How a 1,600-year-old alphabet shaped Armenian identity - BBC
: St. Mesrop Mashtots, with the support of King Vramshapuh and Catholicos Sahak Partev, designed the script to perfectly match the sounds of the Armenian language. The first sentence written was from the Book of Proverbs: "To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding" .
If you are interested in trying the script, here are some common Armenian greetings : : Բարեւ ( Barev ) Good morning : Բարի լույս ( Bari luys ) armenian alphabet
: Armenian is highly phonetic; once the letters are learned, pronunciation is very predictable as each letter generally corresponds to one sound.
: The alphabet is so revered that a dedicated Alphabet Monument exists near Mount Aragats, featuring massive stone sculptures of each letter. Unique Characteristics How a 1,600-year-old alphabet shaped Armenian identity -
: Historically, each letter also held a numerical value , allowing the alphabet to be used for mathematical calculations and recording dates.
: While the alphabet is identical, Eastern and Western Armenian dialects vary in how certain letters are pronounced. Essential Phrases for Beginners If you are interested in trying the script,
: Originally consisting of 36 letters, the modern alphabet now includes 39 letters (31 consonants and 8 vowels) after additions in the 12th century.