Yerevan hosts demonstration in support of Armenian language

On November 24, in Yerevan, the movement "Miasin" (Together) organized a rally in support and defence of the Armenian language. The event was attended by about 1000 students from different high schools in Yerevan.

The participants of the rally with placards, calling for preservation of the native language, went from the Tamanyan monument to the government building and handed over a letter addressed to the Prime Minister of the country. During the procession, they also distributed letters with requirements to all agencies with foreign-language names and signs.

According to Akop Akopyan, the head of the movement "Miasin", it is time to apply more stringent mechanisms to preserve the Armenian language. Akop Akopyan gave the example of France, when "the French people raised a similar problem, and the government failed to take the necessary measures, the young people broke signs and billboards in the streets."

The leader of the movement "Miasin" is convinced that the event would bring positive results. According to him, today in Yerevan more than 500 objects have foreign-language names and signs.

"Many institutions have changed their signs after our previous actions. And they have added Armenian names to the foreign-language words. It is our goal," Akop Akopyan has emphasized.

"The Law 'On Language' of the Republic of Armenia allows advertising signs both in the Armenian language and in a foreign language. This makes stay of tourists in our country comfortable. No one is against that; however, we should not forget our own language," stated Ripsime Zatikyan, the coordinator of the movement "Miasin".

Ruzanna Grigoryan, a resident of Yerevan, sees a great threat to the preservation of the native Armenian language. According to her, the older generation spoke literary language, and now young people strongly distort their native language.

According to Vadim Okhanian, a resident of Yerevan, the vast majority of Armenian population, particularly youth, does not speak literary language.

However, Olga Fedorenko, a resident of Yerevan, believes that advertising should be recognizable. Therefore, the name "Coca-Cola", written in the Armenian language, will look like a new brand. She believes that all depends on the person and on the extent to which he/she wants to know his/her native language.