Արմենակ Եղիայեան՝ Ճանչնանք մեր բառերը (6) - ԲԱԶՈՒՄ

Վերարտադրած եմ Արմենակ Եղիայեանին թիւ 6 «Ճանչնանք մեր բառերը» հրատարակութիւնը 

       1. Հարցում եւ... բազում

            Պահ մը փորձեցէք ընել պատահական գուշակութիւն մը եւ ըսել, թէ բառմը քանի՞ ածանցում ու բարդութիւն կրնայ ունենալ հայերէնի մէջ` տա՞սը, քսա՞ն, երեսո՞ւն...

            Բազում արմատը հայերէնի մէջ տուած է  572 (սխալ չէք կարդար՝ հինգհարիւր եօթանասուներկու)  ածանցաւոր եւ բարդ բառեր՝ բոլորն ալ իրենց օրին ուժամանակին կիրարկուած եւ բոլորն ալ մէջբերուած են մատենագրական  այլազանօրինակներով: Այլ խօսքով՝ վերացական  ու շինծու, մտային մարզանքի գոհացումտուող ու մտացածին միաւորներ չեն ասոնք, այլ եղած են միսով-ոսկորով կենդանիբառեր, որոնք ծառայած են Հայ մտքի ու Հայ հանճարի իմացական նուաճումներու  թարգմանութեան: Ասոնց գոյութիւնը կրնաք անձամբ հաստատել  հայր Աւգերեանվարդապետի  «Նոր հայկազեան»-ի եւ «Առձեռն»-ի մէջ, երկուքն ալ տրամադրելի ենՆայիրիի «Հայերէն բառարաններ» կայքէն: Կը մնայ, որ յանձն առնէքհամբերատարօրէն թերթատել  զանոնք՝ անդրադառնալու համարքաղաքակրթական այն վիթխարի բարձունքին, որ կը յուշէ, կը թելադրէ  նմանբառացանկ մը: 

            Հետաքրքրական է, որ ժամանակին հետ այս բառերէն  շատեր դադրածեն կիրարկուելէ, միւս կողմէ՝ ստեղծուած են ուրիշները. ասոնց բաղդատութիւնը մեզկրնայ շատ հեռուները տանիլ՝ իրենց տաղտուկներով հանդերձ, որոնք  համատեղելի չեն ընթացիկ յօդուածի մը մէջ, ինչպէս մերինն է. ըսեմ միայն,  Ակադեմիայի քառահատոր «Ժամանակակից հայոց լեզուի բացատարական բառարան»-ը   իր կողմէ  աշխարհաբարին համար կը ճանչնայ  մօտաւորապէս 481 բառ, որ իր կարգին գայթակղեցուցիչ ըլլալէ չի դադրիր. ապա փորձեցէք  այսմոլորակի՝ ձեզի ծանօթ լեզուներէն մէկուն մէջ գտնել նմանօրինակ երեւոյթ մը... ուըստ այնմ դատեցէք, թէ ի՛նչ ցեղի յետնորդներն ու ժառանգորդներն էք: 

            Այլ առիթով ըսած եմ, վերյիշենք. «Նոր հայկազեանը»-ը քառալեզուբառարան է. հայերէն բառերուն կից դրուած են յունարէն, լատիներէն եւ թրքերէնբազմաթիւ հոմանիշներ, անշուշտ դրուած են հոն, ուր այդպիսիները կան:  Եւ ահամեր բազում-ի ընտանիքէն հարիւրաւոր անդամներ չունին  իրենց համարժէքըյիշեալ լեզուներուն մէջ, ոչ միայն թրքերէնի, որ ծանօթ է իր բնիկ բառերուաղքատութեամբ, այլեւ քաղաքակրթութիւն կերտած լեզուներու, ինչպէս  յունարէնիեւ լատիներէնի:                                                                                                         

                                                                   

Ակադեմիայի քառահատորը իր կարգին կ’ընդգրկկէ մեր զոյգ աշխարհաբար-ները՝ արեւելեան ու արեւմտեան, եւ  այստեղ  բոլոր բառերը ունին իրենց   մատենագրական պատշաճ վկայութիւնները, որոնք քաղուած են  Հայաշխարհաբար  գրականութենէն եւ մասամբ բարբառներէ: Ան ձեւով  մը «Նորհայկազեան»-ի աշխարհաբար տարբերակն է եւ արժանապատիւ յաջորդը՝Մալխասեանի[1] «Հայերէն     բացատրական բառարան»-ին, որ իր օրին (1944)  նորէջ մը բացաւ աշխարհաբարի բառարանագրութեան պատմութեան մէջ:

