Dedicated to the 150th Anniversary of the birth of the eminent linguist and polymath Hrač‘eay Ačaṙian (1876-1953), Prof. Peter Cowe (UCLA) and Dr. Hrach Martirosyan (Leiden University) have organized “At the Intersection of Language and Culture: The 4th Armenian Language Workshop at UCLA” on May 22nd–23rd.
The workshop brings together an international group of scholars, teachers, and writers who will present in both Armenian and English on a diverse array of topics related to Armenian language, literature, and culture. The workshop will be hybrid, with some presenting in person at UCLA and others via Zoom. Among the speakers, will be Zohrab Center director Dr. Jesse Arlen who will present on the topic “Translating One’s Own Text: An Apologia for Bilingual Writing.”
The general public is able to follow the presentations and discussion of the workshop via Zoom.
To watch via the Zoom Webinar platform, click here. For a full schedule of the two days of panels, see below. For more information, see the event page.
At the Intersection of Language and Culture: 4th Armenian Language Workshop at UCLA
Dedicated to the 150th Anniversary of the birth of the eminent linguist and polymath Hrač‘eay Ačaṙian (1876-1953) Organizers: Peter Cowe (UCLA) Hrach Martirosyan (Leiden University)
Friday, May 22, 2026 to Saturday, May 23, 2026
10:00 AM – 6:00 PM (Pacific Time)
Bunche Hall, Room 10383 (10th floor)
315 Portola Plaza
Los Angeles, CA 90095
To watch via the Zoom Webinar platform, click here.
May 22
10:00-10:30 Registration
10:30-10:45 Opening Remarks
Peter Cowe
Hrach Martirosyan
Panel 1
Moderator: Tereza Hovhannisyan
Hrach Martirosyan, University of Leiden
10:45-11:05 «Աչառյան-150. Մարդը և Գիտնականը»
(Ačaṙian-150: The Man and Scholar)
11:05-11:20 Discussion
Jesse S. Arlen, Zohrab Information Center and Fordham University
11:20-11:40 “Translating One’s Own Text: An Apologia for Bilingual Writing”
11:40-11:55 Discussion
Lori Pirinjian, UCLA
11:55-12:15 Ինչպե՞ս է հայերենում ասվում «գենդեր»
(How to say «Gender» in Armenian)
12:15-12:30 Discussion
Aram Manukyan, UCLA
12:30-12:50 “Հայկական Հանգաբառարան: Armenian Rhyming Dictionary”
12:50-1:05 Discussion
1:05-2:10 lunch break
Panel 2
Moderator: Hrach Martirosyan, University of Leiden
Tereza Hovhannisyan, UCLA
2:10-2:30 “Հայալեզու թվային ռեսուրսների ստեղծումը հայերենի դասավանդման ընթացքում”
(The Creation of Armenian Language Digital Resources in the Course of Teaching Armenian)
2:30-2:45 Discussion
2:45 walk to Schoenberg Hall
3:00-5:30 Participation in Day of Armenian Music
Schoenberg Hall
3:00-4:00 Concert celebrating the CD
“Stanzas in August Armenian Music, New and Rediscovered”
4:00-4:30 Q&A with the performers
4:30 Green Room Reception on the Retirement of Movses Pogossian, Professor of Strings, UCLA
May 23
11:00-11:10 Opening Remarks
Shushan Karapetian
Panel 3
Moderator: Alexia Khatun, UCLA
Anatolii Tokmantcev, Peter Pazmani Catholic University, Budapest (recorded)
11:10-11:30 “Հայոց քրիստոնեությունը որպես դիսկուրսային ավանդույթ”
(Armenian Christianity as a Discursive Tradition)
11:30-11:45 Discussion
Hakob Gulludjian, UCLA
11:45-12:05 «Լեզուական քաղաքականութիւն եւ լեզուի ուսուցում Սփիւռքի մէջ»
(Language Politics and Armenian Instruction in the Diaspora)
12:05-12:20 Discussion
Shushan Karapetian, USC
12:20-12:40 “Licensed to Spell: When Vanity Plates Speak Armenian”
12:40-12:55 Discussion
1:00-2:00 lunch break
Panel 4
Moderator: Nora Bairamian, UCLA
Peter Cowe, UCLA
2:00-2:20 «Հայերէնի միջնորդուած թարգմանությունների դասակարգման փորձ մը»
(Mediated Armenian Translations: An Attempt at Classification)
2:20-2:35 Discussion
Alexia Hatun, UCLA
2:35-2:55 “Բառամթերք սափոսական. Մտորումներ լեզուի կենսունակութեան եւ հայ տարօր իրականութիւններու շուրջ”
(Sapphic Lexicon: Reflections on Language Vitality and Queer Armenian Realities)
2:55-3:10 Discussion
Julianne Kapner, UC Berkeley
3:10-3:30 “From Constantinople to San Francisco: Persistence of Historical /Y/ Variation in Contemporary Bay Area Armenian”
3:30-3:45 Discussion
3:45-4:00 coffee break
Panel 5
Moderator: Peter Cowe, UCLA
Nora Bairamian, UCLA
4:00-4:20 Սովորենք/սորվինք հայերեն/հայերէն միասին։ Զուգահեռ բարբառներ մէկ դասարանի մէջ.
(Let’s Learn About Armenian: Parallel Dialects in One Classroom)
4:20-4:35 Discussion
Anushik Melikian, University of Leiden
4:35-4:55 TBA
4:55-5:10 Discussion
Gohar Melikyan, UCLA
5:10-5:30 “Armenian Folktales in the “Collection of Materials for Describing Places and Tribes of the Caucasus”
5:30-5:45Discussion
5:45-6:00 Closing Discussion
Organizer: UCLA Narekatsi Chair in Armenian Studies
Sponsor(s): Center for World Languages, The Promise Armenian Institute, Narekatsi Chair in Armenian Studies, USC Institute in Armenian Studies