Language Therapy with Dr. K

Language Therapy with Dr. K explores language in the Armenian context. Discover the quirky nuances, fun, and frustrations of language, as Dr. Shushan Karapetian delves into conversations about immigration, diaspora, shame, bilingualism, culture, heritage, and so much more. A USC Dornsife Institute of Armenian Studies podcast.

Medz Yeghern: The Politics of Naming the Armenian Genocide 04/26/2024

Medz Yeghern: The Politics of Naming the Armenian Genocide How does our choice of language shape our understanding of history? What power do words hold in defining our past and current events? Join Dr. K and Dr. Vartan Matiossian, author of The Politics of Naming the Armenian Genocide, as they delve into the geneology, etymology, and chronology of Medz Yeghern - the Armenian term for the mass murder and ethnic cleansing of the Armenian ethno-religious group in the Ottoman Empire between the years 1915-1923. They discuss how the politics of naming the Armenian genocide have been navigated in academic, political, and social spheres, particularly as Armenians struggled for international recognition in the face of Turkish denial. They unpack the use, misuse, and abuse of Medz Yeghern as a reflection on the weight of language choice in shaping historical narratives and collective memory. /episode/index/show/languagetherapywithdrk/id/30995388

Polyglot Passports: Navigating Little Armenias 03/20/2024

Polyglot Passports: Navigating Little Armenias What experiences and motivations inspire someone to learn multiple languages? How do polyglots use language to connect with various cultures? How can the Armenian language serve as a gateway to explore vibrant Armenian communities across the globe? Join Dr. K and Rouben Koulaksezian, author of “Little Armenias: The Travel Guide of the Armenian Diaspora,” as they embark on a linguistic journey. Together, they delve into the intricacies of language acquisition, drawing from the experiences of a seasoned polyglot who is already on his tenth language. They discuss how travel and language intersect, intertwining heritage, identity, and the shared narratives of dispersed communities. They explore the nuances of learning both Eastern and Western Armenian, along with multiple other languages, and uncover the transformative power of language when approached through a diasporic lens. /episode/index/show/languagetherapywithdrk/id/30452163

It takes a village to raise a language: The Case of Western Armenian 01/29/2024

It takes a village to raise a language: The Case of Western Armenian How did a historian and political scientist become the force behind the largest institutional revitalization of Western Armenian in our time? What does it mean for a language to be endangered? How can a grant making institution foster the environments and resources to promote a diasporic language? Join Dr. K and Dr. Razmik Panossian, director of the Department of Armenian Communities for the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, as they explore the role of institutional vision and support as a means of cultivating contemporary cultural production and creating meaningful opportunities for Western Armenian to be utilized today. /episode/index/show/languagetherapywithdrk/id/29689153

Planet Word: The Vision(ary) Behind a Language Museum 01/11/2024

Planet Word: The Vision(ary) Behind a Language Museum What does a museum dedicated to words and language look like? What does it feel like in terms of experience? How can a museum bring “language to life” and convey its power, joy, and beauty? Join Dr. K and Ann Friedman, founder and CEO of Planet Word, a first-of-its-kind interactive museum in Washington DC devoted to exploring and celebrating language in all its facets. Together, they delve into Ann's background in education, the inception of Planet Word, its dynamic evolution, and her aspirations for those who visit. /episode/index/show/languagetherapywithdrk/id/29438478

Translation: The Anatomy of Language 12/15/2023

Translation: The Anatomy of Language What is the nature of translation? Does it hinge on precision or is it inherently a creative process? Is it possible to live in a perpetual state of translation, both personally and professionally? And are some things simply untranslatable? Join Dr. K and Karén Karslyan - award winning poet, artist, and translator, as they discuss the cultural, social, philosophical, and linguistic underpinnings behind all kinds of translations. In response to Karen’s self-characterization as a medical examiner of language, they explore the multifaceted language dynamics and policies in Karen’s personal life, the drama behind his role as a medical interpreter, the nuances of translating his own literary works, and so much more. /episode/index/show/languagetherapywithdrk/id/29094303

Broadcasting Across Boundaries 10/12/2023

Broadcasting Across Boundaries What’s in a name? What is the impact of standing firmly alongside one’s Armenian heritage? And in a profession where speech is essential, what is the motivation behind using one’s personal voice for the benefit of the Armenian community? Join Dr. K and Araksya Karapetyan, Emmy Award winning television personality and anchor woman for KTTV Fox11’s Good Day L.A., as they discuss everything from unapologetic Armenianness in the workplace, language insecurities and anxieties, assimilation, all the way to their perspectives as mothers teaching Armenian as a heritage language. Listen in to discover another side to a public figure who has become a household name in Los Angeles. /episode/index/show/languagetherapywithdrk/id/28298120

