Meyer, Robin: The Armenian Version of the Τέχνη γραμματική: A Linguistically Uncomfortable Compromise. In: Bonfiglio, E.; Rapp, Claudia (Ed.): Armenia & Byzantium without Borders, pp. 39–61, Brill, Leiden, 2023. @incollection{Meyerforthb,
title = {The Armenian Version of the Τέχνη γραμματική: A Linguistically Uncomfortable Compromise},
author = {Robin Meyer},
editor = {E. Bonfiglio and Claudia Rapp},
url = {http://rbnmyr.eu/rbnmyr.eu/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/meyer_2023_Dionysios_aam.pdf, accepted manuscript},
doi = {10.1163/9789004679313_004},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-08-16},
booktitle = {Armenia & Byzantium without Borders},
pages = {39–61},
publisher = {Brill},
address = {Leiden},
abstract = {The Armenian version of the Art of Grammar attributed to Dionysius Thrax has long been a staple of research into the so-called Hellenising School of Armenian translation. To date, scholarship has undervalued the modus operandi and content of the Armenian τέχνη, and thus the problematic relationship between ‘translation’ and original. Three different approaches to the Greek original can be distinguished: straightforward translation; extension of Greek grammatical concepts with Armenian data; and adaptation of Armenian data to Greek grammatical concepts. This paper argues that the Armenian τέχνη is more than just an example of grecising Armenian. It represents a clear indicator of Armenian scholarly practice caught between received Greek grammar and an attempt at making the grammar relevant to Armenian speakers. Thus, it is equally caught between translation, extension, and adaptation, and between the ‘Self’ and the ‘Other’. By comparing the Armenian τέχνη with both the Greek original, current thinking on Classical Armenian linguistics, and its later commentaries, this paper illustrates that this attempt at bridging the divide between Greek ‘guidelines’ and Armenian linguistic realities did not succeed. The Armenian non-translation cannot be used in isolation, nor is it a useful description of either Greek or Armenian grammar.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {incollection}
}
The Armenian version of the Art of Grammar attributed to Dionysius Thrax has long been a staple of research into the so-called Hellenising School of Armenian translation. To date, scholarship has undervalued the modus operandi and content of the Armenian τέχνη, and thus the problematic relationship between ‘translation’ and original. Three different approaches to the Greek original can be distinguished: straightforward translation; extension of Greek grammatical concepts with Armenian data; and adaptation of Armenian data to Greek grammatical concepts. This paper argues that the Armenian τέχνη is more than just an example of grecising Armenian. It represents a clear indicator of Armenian scholarly practice caught between received Greek grammar and an attempt at making the grammar relevant to Armenian speakers. Thus, it is equally caught between translation, extension, and adaptation, and between the ‘Self’ and the ‘Other’. By comparing the Armenian τέχνη with both the Greek original, current thinking on Classical Armenian linguistics, and its later commentaries, this paper illustrates that this attempt at bridging the divide between Greek ‘guidelines’ and Armenian linguistic realities did not succeed. The Armenian non-translation cannot be used in isolation, nor is it a useful description of either Greek or Armenian grammar. |
Meyer, Robin; Tinti, Irene: Armenia(n) through the Ages. In: Armeniaca. International Journal of Armenian Studies, vol. 1, pp. 7–13, 2022, ISSN: 9372-8174. @article{MeyerTintiIntro,
title = {Armenia(n) through the Ages},
author = {Robin Meyer and Irene Tinti},
url = {https://edizionicafoscari.unive.it/media/pdf/article/armeniaca/2022/1/art-10.30687-arm-9372-8174-2022-01-000.pdf, Download},
issn = {9372-8174},
year = {2022},
date = {2022-10-03},
urldate = {2022-10-03},
journal = {Armeniaca. International Journal of Armenian Studies},
volume = {1},
pages = {7–13},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
|
Meyer, Robin: Armenian Morphosyntactic Alignment in Diachrony. In: Dahl, Eystein (Ed.): Alignment and Alignment Change in the Indo-European family, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2022. @incollection{Meyer2022b,
title = {Armenian Morphosyntactic Alignment in Diachrony},
author = {Robin Meyer},
editor = {Eystein Dahl},
