Beginning Armenian: A Communicative Textbook introduces conversational Western and Eastern Armenian in a single volume, allowing learners to acquire the language skills they need to communicate and to reference, contrast, and compare both standards of the language.
This book contains 24 lessons, each providing a range of key vocabulary and addressing different topics of daily life, including greetings, people, and objects, as well as past and future plans. An overview of the Western and Eastern Armenian alphabet, pronunciation, and punctuation is complimented by a range of exercises introducing the basics of Armenian grammar and vocabulary, with interactive information gap and role play activities designed to develop essential conversation skills.
Beginning Armenian is the ideal textbook to introduce class-based and independent learners to the Armenian language.
Acknowledgements
Introduction
Writing System
- The Alphabet
- Pronunciation
- Punctuation
Lesson 1 – Greetings and Getting Acquainted
Letters: Ա ա, Ե ե, Է է, Բ բ, Պ պ, Փ փ, Ր ր, Լ լ, Վ վ, WA Ւ ւ, EA և
Grammar: Verb "to be"
Lesson 2 – Numbers and Sharing Personal Information
Letters: Թ թ, Դ դ, Տ տ, Ն ն, Մ մ, Ս ս, Չ չ, Ջ ջ, Ճ ճ, Ի ի, Ը ը, ՈՒ ու
Grammar: Verb "to have" and "to be"
Lesson 3 – Countries, Languages, and Origins
Letters: Ք ք, Կ կ, Գ գ, Ձ ձ, Ց ց, Ծ ծ, Հ հ, Յ յ, Ո ո, Օ օ
Grammar: Regular verb "to live", verb "to know", ablative and locative cases, possessives
Lesson 4 – Review
Letters: Խ խ, Ղ ղ, Ռ ռ, Ֆ ֆ, Զ զ, Ժ ժ, Շ շ
Grammar: Regular verbs, present tense and negative present, the nominative case
Lesson 5 – People and Occupations
Grammar: Possessives, plural, definite and indefinite articles
Lesson 6 – Everyday Objects
Grammar: Demonstratives, post-positions
Lesson 7 – Whose Is This?
Grammar: Possessive pronouns, genitive case
Lesson 8 – The Time and the Date
Grammar: Verb "can" present tense and negative present
Lesson 9 – Weather and Mood
Grammar: Past continuous tense of verb "to be"
Lesson 10 – Daily Routine and Free Time
Grammar: Regular verbs, present tense and negative present
Lesson 11 – Activities
Grammar: Motion, past continuous tense of regular verbs and habitual present tense
Lesson 12 – Future Plans
Grammar: Future tense
Lesson 13 – Activities in the Past
Grammar: Simple past tense and imperative mood of regular verbs WA -ել, -իլ, -ալ / EA -ել and -ալ
Lesson 14 – Dining
Grammar: Simple past tense and imperative mood of irregular verbs
Lesson 15 – Shopping
Grammar: Simple past tense and imperative mood of WA -նել, -նիլ, -իլ, -չիլ and EA -նել, -չել verbs
Lesson 16 – Asking for Directions
Grammar: Simple past tense and imperative mood of causative -ցնել and of -նալ verbs
Lesson 17 – Public Transportation
Grammar: Instrumental and ablative cases, simple past tense and imperative mood of irregular verbs
Lesson 18 – Grammar – Object Pronouns
Grammar: Accusative and dative cases
Lesson 19 – Health
Grammar: Present perfect tense
Lesson 20 – Food
Grammar: Instrumental case
Lesson 21 – Describing People
Grammar: Instrumental and ablative cases
Lesson 22 – Wants, Needs, Opinions, Requests
Grammar: Subjunctive mood and EA future tenses with պիտի and կ
Lesson 23 – Grammar – Postpositions
Lesson 24 – Grammar – Relative Pronouns and Participles
Review Exercises
Grammar Appendix
Further Reading
Index
Biography
Charry Karamanoukian is Lecturer in Armenian Language at Columbia University, USA.
"This is a wonderful textbook where Eastern Armenian and Western Armenian are presented together alongside English translations and transliterations, enabling learners with diverse language backgrounds to study the Armenian language comprehensively with ease and fun. The author guides learners from Ա (A) through the alphabet, grammatical foundations, and practical vocabulary. The clear explanations and interactive, real-world exercises make it a terrific resource for learners and teachers alike. Whether you are preparing for a trip to Armenia, to interact with Armenian native speakers or simply satisfy your desire to learn the old and beautiful Armenian language, this textbook will help you reach your goal and enjoy the experience."
Svetlana Ghazaryan Wilson, International Center for Language Studies (ICLS), Foreign Service Institute, USA
"Beginning Armenian presents easy to understand vocabulary in Armenian that makes the language accessible to novice learners of all ages and anyone with a general interest in the Armenian language. The exercises, also presented with accessible vocabulary, emphasize everyday conversation and real-life situations (acquaintance, family, occupation, study, etc.) and the textbook is organized in a clear and unencumbered style.
The logical connection between the lessons, the repetitions and novelties in the exercises make the textbook interesting and enjoyable for the user. This book is recommended for university students, all beginners, and anyone with a general interest in the Armenian language."
Ishkhan Chiftjian, University of Hamburg, Germany
