WebTalks
Language and Identity in the Armenian Diaspora
Shushan Karapetian
Dr. Karapetian discusses the challenges of prioritizing language proficiency as a marker for identity in the diaspora.

Language and Identity in the Armenian Diaspora
Dr. Shushan Karapetian addresses the linguistic identity crisis among diasporan Armenians who struggle to meet the demands of language proficiency. While many in the diaspora self-identify as Armenian, they are also socialized into ideologies that insist on a mastery of Armenian, an impossible standard for many heritage speakers. Dr. Karapetian argues that by imbuing language with so much symbolic meaning we make it inaccessible for young people growing up in the diaspora, further alienating them from their heritage by imposing impossible standards of belonging. Her suggestions are enlightening and important in allowing for a more practical understanding of language proficiency and empowering youth to embrace their Armenian identity through other more attainable markers.