url = {http://rbnmyr.eu/wp-content/uploads/pdf/meyer_2022b.pdf, Download},
doi = {10.1093/oso/9780198857907.003.0009},
year = {2022},
date = {2022-08-26},
urldate = {2022-08-26},
booktitle = {Alignment and Alignment Change in the Indo-European family},
publisher = {Oxford University Press},
address = {Oxford},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {incollection}
}
|
Meyer, Robin: Alignment change and changing alignments: Armenian syntax and the first ‘death’ of Parthian. In: Bianconi, Michele; Capano, Marta; Romagno, Domenica; Rovai, Francesco (Ed.): Ancient Indo-European Languages between Linguistics and Philology: Contact, Variation, and Reconstruction, pp. 211–233, Brill, Leiden, 2022. @incollection{Meyer2022a,
title = {Alignment change and changing alignments: Armenian syntax and the first ‘death’ of Parthian},
author = {Robin Meyer},
editor = {Michele Bianconi and Marta Capano and Domenica Romagno and Francesco Rovai},
url = {http://rbnmyr.eu/wp-content/uploads/pdf/meyer_2022a.pdf, Download},
doi = {10.1163/9789004508828_010},
year = {2022},
date = {2022-03-31},
urldate = {2022-03-31},
booktitle = {Ancient Indo-European Languages between Linguistics and Philology: Contact, Variation, and Reconstruction},
pages = {211–233},
publisher = {Brill},
address = {Leiden},
abstract = {This paper seeks to combine the insights gathered in a corpus study of the periphrastic perfect in Classical Armenian texts from the 5th century CE and research into the socio-historical and political interactions of the Armenians and their Iranian neighbours in the same time period.
It is argued that the construction of the Classical Armenian perfect, which consists of a participle in -eal (< PIE *-lo-) and an optional form of the copula, is most accurately described as tripartite morphosyntactic alignment:
•intransitive and transitive passive verbs construe with a NOM subject under subject agreement of the copula;
• transitive active verbs take GEN agents, ACC objects, and the copula is an invariant 3.SG.
This pattern shows some diachronic variation and by the 8th century CE has given way to NOM– ACC alignment under pressure from the rest of the verbal system. Based on observations in the corpus and typological data, this alignment pattern can be explained as a case of pattern replication and pivot matching of a Middle Iranian, specifically Parthian, ERG–ABS model in pre-literary times and subsequent adaptation to Armenian requirements cf. MEYER (2016; 2017).
This explanation is lent further credence by the existence of both a great wealth of Iranian loanwords in Armenian, as well as a small number of other syntactic patterns that have clear Iranian parallels. Furthermore, the prevalence of political quarrels between the Parthian rulers of Armenia and other Iranians, their adoption of Christianity in c. 301 CE, frequent intermarriage with Armenians, and the lack of any Parthian language documents in the area suggest that the existence of Iranian syntactic patterns in Armenian is due not only to language contact, but indeed to language shift of the Parthian ruling class to Armenian. This, in turn, may provide a partial explanation of the first ‘death’ of Parthian, a significant attestation gap between Arsacid inscriptions and later religious documents.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {incollection}
}
This paper seeks to combine the insights gathered in a corpus study of the periphrastic perfect in Classical Armenian texts from the 5th century CE and research into the socio-historical and political interactions of the Armenians and their Iranian neighbours in the same time period.
It is argued that the construction of the Classical Armenian perfect, which consists of a participle in -eal (< PIE *-lo-) and an optional form of the copula, is most accurately described as tripartite morphosyntactic alignment:
•intransitive and transitive passive verbs construe with a NOM subject under subject agreement of the copula;
• transitive active verbs take GEN agents, ACC objects, and the copula is an invariant 3.SG.
This pattern shows some diachronic variation and by the 8th century CE has given way to NOM– ACC alignment under pressure from the rest of the verbal system. Based on observations in the corpus and typological data, this alignment pattern can be explained as a case of pattern replication and pivot matching of a Middle Iranian, specifically Parthian, ERG–ABS model in pre-literary times and subsequent adaptation to Armenian requirements cf. MEYER (2016; 2017).