            Առ ի հետաքրքրութիւն կը դնեմ այստեղ գումարը նաեւ ԳնէլՃերեճեան-Արտաշէս Տէր Խաչատուրեանի «Հայոց լեզուի նոր բառարան»-ի (1992), որ սփիւռքահայ ամենածաւալուն բառարանն է. ուրեմն այստեղ բազում արմատովկազմուած բառերուն թիւը 183 է:

            Առանց մեկնաբանութեան:

                                                                          *   *   *

            Բազում արմատի բառային ընտանիքը կրնայ շատ դիւրաւ նիւթհայթայթել վարդապետական աւարտաճառի մը, եթէ թեկնածուն մէկ առ մէկ սերտէ անոր անդամներէն իւրաքանչիւրին ծնդաբանութիւնը, բայց նաեւ ոմանց մահն ուուրիշներու յառաջացումը աշխարհաբարի մէջ: Վասնզի բառերը ունին իրենց  պատմութիւնը:

            Տեսնենք քանի մը դուրս մղուած բառեր.

            --բազմաբաղձիկ − շատ փափաքելի

            --բազմաբանել − երկար խօսիլ, շատախօսել

            --բազմաբերձ − շատ բարձր

            --բազմագերան − փայտաշատ, օրինակ՝ անտառ

            --բազմադաշն − սաստիկ երդումով դաշինք կապած

            Այսպէս դուրս ձգուած բառերէն ոմանք ընդմիշտ անհետացած են մերազգային յիշողութենէն, ուրիշներ փոխարինուած են արդի հոմանիշով մը . օրինակ՝բազմաբերձ-ին փոխարէն արդի հայերէնը կը նախընտրէ բարձրաբերձ, թէկուզերկնաբերձ  ըսել:

            Բազմ-ով կազմուած են՝

            --բազմոց, որ բարձի տեսակ մըն էր, որուն  նմանները կը գտնուէինպարսից արքայից արքայի գահին կից եւ որոնց վրայ կը բազմէին անորդաշնակիցները՝ ըստ իրենց ունեցած կարեւորութեան կարգին.  Հայոց բազմոցը  կըգտնուէր, օրինակ,  գահին անմիջապէս կիցը, այսինքն՝ երկրորդն էր: 

            --բազմական,   որ նման բազմոցը գրաւողն էր. բազմական կը կոչուինաեւ որեւէ խրախճանքի հրաւիրեալը, հիւրը, սեղանակիցը, հանդիսականը.  այսվերջին նշանակութեամբ՝ բազմականը ունի նոյնանիշ մը, որ է կոչնական:

            armenag@gmail.com                              Արմենակ Եղիայեան

             

 

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[1]  Նկարները. աջին՝ հայր Մկրտիչ Աւգերեան, ձախին՝ Ստեփանոս Մալխասեան:

         

 

 

Behind the scene:

From unnamed sources. I have no way of disputing the veracity of the claim of what went behind the scene.

Behind the scene:

It is September 19 and 20, 2023-time frame. Aliev is reporting to Putin on what is going on in Nagorno-Karabakh Oblast.

Aliev:      “Vlad, I have a list of 8 men I would like to have them taken to be tried in Baku for treason.”

Putin:      Who are they?

Aliev:     “Davit Babayan, Arkady Ghukasyan , Arayik Harutyunyan, Davit Ishkhanyan, Davit Manukyan, Levon Mnatsakanyan,Bako Sahakyan, Ruben Vardanyan.”

Putin:     hmmm…

Aliev:  Vlad, mind you, I am not talking about our friend Samvel Shahramanyan. You know, he helped us a great deal to have this end without further bloodshed. 

Putin:     I have to have this matter forwarded to my interior minister.

Aliev:    You know that Ruben Vardanyan renounced his Russian citizenship. This is altogether an Azeri matter

Putin:      I signed for the cessation of war between you and Nikol Pachinyan on November 9, 2020 and ordered our military to send peace keeping forces. I have to take this matter with the military.

Aliev:       Look, I am willing to let my interior minister release a million barrels of oil, per person. That is 8 million barrels of oil.

Putin:     I still have to take this matter with my military.

Aliev:     How about if I tell my interior minister to have 1.5 million barrels of oil per prisoner released. That is 12 million barrels of oil. Would that help you ease bringing the matter to the military given the war situation and the military’s need for oil? Your military may take Samvel to Armenia.

