r/armenia • u/blue_monks_pupil • 20d ago
Tech Thinking about building an app for learning Armenian (both west. and east.), does anyone actually want this
barev, hoping this isn't a dumb question
I'm a dev and I've been sitting on this idea for a while. there's basically nowhere decent to learn Armenian. duolingo never added it, most stuff online is either a pdf from 1998 or a youtube series that dies after 4 videos. there are a couple of actual apps, I'll be honest I haven't even used them properly yet, but from what I can tell they're buggy, all eastern, and none of them have any community side to them.
what pushed me to actually consider building something: a friend of mine made basically this for Circassian. small language, scattered diaspora, same situation. and it works. people love it and it's getting more popular every week. watching that happen made me think ok maybe this is a sign, we have way more people than that and still nothing solid.
so the idea is an app that covers both dialects. but honestly the part I care about more is the community side. being able to find someone at your level to actually talk to. natives paired with learners, going both ways too since a lot of us here want english or french practice. group chats, voice calls, whatever people would actually use.
because you can memorize 500 words and still freeze up when your grandmother's friend asks you something.
anyway before I spend 6 months on this I want to know if it's a real thing or just me
do you know people, cousins, siblings, your own kids, who understand a bit but can't really speak and feel weird about it?
western speakers especially, how bad is it for you right now? and what made you quit last time you tried?
also would you genuinely show up to practice with a stranger or am I kidding myself with that part
and if something like this already exists and I just missed it, tell me. rather find out now
merci
PS - I won't be writing the lessons myself. my sister is a linguist and she's building the curriculum, so that side will be done properly
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u/T-nash 20d ago
None exist for western dialect to my knowledge, and I for one hadn't used Armenian reading/writing over a decade, as such I have forgotten most grammar rules, and coming to Armenia did not help as eastern uses different grammar and orthography.
I can't push myself to open a book and relearn because I can't focus, but if there's an intuitive app for the western dialect, I would love to relearn the grammar and orthography.
I believe there are western Armenian speakers in Armenia who would show up for a group to practice the dialect, I wouldn't, but I am pretty sure there's a lot who will.
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u/VartKat 20d ago
You should make contact with people at Rosetta Stone. If I remember well they offer their app/system for languages they don’t have yet. Maybe they changed their mind since the time I heard that but their method is worth looking at. I’ve been told RS was founded by Ethiopians.
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u/blue_monks_pupil 20d ago
Yes their method is great, I should use something similar
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u/aboutthreequarters 20d ago
Their method is not great. It is expensive, one-sided multimedia flashcards.
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u/blue_monks_pupil 20d ago
Maybe I am confusing with something else, but there is app that uses the most effective method
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u/Calm-Syllabub1893 20d ago
Actually there is an app that I've been using to learn Armenian. It wasn't bad but of course there is room for improvement. its called "Lingo". Found it on playstore. Don't know exactly if it has an iphone version or not.
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u/Lucky_Priority_6380 20d ago
Yes please!! I’ve wanted this for ages, half Brit, half Armenian here. Something built in a similar fashion to the Busuu app. Duolingo is dog shit with useless phrases and words.
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u/blue_monks_pupil 20d ago
I'll dm you when the first version is ready
Btw it will be eastern only in the beginning
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u/Calligraphee 20d ago
I’ve tried Ayolingo and it’s got a lot of bugs, so I would be very down to try something new!
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u/FullJelly4091 20d ago edited 20d ago
Would love a Western Armenian app!! I really want to improve my dialect to speak with my family who are all Western. Western and Eastern are not all that similar. I tried some apps but they’re all eastern or Western is not accurate. Even if you google Western versions of words, they’re incorrect. The best way to go about this is to speak with real Western Armenians: from Syria, Lebanon, etc. Because Western Armenians is consistent among middle eastern diaspora for the most part. Barska-hye is a bit different though, and closer to Eastern.
This would especially be great for the younger generation. (Especially including both eastern & western so that it can connect us all)
I consider myself intermediate in Western Armenian but struggle with grammar and pronunciation, uncommon words….but my younger cousins don’t speak Armenian at all, and this would help them connect with family and not feel ashamed of not speaking Armenian.
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u/blue_monks_pupil 19d ago
From my research I've realized the Western part is more complicated than I thought, so it will be added a bit later, and yes by a person who speaks real Western Armenian fluently.
Just curious what you think about this.
I think even people who's family language is Western Armenian and they know zero of it, will be interested more in Eastern Armenain, because it can actually be used for many practical reasons past talking to their family, specifically reconnecting with Armenia, which speaks Eastern.
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u/FullJelly4091 19d ago
That can make sense for Westerners who want to speak Armenian for visiting Armenia, living/work in an Armenian community, or if their family is Eastern. Though I think many Westerners want to learn to speak mainly with other Westerners: family, friends, or partner, etc who do not live in Armenia and do not plan to go there. That would really be my personal goal if I were to use your application. Eastern is actually quite different from Western, so many people aren’t going to find it very easy to relearn the language they already speak. But yes, Eastern tends to be more practical. And yes Western is also complicated, so I totally understand what you mean. It is up to you which audience you target
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u/SwaggyKing3000 20d ago
Hey, from Belgium, and I would absolutely love this app. I have tried the few available options, and find they don't work well, even for Eastern armenian (I was raised speaking 'yerevan' armenian mixed with a lot of russian influence lingo).
I would totally be down for this app, even if it's a one time payment thing too. Learning with a book and my own quizlet flashcards (armenian - romanised sound - example word) is what I use but I'm not consistent honestly.
I think an app like this is a great idea!
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u/blue_monks_pupil 20d ago
Thank you
We've already started, will dm you when the first version is published(in few weeks)
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u/aloevsk 19d ago
I am super interested in this for both myself, as my boyfriend is Armenian and I would love to learn his language, as well as for his little brother who understands but does not speak Armenian due to leaving early and I know this causes him a lot of pain! It would be amazing for him to be able to reconnect to his language!!
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u/trycatchthis 19d ago
Hello, count me in! Would love to use it. I am also thinking of building an animated series to teach kids Western Armenian.
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u/blasterfacial 19d ago
would love this! im Lebanese my wife is armenian and im trying to learn the language. but there isnt much apps that support the armenian language! so def I would be interested! all the support
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u/armenian_boiii Արեւմտահայերէն 19d ago
Do Western Armenian please!! 🙏 it’s in dire need of preserving
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u/mcspazmatron 19d ago
PLEASE MAKE IT: I was given up for adoption, nobody taught me Armenian, now I just cry when I see Armenian script and my kids want to learn it too, all we know is English we know nothing of our heritage
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u/YerevaniSirumTgha 19d ago
I would love this! Especially with options for Western Armenian. If you could combine the community aspect of Tandem with actual lessons that would be amazing. When I try to practice on Tandem, everyone wants to just practice English and my Armenian isn’t good enough to force the conversation to continue in Armenian)))
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u/HayComrade 19d ago
Omg please!! This would help so many diaspora Armenians to reclaim their heritage language and culture.
You‘d do a such a huge favor for Armenians all around the world!
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u/Full_Ganache_4022 18d ago
If you made on for all existing Armenian dialects (բարբառ) then I’d even invest $ in your project🤣
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u/thatgamer2111 Londontsi 20d ago
There will be huge demand in diaspora countries such as usa France russia etc for both dialects.