This explanation is lent further credence by the existence of both a great wealth of Iranian loanwords in Armenian, as well as a small number of other syntactic patterns that have clear Iranian parallels. Furthermore, the prevalence of political quarrels between the Parthian rulers of Armenia and other Iranians, their adoption of Christianity in c. 301 CE, frequent intermarriage with Armenians, and the lack of any Parthian language documents in the area suggest that the existence of Iranian syntactic patterns in Armenian is due not only to language contact, but indeed to language shift of the Parthian ruling class to Armenian. This, in turn, may provide a partial explanation of the first ‘death’ of Parthian, a significant attestation gap between Arsacid inscriptions and later religious documents. |
Alpi, Federico; Meyer, Robin; Tinti, Irene; Zakarian, David: Armenia through the Lens of Time: A 360° View. In: Alpi, Federico; Meyer, Robin; Tinti, Irene; Zakarian, David (Ed.): Armenia through the Lens of Time. Multidisciplinary Studies in Honour of Theo Maarten van Lint, Brill, Leiden, 2022. @incollection{AlpiMeyerTintiZakarian,
title = {Armenia through the Lens of Time: A 360° View},
author = {Federico Alpi and Robin Meyer and Irene Tinti and David Zakarian},
editor = {Federico Alpi and Robin Meyer and Irene Tinti and David Zakarian},
url = {http://rbnmyr.eu/wp-content/uploads/pdf/FSvL_intro_2022.pdf, Download},
doi = {10.1163/9789004527607_002},
year = {2022},
date = {2022-01-01},
urldate = {2022-01-01},
booktitle = {Armenia through the Lens of Time. Multidisciplinary Studies in Honour of Theo Maarten van Lint},
publisher = {Brill},
address = {Leiden},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {incollection}
}
|
Meyer, Robin: Multilingualism in Poetry: How to Translate Sayat`-Nova. In: Alpi, Federico; Meyer, Robin; Tinti, Irene; Zakarian, David (Ed.): Armenia through the Lens of Time. Multidisciplinary Studies in Honour of Theo Maarten van Lint, Brill, Leiden, 2022. @incollection{Meyer2022,
title = {Multilingualism in Poetry: How to Translate Sayat`-Nova},
author = {Robin Meyer},
editor = {Federico Alpi and Robin Meyer and Irene Tinti and David Zakarian},
url = {http://rbnmyr.eu/wp-content/uploads/pdf/meyer_2022c.pdf, Download},
doi = {10.1163/9789004527607_013},
year = {2022},
date = {2022-01-01},
urldate = {2022-01-01},
booktitle = {Armenia through the Lens of Time. Multidisciplinary Studies in Honour of Theo Maarten van Lint},
publisher = {Brill},
address = {Leiden},
abstract = {The 18th-century Georgian-Armenian poet and bard Sayat‘-Nova is well known amongst scholars of Armenian language and literature as the author of numerous poems composed in the Tiflis-dialect of Armenian. Next to the idiosyncrasies of this dialect, however, the language used in Sayat‘-Nova’s poetry is replete with lexical material from many other languages widely spoken in the Caucasus and its environment, particularly Georgian, Azeri Turkish, and Farsi. This is unsurprising: the Caucasus is a highly multilingual region and Sayat‘-Nova a multilingual poet.
Next to the work of Charles Dowsett (1997), which treats mainly of the life, poetic topics, and style of Sayat‘-Nova, little further literature is available as concerns his language; even an English translation of his poetry is as yet a desideratum.
This paper addresses the lack of a modern translation that does justice to Sayat‘-Nova’s language. It proposes two manners in which his multilingual poetry can be translated without losing entirely the richness and expressiveness of his language: a multilingual approach to the target language environment (combining English as the matrix language with French elements); and a rendition by materilingual estrangement, using typographical means to translate originally non-Armenian elements.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {incollection}
}
The 18th-century Georgian-Armenian poet and bard Sayat‘-Nova is well known amongst scholars of Armenian language and literature as the author of numerous poems composed in the Tiflis-dialect of Armenian. Next to the idiosyncrasies of this dialect, however, the language used in Sayat‘-Nova’s poetry is replete with lexical material from many other languages widely spoken in the Caucasus and its environment, particularly Georgian, Azeri Turkish, and Farsi. This is unsurprising: the Caucasus is a highly multilingual region and Sayat‘-Nova a multilingual poet.