Putin:      I believe that may help me to have my commanders right away agree to stand by and have your men capture these Armenians and have them taken to prison in Baku.

Aliev:      Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, you drive a hard bargain. It is a deal. 

 

 

Proud to have

Vahe H. Apelian

From page 3 of the 2022/23 Annual report

A few days ago, I received AMAA’s 2022/23 Annual Report. It is a 70 pages long report. I want to post its table of content to make my point. Below is a copy. 

From page 3 of the 2022/23 Annual Report

The first 18 pages of the annual report comprise of reports from AMAA Board of Directors, the president, the executive director/CEO, the treasurer.  The next 6 pages, from page 19-25 are reports about AMAA ministries, its evangelism and discipleship, its outreach to churches and missions, its humanitarian relief programs, and to its education assistantship. 

I want to make a point  about the AMAA’s scholarship program quoting from an article Rev. Guiragos Chopourian wrote in the AMAA news  (2002-Vol. XXXVI).  I quote: “I was having second thoughts about the AMAA Scholarship program that the Board instituted in 1972. I did not verbalize or write about my concern to the Board. It was rather a “retirement contemplation” when there is much time to dream. My concern was stimulated by my remembrance of a letter that reached the Board years back when the writer said, “What business does the Board have in providing scholarships?” At the times I was convinced it was the business of the AMAA to help educate Armenian youth because it was the best capital for youth to have, especially those who were mostly emigrants or children of emigrants. On top of that I learned that the student loans the Association had granted were not all being returned.” He further noted that his thoughts were repelled because of a letter he received. For the past 50 years, from 1972/73 to 2022/23 academic years, countless students have been beneficiaries of the student loans and now support association in its missions.

But what I intended to dwell was the financial report presented in the annual report. From pages 27 to 48, that is to say 19 pages contain an independent auditor‘s financial report in minute details. The financial report is followed by listing of all the endowment funds and other financial info, on the following next 16 pages, from page 50 to 67. The sum total of the financial report then comprised almost 40 pages out of the 70 page long annual report. Frankly speaking I know no other Armenian organization in the Diaspora that puts such a detailed, transparent, independent third party audited report at the disposal of those who have trusted the organization and shared with it the fruits of their labor for common good.   

I became reflective and remembered the banquet that was held in NJ in honor of Rev. Dr. Guiragos H. C hopourian who was retiring as the executive director of the AMAA.  Rev. Dr. G.H. Chopourian is reported to have retired in 1987. The rumor had it that the Board was to announce the person they were appointing as the next executive director. It turned out to be Rev. Dr. Movses B . Janbazian who would lead the AMAA onto new fields in the newly freed and independent Republic of Armenia and beyond. I remember Rev. Chopourian’s charge to new director. The following has remained etched in my memory. He said to Movses that there will be times when the overhead expenses of the AMAA’s office will not justify the time and the resources spent to acknowledge the donation received but that it was his charge to see it done with gratitude. 

Organizations have their own culture that come about through the efforts of many. Through the dedication of many exemplary leaders who served the organization in various capacities, the AMAA has built a stellar reputation so much so that, my cousin Ara Apelian M..D, who served on the board let me know that the government of the United States has made an exception to AMAA to forward its financial support to the Armenian community in the sanctioned Syria through established channels. I quote from Wikipedia – “The US sanctions against Syria are the most severe, as they affect third-parties as well, and amount to an embargo.” In fact, Nazareth Darakjian MD, the president of the AMAA, ended his report on page 5 of the annual report noting that “AMAA as a charitable organization has permission to send humanitarian aid to our communities there (Syria).”

The summary of the investments in the endowment funds as of July 31, 2023 is listed on page 50 of the annual report to be $158,243, 937.  By the standards of other charitable organizations whose outreach is global, much like AMAA’s, such as once Vartan Krikorian led Carnegie Foundation whose endowment assets is in billions, AMAA’s endowment assets may be considered modest. But surely its outreach to the Armenian communities across the globe is not.

Zaven Khanjian is the present  Executive Director/CEO of the AMAA when the organization along with the Armenian nation face enormous challenges because of  the occupation of Artsakh and expulsion of its native Armenians. He wrote  the following on page 7 of the annual report and noting in bold letters:  “The AMAA has become a global organization and its involvement in community life around the globe has its weight, measure and effect. You can be proud of the organization you are privileged to be a member of, as it continues to emulate the life of our Lord Jesus Christ on earth.”