Amerikatsi: The Language of Film 09/01/2023

Amerikatsi: The Language of Film What is (an) Amerikatsi? How can a film endeavor to capture the Armenian spirit? And why are inclusivity and accessibility in the arts not only relevant, but necessary, in this day and age? Join Dr. K and Emmy Award winner Michael Goorjian - writer, director, and lead actor of the film Amerikatsi, as they discuss the inspiration and purpose behind the story, the ways in which it intersects with Goorjian’s personal life experiences, and the journey to rediscovering cultural heritage. Through their discussion about the film, they unpack questions about language dynamics, notions of home and homeland, hope within Armenian media, and the importance of uplifting Armenian stories. /episode/index/show/languagetherapywithdrk/id/27920433

Speak Beautifully: Language Dynamics in Armenia from an Anthropological Lens 07/06/2023

Speak Beautifully: Language Dynamics in Armenia from an Anthropological Lens Why is language ever changing? How do these shifts influence cultural dynamics and attitudes? And how have these phenomena manifested within the Armenian context? Join Dr. K and Lilit Ghazaryan, PhD Candidate in Linguistic Anthropology at UCLA, as they discuss everything from language purity, code mixing and switching in the diaspora, to language dynamics in classrooms in Armenia. By focusing on the language of children, the group most affected by current sociolinguistic changes, they follow the present-day trends and patterns of its most youthful speakers. /episode/index/show/languagetherapywithdrk/id/27391437

Language and Freedom: Outside the Binary 05/01/2023

Language and Freedom: Outside the Binary What does it mean to write with spelling freedoms? How do language purity and language anxiety hinder literary innovation? And how do unconventional ways of thinking and being encourage creativity within the Armenian language? Join Dr. K and Hrayr Varaz Khanjian, MIT trained linguist and author of #Ճիվճիվ, a bilingual collection of twitter poems, as they discuss the influences of his queerness on both the inventive format of his work and his views on language’s malleability. They explore and consider the capabilities of Armenian as a language of freedom that invites playful engagement with all its expressions and the modern world. /episode/index/show/languagetherapywithdrk/id/26701215

The Toll of the Pandemic on Armenian Mother Guilt 04/17/2023

The Toll of the Pandemic on Armenian Mother Guilt What is Armenian mother guilt in the diaspora? How can a pandemic impact language dynamics in the home? Why is it that our professional expertise, competence, and training often disappear when it comes to things Armenian, our families, and our own children? Join Dr. K and Dr. Lori Mesrobian, USC professor of Spanish, as they discuss the extra complications of transmitting Armenian during the pandemic, the intense grief, disappointment, and shame associated with fears of loss, and the need for local and global language resources. For more: visit /episode/index/show/languagetherapywithdrk/id/26570979

From Bazar to Belote: Language as Means to Play 04/17/2023

From Bazar to Belote: Language as Means to Play Are you up for a game of Belote? How did a French trick-taking card game gain such ubiquitous popularity both in Armenia and the diaspora? What is the special Armenian twist (hint: the bazar element) with its own language dynamics and social hierarchy? Though full of French, Turkish, and Russian words, why is it perceived as such an Armenian domain by players? Join Dr. K with research assistant and USC student Sarkis Tricha as they explore the roots and origins of Belote, the various game-specific terms used by speakers of Eastern and Western Armenian, the social dynamics and implications of the game, and the importance of using language as a means to play! For more, visit . /episode/index/show/languagetherapywithdrk/id/26570793

Armenian(s) in Russia: A Case of Linguistic Plastic Surgery 04/17/2023

Armenian(s) in Russia: A Case of Linguistic Plastic Surgery How do immigrants navigate integrating into host societies while still maintaining an orientation toward the homeland? What is the role of language in that process? What if they live in a society with a colonial/imperial legacy? Dr. K is joined by UCLA PhD candidate Anatolii Tokmantcev as they discuss the formation of Armenian communities in Russia, how Armenians are conceptualized in the Russian imagination, the factors that contribute to the quick loss of the Armenian language, and so much more. Join them for a fascinating discussion on the salience of language in particular sociolinguistic contexts. For more, visit . /episode/index/show/languagetherapywithdrk/id/26570688

Failures of Language & Curious Hybrids 04/17/2023

Failures of Language & Curious Hybrids How do colonial and diasporic histories impact language dynamics? How do these forces manifest themselves in the case of curious hybrids or third-culture kids, the characterization author Nadia Owusu uses to encapsulate her Ghanian and Armenian-American heritage, through the lens of a child growing up in various international communities? Join Dr. K and Nadia Owusu as they discuss Aftershocks, Owusu’s powerful memoir, and use it as a springboard for topics such as colonialism, inherited languages, code-switching, accents, ownership, writing, and performing belonging. For more, visit . /episode/index/show/languagetherapywithdrk/id/26570469