Next to the work of Charles Dowsett (1997), which treats mainly of the life, poetic topics, and style of Sayat‘-Nova, little further literature is available as concerns his language; even an English translation of his poetry is as yet a desideratum.
This paper addresses the lack of a modern translation that does justice to Sayat‘-Nova’s language. It proposes two manners in which his multilingual poetry can be translated without losing entirely the richness and expressiveness of his language: a multilingual approach to the target language environment (combining English as the matrix language with French elements); and a rendition by materilingual estrangement, using typographical means to translate originally non-Armenian elements. |
Meyer, Robin: The Relevance of Typology for Pattern Replication. In: Journal of Language Contact, vol. 12, no. 3, pp. 569–608, 2019. @article{Meyer2019,
title = {The Relevance of Typology for Pattern Replication},
author = {Robin Meyer},
url = {http://rbnmyr.eu/wp-content/uploads/pdf/meyer_2019.pdf, Download},
doi = {10.1163/19552629-01203002},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-01-01},
urldate = {2019-01-01},
journal = {Journal of Language Contact},
volume = {12},
number = {3},
pages = {569--608},
abstract = {Structuralists and generativists have insisted for a long time that the elements and structures one language could borrow from another are constrained by typological compatibility, naturalness, and other factors (cf. Thomason and Kaufman 1988: 13–34). Such constraints are still thought to apply to structural interference, or pattern replication in the terms of Matras and Sakel (2007), and the often concomitant contact-induced grammaticalisation of non-native structures.
This paper suggests that a priori there are no typological constraints against pattern replication in general. It is proposed that typological differences between model and replica pattern are only of relevance during the grammaticalisation and maintenance of such patterns in the replica language; in other words, typological constraints do not apply at the stage of pattern replication. It will be argued that typology, in the form of system pressure, interacts with pattern frequency and socio-historical factors, which together determine retention, adaptation, or loss of a replicated pattern.
This argument is illustrated on the basis of three short studies of partial alignment change in Old Aramaic, Classical Armenian, and North-Eastern Neo-Aramaic, all of which have been in contact with Iranian languages for extended periods. In each case, Iranian ergative alignment patterns have been replicated, adapted, grammaticalised to varying degrees, and finally ousted in favour of nominative-accusative alignment. The loss of the replica pattern in each case is shown to be dependent on both typology, extent of bilingualism, and pattern frequency.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Structuralists and generativists have insisted for a long time that the elements and structures one language could borrow from another are constrained by typological compatibility, naturalness, and other factors (cf. Thomason and Kaufman 1988: 13–34). Such constraints are still thought to apply to structural interference, or pattern replication in the terms of Matras and Sakel (2007), and the often concomitant contact-induced grammaticalisation of non-native structures.
This paper suggests that a priori there are no typological constraints against pattern replication in general. It is proposed that typological differences between model and replica pattern are only of relevance during the grammaticalisation and maintenance of such patterns in the replica language; in other words, typological constraints do not apply at the stage of pattern replication. It will be argued that typology, in the form of system pressure, interacts with pattern frequency and socio-historical factors, which together determine retention, adaptation, or loss of a replicated pattern.