Surely, the Armenian Diaspora is proud to have the Armenian Missionary of America – AMAA - in its midst.

 

Friends fishing in Lebanon

Vahe H. Apelian 

Recently three friends -  two of whom I have gotten to befriend on line, although Bedros and I are graduates of the Armenian Evangelical College high school  but a few years apart - posted pictures of the fish they caught off the Beirut coast. It evoked a lot of memories in me for I am an avid fisherman since my days in Lebanon.  Fishing is a national and a natural pastime in Lebanon. It was not uncommon to see people angling off main highways or roads in the greater Beirut. What triggered me to reflective is the type of fish they had caught, especially that one of them Simon Constantinian appears to mostly do spear fishing. I have done that too.

Recently my pharmacist friend Krikor Kradjian had gone for a fishing trip with a friend on a boat. He had posted picture of the fish they had caught (posted above). Those from Lebanon immediately recognized that among the fish they had caught was the prized culinary fish, known as Sultan Ibrahim. They are the reddish colored fish. Hagop Toroyan had commented on the picture noting that the “red mullets are exceptional”. Indeed, they are. It evokes memories in me as well. Jbeil or Byblos, some 25 miles north of Beirut, was a rather dormant town in my days, some four decades ago. It boasts a cozy small historic fishing harbor. Next to the harbor there was / is a restaurant that served Sultan Ibrahim. A delicacy no one visiting Lebanon should miss tasting, especially seated in a restaurant overlooking the Mediterranean’s Sea.

Sultan Ibrahim is mostly caught farther from the coast, as Krikor and his friend did on his friend’s a boat, further from the coast. Wikipedia noted the following about Sultan Ibrahim fish, “Red Mullet in English. One of the most delicious fish in the sea. Called the “Woodcock of the Sea” as gourmets traditionally ate the fish whole.” I do not know how Krikor and his friend ate the fish they caught, but as Sona Armenian had commented “Sahtein”. It is an Arabic word that has made inroads in the Lebanese Armenian conversational language. Wikipedia sums it this way: “The Arabic word “sahtein”, or “to-health,” is used at meal times to wish someone good eating, to which the. eater replies “ala-albeck” or “to your heart.”

Bedros Logikian had posted his recent catch (see above). I immediately recognized it. We knew the fish as Mosta, although I am not sure if that is its official designation. They are caught immediately off the coast. They are ferocious, aggressive fish for their own good. They do not seem to have a discretionary taste. Almost any edible bait attracts them. They are maybe the easiest fish to catch and are abundant. There probably is no fisherman in Lebanon who has not caught them. Almost everyone who takes fishing as a hobby in Lebanon had started by first catching Mosta.  The most they seem to grow is palm size. But the fisherman has to be very careful in removing Mosta from the hook. Their spikes are extremely hurtful. Naturally they protrude their spikes when baited. Removing them from the hook becomes a challenge to the fisherman. 

Simon Costantinian has taken spear fishing for a hobby. It was not an uncommon fishing hobby, especially back then when there were patches along the Mediterranean coast that we could use for free. Many paying beaches along the coast were known as Saint this or that. In popular parlance these free patches along the coast came to be known as “saint balaash”. Balaash is a common Levantine Arabic word that means free or no coast or minimal coast. That too had made inroads in the colloquial conversation of the Lebanese Armenians.

But Simon has taken spear fishing on a different level. Doing it at night. I have done that too. Armed with a rubber flashlight in one hand and the spear gun in the other hand, you start exploring the crevices of the rocks and caves underneath the Mediterranean Sea, along the coast. When the light is flashed into the crevices, the fish among the rocks seem to be caught off guard and remain still within the beam making for easy spearing than during the day.  But that hobby is not for the faint hearted. In the pitch darkness of the night, with the lights of the city glittering far on the coast, the spear fisherman is on his own farther from the coast into the dark sea. After a few tries I gave up on that sport and I do not think I spear fished any. I had to dive deeper and a venture farther from the coast. But my friend did spear fish.

As I pen this blog the allmighty dollar trades for almost 100,000 Lebanese Liras. The country is in despair and almost pitch dark. For all practical purposes it is a failed state. Public utilities are provided for a few hours a day, if that. The president’s seat remains vacant. The government is a care taker government. The Armenian community is much less than what it was. The demography of Bourj Hammoud, which my late friend Hratch Bedoyan would liken it as the Armenian Diaspora citadel, I am told, is very much changed. Many of its neighborhood Armenian schools have closed.

 But life in Lebanon goes on. After all, by hook or crook, life has to go on.