Hrachia Acharian
Encyclopedia
Hrachia Hakobi Acharian (Hrachya Ajarian, TAO
: Հրաչեայ Աճառեան, RAO: Հրաչյա Աճառյան, March 8, 1876, Constantinople
- April 16, 1953, Yerevan
, Soviet Armenia) was a prominent Armenia
n linguist, etymologist and philologist, Professor, Academic of Armenian Academy of Sciences
, a member of French Linguistic Association and Czechoslovakia
n Institute of Oriental studies.
He studied at Sorbonne
with Antoine Meillet
and Strasbourg Universities. Acharian worked as a teacher in Ejmiatsin Gevorkian seminary
, Shushi and Tehran
. A survivor
of Armenian Genocide
, he came to Yerevan
in 1923, where he taught foreign languages, comparative grammar, and the history of the Armenian language at the Yerevan State University
, headed a cafedra. He is an author of more than 200 scientific researches on Armenology
, Armenian language
and Oriental Languages
.
The Armenian State Institute of Linguistics is named after him.
, Ottoman Empire
. His father was a shoemaker.
However, this did not prevent him from becoming a renowned scholar and author of dozens of multi-volume studies.
, French
and Turkish
, and for two years walked the entire school course. Then, at 9 years Hrachia Acharian entered in Sahakian School and for four years with glitter graduated with honors.
After the Sahakian School Acharian started in Kedronakan School, followed by years of study in the Sorbonne
and the University of Strasbourg
, where he studied modern languages and also became known for his exceptional research in the field of Armenology
.
, nor the years of wandering, were able to separate Hrachia and Arusyak. Together with 600 Armenians, they miraculously survived the Massacre of Shemakha
, with Arusyak moving to Tabriz
. Also in 1923 have already outstanding educator and scientist, received an invitation from the authorities Soviet Armenia and his wife reside in Yerevan
, where he was to teach at the Yerevan State University
. In the next 30 years Yerevan State University
was for a great scientist, as his home.
Survived one of his letters, written in 1924 from one of the Persian relatives of his wife, in which Acharian wrote that happy with his life. And in 1925, in a letter to the same person, Hrachia Acharian reports the death of his wife, his Arusyak.
After the death of his wife Acharian has changed dramatically, and this is worrying his friends. They advised him to marry, but the 60-year-old Acharian at first did not want to even hear about it. However, after some time he married one of her students – Sophiko which played an important role in the fate Acharian together enduring the blows of fate.
, many prominent intellectuals across the country who were declared as "nationalists", "enemies of the nation", "spies" were arrested, shot and exiled. Hrachia Acharian also was not missed. The decision to arrest Hrachia Acharian was made a junior lieutenant in KGB
in 18 September 1937 as well. In 29 September 1937 he was arrested. Professor accused of that he is English resident in Soviet Azerbaijan
, and besides, if a member was operating at the University of counter-revolutionary group of professors. Academic three times were taken for interrogation and beaten, while assuring him that if he admitted his "guilt" and sign a trumped-up case, then a few days has been released. Driven to despair, broken by torture, a scientist under the dictation of the investigator wrote a statement addressed to the head of NKVD
, which recognizes all of what he was accused. His typewriter and manuscripts were confiscated, and the doors of rooms in the apartment sealed. Hrachia Acharian, Sophiko and housekeeper Palina was allowed to remain in the kitchen. Subject to seizure Acharian manuscript remained in the living room. Mrs. Sophiko and Pauline thought about how to save these priceless works of Acharian. They decided to take a tiny window of the kitchen to the living room. Wife Acharian, Sophiko somehow squeezed into it and made a part of the materials. However, they had to be safely hidden, and this helped her brother, her mother - he folded his precious manuscripts in an iron box and buried under a tree in the garden Nor Butaniya
. For two years (1937–1939) is not watered this tree - to suddenly spoiled papers
About how the investigator Kirakosov managed to "snatch" from Acharian this testimony, later told cellmates Rooks. When one of the interrogator said, Acharian that he is German, French, English, Japanese and Turkish spy, then he replied:
For these words struck an investigator of the weak and the helpless old man in the face. Acharian back him in the face and disdainfully added:
During the subsequent interrogation, the investigator, having failed to wrest from Acharian confession, put out a burning cigarette on his forehead professor
as well. Then, brutally beat an old man so that he could not walk up to the camera, and had to pull guards. It was after this totally exhausted and had lost hope scientist incriminated himself, "confessing" that in August and September, 1915 served as a revolutionary power Baku
as an agent of the Intelligence Service, as well as the fact that during the interviews at the university allowed himself nationalist and Anglophile expression. However, despite the promises,even after the "voluntary recognition"case Acharyan has not been looked after a few days and a half years. The court sentenced him to six years imprisonment. Deceived by Acharyan and could only say:
-and wept.