This argument is illustrated on the basis of three short studies of partial alignment change in Old Aramaic, Classical Armenian, and North-Eastern Neo-Aramaic, all of which have been in contact with Iranian languages for extended periods. In each case, Iranian ergative alignment patterns have been replicated, adapted, grammaticalised to varying degrees, and finally ousted in favour of nominative-accusative alignment. The loss of the replica pattern in each case is shown to be dependent on both typology, extent of bilingualism, and pattern frequency. |
Meyer, Robin: Syntactical Peculiarities of Relative Clauses in the Armenian New Testament. In: Revue des Études Arméniennes, vol. 38, pp. 35–83, 2018. @article{Meyer2018,
title = {Syntactical Peculiarities of Relative Clauses in the Armenian New Testament},
author = {Robin Meyer},
url = {http://rbnmyr.eu/wp-content/uploads/pdf/meyer_2018.pdf, Download},
doi = {10.2143/REA.38.0.3285778},
year = {2018},
date = {2018-01-01},
urldate = {2018-01-01},
journal = {Revue des Études Arméniennes},
volume = {38},
pages = {35--83},
abstract = {This paper endeavours to show that, at least as far as the syntax of relative clauses is concerned, the form of the Armenian language employed in the Bible translation does not fully correspond to that found in non-translated Armenian literature. It will be shown that, as argued by Lafontaine and Coulie (1983), next to Classical and Hellenising Armenian, we must construe a pre-Hellenising layer of the language. This layer, it is argued, is not to be separated from the Yunaban Dproc‘; instead, both form part of a continuum of Greek influence on Armenian. This is evident in the applicability of different case matching restrictions in Biblical texts compared to the works of Agat‘angełos, Eznik, and Ełišē, specifically in free and light-headed relative clauses. The case of the relative pronoun in Greek relative clauses can be determined by the matrix clause in Biblical Armenian, whereas in non-translated literature such structures do generally not occur. It will further be argued that cases of Armenian ‘relative attraction’ present almost exclusively in free relative clauses; taking as its basis patterns put forward by Grosu (1994) and Keenan and Comrie (1977), these cases of attraction, together with evidence from Greek, will be taken as indication for the existence of what may be called Discourse Accessibility Hierarchy.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
This paper endeavours to show that, at least as far as the syntax of relative clauses is concerned, the form of the Armenian language employed in the Bible translation does not fully correspond to that found in non-translated Armenian literature. It will be shown that, as argued by Lafontaine and Coulie (1983), next to Classical and Hellenising Armenian, we must construe a pre-Hellenising layer of the language. This layer, it is argued, is not to be separated from the Yunaban Dproc‘; instead, both form part of a continuum of Greek influence on Armenian. This is evident in the applicability of different case matching restrictions in Biblical texts compared to the works of Agat‘angełos, Eznik, and Ełišē, specifically in free and light-headed relative clauses. The case of the relative pronoun in Greek relative clauses can be determined by the matrix clause in Biblical Armenian, whereas in non-translated literature such structures do generally not occur. It will further be argued that cases of Armenian ‘relative attraction’ present almost exclusively in free relative clauses; taking as its basis patterns put forward by Grosu (1994) and Keenan and Comrie (1977), these cases of attraction, together with evidence from Greek, will be taken as indication for the existence of what may be called Discourse Accessibility Hierarchy. |
Meyer, Robin: Morphosyntactic Alignment and the Classical Armenian Periphrastic Perfect. In: Jamison, Stephanie W.; Melchert, Craig H.; Vine, Brent (Ed.): Proceedings of the 26th Annual UCLA Indo-European Conference : Los Angeles, October 24th and 25th, 2014, pp. 117–133, Hempen, Bremen, 2016. @incollection{Meyer2016,
title = {Morphosyntactic Alignment and the Classical Armenian Periphrastic Perfect},
author = {Robin Meyer},
editor = {Stephanie W. Jamison and Craig H. Melchert and Brent Vine},
url = {https://rbnmyr.eu/wp-content/uploads/pdf/meyer_ucla_2016.pdf},
year = {2016},
date = {2016-01-01},
urldate = {2016-01-01},
booktitle = {Proceedings of the 26th Annual UCLA Indo-European Conference : Los Angeles, October 24th and 25th, 2014},