¡Ask a Mexican! 04/17/2023

¡Ask a Mexican! What happens when an alternative weekly in Orange County starts a column called ¡Ask a Mexican!, in which journalist Gustavo Arellano responds to reader questions about Mexican-American stereotypes in a satirical, wonderfully witty and informative manner? And he uses Spanish and Spanglish in almost every response? And it becomes so successful that it turns into a book? Join Dr. K and trailblazing LA Times columnist and author Gustavo Arellano as they use his work to talk about journalistic tropes and conventions, immigrant stereotypes and experiences, and of course, issues of language. For more, visit . /episode/index/show/languagetherapywithdrk/id/26569107

Systems of Language 04/17/2023

Systems of Language How can the cultural influences and language dynamics of an immigrant household make its way to heavy metal and some of the most transformational music of its time? Going from an Armenian private school to sold out arenas around the world, Shavo Odadjian of System of a Down talks to Dr. K about how growing up speaking both standards of Armenian sparked a mindset of adaptability and perseverance throughout his life and career. For more, visit . /episode/index/show/languagetherapywithdrk/id/26568882

Language(s) in Therapy 04/17/2023

Language(s) in Therapy How can a psychologist use language as a tool for healing, and as a method of traveling to times and locations often buried and distant in the past? If both therapist and patient are bilingual, how are language dynamics negotiated and experienced during therapy? In this episode, Dr. K sits down with clinical psychologist Mariam Vanounts to discuss the role of language(s) and non-verbal communication in various forms of therapy. For more, visit . /episode/index/show/languagetherapywithdrk/id/26568813

CHEERIOS 04/17/2023

CHEERIOS While Cheerios are commonly known as a popular breakfast food, the term has taken on a life of its own in the Armenian American context, referring to a specific way a person speaks or behaves. In this episode, Dr. K talks to a number of young Armenian Americans and immigrants from Armenia to uncover this phenomenon and determine who exactly is a Cheerios and how that label is used. For more, visit . /episode/index/show/languagetherapywithdrk/id/26568606

The Language of Priesthood in the Armenian Apostolic Church 04/17/2023

The Language of Priesthood in the Armenian Apostolic Church What does it take to become a priest in the Armenian Apostolic Church and what role does language play in the process? In this episode, Dr. K is joined by the Parish Priest of St. John Armenian Apostolic Church, Father Mesrop Ash, to explore the different roles within the Armenian Church and understand the various procedures and processes behind ordination. For more, visit . /episode/index/show/languagetherapywithdrk/id/26568456

Sounds of Multilingualism: The Case of Western Armenian 04/17/2023

Sounds of Multilingualism: The Case of Western Armenian What kind of influence can a dominant language have on a minority language? In this episode, Dr. K sits with linguist Dr. Niamh Kelly from the American University of Beirut to discuss why knowledge of one language, such as Arabic or English, can influence the sound system of Western Armenian. They also deconstruct different language myths regarding phonetics, accents, and “perfect” speech. For more, visit . /episode/index/show/languagetherapywithdrk/id/26568288

Vernaculars of Armenian Dance 04/17/2023

Vernaculars of Armenian Dance Whether dancing at Armenian celebrations or watching Armenian dance companies perform on stage, it’s evident that the practice of Armenian dance is rich and diverse. In this episode, Dr. K sits with PhD student and dance practitioner Natalie Kamajian to define different types of Armenian dance and discuss what the discourse behind them says about how Armenian identity is performed. For more, visit. /episode/index/show/languagetherapywithdrk/id/26568069

Western Armenian in Armenia 04/17/2023

Western Armenian in Armenia If the official language of the Republic of Armenia is Armenian, but the commonly spoken standard is Eastern Armenian, where does that leave Western Armenian speakers? In this episode, Dr. K is joined by Vahakn Keshishian, co-founder of , a Western Armenian language website, to discuss the changing perceptions of Western Armenian and how promoting the use of the language is a fruitful way to build communities. For more, visit . /episode/index/show/languagetherapywithdrk/id/26567805

Calligraphy and Art in Time of Crisis 04/17/2023

Calligraphy and Art in Time of Crisis In this episode, Dr. K sits with renowned Armenian calligrapher Ruben Malayan, three weeks into the 2020 Artsakh War, to discuss the breadth and impact of his work, as it relates to Armenian culture and society. They also unpack the crucial role of arts and humanities in moments of rupture. For more on Malayan's work, visit and . For more, visit armenian.usc.edu. /episode/index/show/languagetherapywithdrk/id/26567538

