyise, ghayfan gupiyen. Iyents gu g’ase, te eskeyneyoun, ‘touk katsek, pon mu chounik mey hedu.

‘Sit down! Fetch us a couple of coffees!’. They brought the coffee. Then he turned to the soldiers – ‘You’re dismissed, you’ve got nothing to do here!’

“Gu nusdin, ghonoushmoush g’anon.”

“They sat down and talked.”

‘Toun zis shod gou siyes, che mu?’

‘Toros, you like me very much, don’t you?’

“Toyosn al, ho g’ase.”

“Toros said yes.”

‘Yes al kiy shod gou siyem. Amma kalik oreru erind chi ko eyveno ermenots. Yete zis deynemmish unesne, aylet ar! Or! Esdeghotsu keno.’

‘And I like you very much, too. But the coming days don’t look good for Armenians. If you want my advice, you should take your family and get out of here!’

“Toyos ghalfan doun gako, gu genche dughan, achkindeku, hoyseyu. Meselen undas-undas e, inch gu g’asek ishdonk te minonk?”

“Master Toros went back home, gathered his sons, daughters, and brides around him, and explained the situation to them. He asked them, ‘What do you think? Should we stay or should we go?’”

“Keris, Ghazaria Babahikian, hech mi gaynik, eygou katur araba peyek inch gone litsek, yalla Souria!”

“My uncle, Ghazaria Babayikian, said: ‘Let’s leave immediately! Let’s get a couple of chariots, fill them up, and set out for Syria!’”

“Yev undats Souria gakon. Our? Djaramana. Hon doun ge purnen, ge nusdin. Moytu nadjoy e, bzdig arvag mu, bdig chouyi ochk mu go yegher, keopliv shinel gou dan gor. Moytu shad nazig naloun hivant g’ounno, ge meyni.”

“So they moved to Syria. Where? Djaramana [southeast of Damascus]. There, they settled down and built a house. The man was a carpenter. There was a stream there, a brook, they had him build a bridge over it. But he had a very weak constitution. He fell ill and died.”

“Amma bobis, keris askoy en yegher harbi g’ashdon. Harbu lmnnalen yedk g’akon Djaramana, irents gou kudnon, dayi me gu nusdin, sarrafoutyun gu g’enen. Bobis nadjoy e, inch gu shine? Kermen, okhlaghou, berid. Asang tyam g’arne gor dadjigneren. Djong mu payo g’aynen keriyis hed sarrafoutyun gu g’enen Djarmanayen Shom gu g’ichnen yev yed gou kan. 1925-in Dyurzineroun yev Souryatsineroun grivu g’ella. Keris gu g’ese, te menk hos chenk gano menol, yalla Beirut b’ishdonk, Beirut al kalen yedk, yes hes chim geno, Ameyiga b’ishdom. Kerin g’elle gor Arjantin g’erta gor, moyus, bobus al yedevnen g’ashdon, achki trikoma (trachoma) ellalloun, yed gakon. Hayrus, mayrus, yeghpayrus, kouyrus.”

“My father and uncle, on the other hand, were soldiers. They went off to war. After the end of the war, they settled down in Djaramana, and got their feet under them. For a year they stayed there, working as currency exchangers. My father was a carpenter. What did he make? Spindles, containers, berids. So this is how they made money from the local Muslims. They saved a little bit of money and the two went down to Damascus, then went back to Djaramana. In 1925, the fighting between the Druze and the Syrians broke out. My uncle decided that he could no longer live there, and that they would go down to Beirut. But after arriving in Beirut, he decided he could not stay there, and decided to move to America. My uncle went to Argentina. My mother and father followed him there, but after contracting trachoma, they decided to return. My father, mother, brother, and sister.”

“Yes ayn aden chi gam. Yes kalen yedk, hes dzner em, 1928.”

“I wasn’t around yet at that time. I was born here, after they came back, in 1928.”

Yeghisapet Tapanian-Oghloukian

Second Conversation in the Hadjin Dialect (Yeghisapet Tapanian-Oghloukian)

English Translation

Houmo g’asem.

I’ll tell you now.

Achku gouyno undas lisin (…) meh endeghu undas goudjog mu go gou gokhes, tim ashkharhu lis gounno. Meh endeghu evel menk lamba gou varonk kidi, lamba, eygou meg gou gerenk temizlamish uneliken gou gerenk. Esdeghu undak pon chou go lisu godjage gou gokhes tim deghe lis gouno.

May the light of this place be cursed... At our place, we have just one button. When you press it, the whole world lights up. Back home, we had lamps that we lit. We occasionally broke a couple while cleaning them. Here, there is no lamp. You just press the button and there is light everywhere.


Maktoubu gou ka hey khntou
Danu divengu gu tuntou
Ashken ouzoghin divek
(…) gou khntou
Aghchi anounut Ighisa
Is isgizpen pendjerein disa
Ounchotsus chounchotsus gou dzakhem
G’elnem kou babit pisa.


The letter arrives, hey khnta
The whole house quivers
Give the girl to the one who wants her
(…)
Girl, your name Ighisa  [Elizabeth]
It started when I saw you through the window.
I will sell whatever I have
And I will become your father’s groom.

Sources

  • Hayreni Parparakidagan Adlasi Nyuteri Havakman Dzrakir [Armenian Dialectological Atlas – MaterialsCollection Project], H. T. Gosdantian, A. N. Hanenian, M. H. Mouradian, A. V. Krikorian (eds), Yerevan, 1977.
  • Hagop B. Boghosian, Hadjni Enthanour Badmoutyune yev Shrchaga Kozan-Daghi Haygagan Kyugheru [A General History of Hadjin and the Nearby Armenian Villages of Kozan-Dagh], Second Edition, Holy See of Cilicia, Antilias, 2014.
  • Hrachia Acharian, Knnoutyun Giligyayi Parpari [Study of the Cilicia Dialect], Yerevan State University Press, Yerevan, 2003.