pages = {117--133},
publisher = {Hempen},
address = {Bremen},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {incollection}
}
|
Meyer, Robin: Remodelling the Historical Morphology of the Classical Armenian -eal participle. In: Banber Matenadarani, vol. 21, pp. 385–398, 2014. @article{meyer2014a,
title = {Remodelling the Historical Morphology of the Classical Armenian -eal participle},
author = {Robin Meyer},
url = {https://rbnmyr.eu/wp-content/uploads/pdf/meyer_banber_2014.pdf},
year = {2014},
date = {2014-01-01},
urldate = {2014-01-01},
journal = {Banber Matenadarani},
volume = {21},
pages = {385--398},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
|
Meyer, Robin: Armeno-Iranian Structural Interaction: The Case of Parthian wxd, Armenian ink‘n. In: Iran and the Caucasus, vol. 17, no. 4, pp. 401-425, 2013. @article{Meyer2013b,
title = {Armeno-Iranian Structural Interaction: The Case of Parthian wxd, Armenian ink‘n},
author = {Robin Meyer},
doi = {10.1163/1573384X-20130406},
year = {2013},
date = {2013-01-01},
urldate = {2013-01-01},
journal = {Iran and the Caucasus},
volume = {17},
number = {4},
pages = {401-425},
publisher = {Brill},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
|
Meyer, Robin: Language-based dating in Classical Armenian: the case of Vrt‘anēs K‘ert‘oł. In: van Lint, Theo Maarten; Elsner, Jaś; Mathews, Thomas F.; Maranci, Christina (Ed.): Vrtʽanēs Kʽertoł's Treatise 'Concerning Iconoclasm', Brill, Leiden, Forthcoming. @incollection{Meyerforthe,
title = {Language-based dating in Classical Armenian: the case of Vrt‘anēs K‘ert‘oł},
author = {Robin Meyer},
editor = {Theo Maarten van Lint and Jaś Elsner and Thomas F. Mathews and Christina Maranci},
booktitle = {Vrtʽanēs Kʽertoł's Treatise 'Concerning Iconoclasm'},
publisher = {Brill},
address = {Leiden},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {forthcoming},
tppubtype = {incollection}
}
|
Meyer, Robin: Languages in Contact: Armenian and Iranian. In: Orengo, Alessandro; Tinti, Irene (Ed.): Armenian Linguistics, vol. 23/2, Brill, Leiden, Forthcoming. @incollection{meyerfortha,
title = {Languages in Contact: Armenian and Iranian},
author = {Robin Meyer},
editor = {Alessandro Orengo and Irene Tinti},
booktitle = {Armenian Linguistics},
volume = {23/2},
publisher = {Brill},
address = {Leiden},
series = {Handbuch der Orientalistik},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {forthcoming},
tppubtype = {incollection}
}
|
Meyer, Robin: Translation and transmission in the Armenian New Testament: a note on Luke 3:23. In: Indogermanische Forschungen, Forthcoming. @article{MeyerIF,
title = {Translation and transmission in the Armenian New Testament: a note on Luke 3:23},
author = {Robin Meyer},
journal = {Indogermanische Forschungen},
abstract = {The Armenian translation of the Greek New Testament usually follows the original quite closely whilst still employing various translation strategies for dealing with one and the same type of construction. In one passage, Lk. 3:23, none of the common translation strategies are employed: a participle in the nominative singular (Gk. ὤν ṓn) is translated as a relative pronoun in the genitive plural (Arm. oroc‘).
Using corpus-linguistic methods and comparative data, this paper demonstrates that this kind of translation has no parallel in the New Testament corpus. The origin of this peculiar translation unequivocally lies in a translation error, as previously hypothesised, the result of confounding two members of a minimal pair in Greek: the participle (Gk. ὤν ṓn) and the genitive plural relative pronoun (Gk. ὧν hõn).},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {forthcoming},
tppubtype = {article}
}
The Armenian translation of the Greek New Testament usually follows the original quite closely whilst still employing various translation strategies for dealing with one and the same type of construction. In one passage, Lk. 3:23, none of the common translation strategies are employed: a participle in the nominative singular (Gk. ὤν ṓn) is translated as a relative pronoun in the genitive plural (Arm. oroc‘).
Using corpus-linguistic methods and comparative data, this paper demonstrates that this kind of translation has no parallel in the New Testament corpus. The origin of this peculiar translation unequivocally lies in a translation error, as previously hypothesised, the result of confounding two members of a minimal pair in Greek: the participle (Gk. ὤν ṓn) and the genitive plural relative pronoun (Gk. ὧν hõn). |