Comedy in a Time of War 04/13/2023

Comedy in a Time of War Vulgar vocabulary and cursing in a time of war? Hand-in-hand with an increased interest in learning and teaching Armenian? In this episode, Dr. K is joined by comedian Mary Basmadjian as they discuss her ability to break all kinds of gender and cultural norms, while simultaneously teaching the Armenian language through comedic skits such as "Vartoush Vocabulary." For more, visit. /episode/index/show/languagetherapywithdrk/id/26537898

A Day in the Life of an Interpreter 04/13/2023

A Day in the Life of an Interpreter In this episode of Language Therapy, Dr. K is joined by Khachatur Adumyan, one of Armenia’s most sought-after interpreters, who has interpreted for every Armenian prime minister since independence. They talk about the linguistic, cognitive, and ethical demands of the job, the nuances of interpreting from and into Armenian, and the day-to-day realities of an interpreter, all in the context of the Artsakh war and the pandemic. For more, visit . /episode/index/show/languagetherapywithdrk/id/26537277

Karabakh: What's in a name? 04/13/2023

Karabakh: What's in a name? Karabakh or Artsakh? Where do all the different names for this region come from? In this episode of Language Therapy, Dr. K talks to historian George Bournoutian, an expert on the history of Armenia and the Caucasus, to discuss the historical, political, and linguistic legacies of this region's various place names. For more, visit . /episode/index/show/languagetherapywithdrk/id/26537199

1.5 Generation: All Kinds of Guilt 04/13/2023

1.5 Generation: All Kinds of Guilt Who is a 1.5 generation immigrant? What is the connection between generation and language? What are the challenges of transmitting Armenian as a 1.5 generation parent? And what's with all the guilt and shame? Dr. K is joined by attorney and co-founder of ToTalk Armenian, Armine Bazikyan, as they discuss Armine's family's struggles with language transmission and ToTalk as a possible solution. For more, visit armenian.usc.edu. /episode/index/show/languagetherapywithdrk/id/26537145

Robin the Robot 12/13/2021

Robin the Robot What is the connection between artificial intelligence, psychology, and language? Who/what is the world's first emotionally intelligent hospital robot and what's the connection to Armenia? Dr. K talks to Karen Khachikyan, CEO and co-founder of Expper Technologies, the company behind Robin the Robot, as they discuss Robin's emotional and linguistic capacities in helping children overcome their stress, isolation, and anxiety in a hospital setting. Dr. Shant Shekherdimian and Dr. Mineh Badmagharian also join the conversation. For more, visit . /episode/index/show/languagetherapywithdrk/id/21462545

Speak English: You’re confusing the child! 12/13/2021

Speak English: You’re confusing the child! What kinds of language policies do multilingual families enact when the language or languages in the home are not the same as the dominant language outside the home? What if each parent speaks a different language? What types of reactions and attitudes do families have to deal with when they set specific family strategies for language transmission? Dr. K is joined by Los Angeles Times journalist, Esmeralda Bermudez, in a deep conversation about language, identity, immigration, heritage, and the parenting choices she and her Armenian husband make in their multilingual family. Read Bermudez's piece on raising a multilingual daughter here: . For more, visit . /episode/index/show/languagetherapywithdrk/id/21462479

François Grosjean on Myths and Realities of Bilingualism Pt. 2 12/13/2021

François Grosjean on Myths and Realities of Bilingualism Pt. 2 Dr. K is joined by world-renowned psycholinguist and international authority on bilingualism, François Grosjean, as they debunk some of the most prevalent myths about bilingualism. How can we nurture a happy bilingualism? What are the best family strategies and educational models? What are the advantages and disadvantages of bilingualism? Dr. Grosjean is the author of Bilingual: Life and Reality (Harvard University Press, 2010), among other books, and the very popular Psychology Today blog, “Life as a Bilingual.” For more, visit . /episode/index/show/languagetherapywithdrk/id/21462443

François Grosjean on Myths and Realities of Bilingualism Pt. 1 12/13/2021

François Grosjean on Myths and Realities of Bilingualism Pt. 1 Who is considered a bilingual? What does the day to day reality look like for those who lead their lives in two or more languages? And why are there still so many persistent myths about bilingualism and bilinguals? Dr. K is joined by world-renowned psycholinguist and international authority on bilingualism, François Grosjean, as they demystify bilingualism. He is the author of Bilingual: Life and Reality (Harvard University Press, 2010), among other books, and the very popular Psychology Today blog, "Life as a Bilingual." For more, visit armenian.usc.edu. /episode/index/show/languagetherapywithdrk/id/21462428

Language Therapy with Dr. K

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