Because of some combination of circumstances, Hrachya Acharyan held in prison for the whole 2 year, and 19 December 1939 and he was released "for lack of corpus delicti". He regained the position and rights. He returned to the university.
According to the stories daughter Acharyan, Knarik, her father was a deeply religious man. It is known that he prayed four times a day, and not to forget that this is a prayer in a row, after each knot is one of the corners of a handkerchief.
These were the last moments of life of the great scientist. That day he bought his wife and daughter tickets to the opera Almast. Seeing them in the theater, kissed them and pressed to his chest. Returning home, they found him sprawled in his chair: his eyes were closed, his left hand under his head, and the right - a handkerchief tied with three knots. He finished reading the last prayer ...
Traditional Armenian orthography
Traditional Armenian orthography is the orthography developed during the early 19th century for the two modern dialects of the Armenian language - Eastern Armenian and Western Armenian...
: Հրաչեայ Աճառեան, RAO: Հրաչյա Աճառյան, March 8, 1876, Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
- April 16, 1953, Yerevan
Yerevan
Yerevan is the capital and largest city of Armenia and one of the world's oldest continuously-inhabited cities. Situated along the Hrazdan River, Yerevan is the administrative, cultural, and industrial center of the country...
, Soviet Armenia) was a prominent Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
n linguist, etymologist and philologist, Professor, Academic of Armenian Academy of Sciences
Armenian Academy of Sciences
The Armenian Academy of Sciences is the primary body that conducts research in and coordinates activities in the fields of science and social sciences in the Republic of Armenia. It was founded on November 29, 1943...
, a member of French Linguistic Association and Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
n Institute of Oriental studies.
He studied at Sorbonne
University of Paris
The University of Paris was a university located in Paris, France and one of the earliest to be established in Europe. It was founded in the mid 12th century, and officially recognized as a university probably between 1160 and 1250...
with Antoine Meillet
Antoine Meillet
Paul Jules Antoine Meillet was one of the most important French linguists of the early 20th century. Meillet began his studies at the Sorbonne, where he was influenced by Michel Bréal, Ferdinand de Saussure, and the members of the Année Sociologique. In 1890 he was part of a research trip to the...
and Strasbourg Universities. Acharian worked as a teacher in Ejmiatsin Gevorkian seminary
Gevorkian Theological Seminary
Gevorkian Theological Seminary is a theological school-college of the Armenian Apostolic Church founded by Catholicos Gevork IV in 1874. It is located in the city of Vagharshapat within the complex of the Mother See of Holy Echmiadzin, Republic of Armenia.-History:During the tenure of Catholicos...
, Shushi and Tehran
Tehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
. A survivor
Armenian Genocide survivors
The Armenian Genocide survivors are the Western Armenians who were not killed in the Genocide of 1915. The total number of Armenians who survived the Genocide is 880,000. Most of the Genocide survivors became refugees and migrated to other countires...
of Armenian Genocide
Armenian Genocide
The Armenian Genocide—also known as the Armenian Holocaust, the Armenian Massacres and, by Armenians, as the Great Crime—refers to the deliberate and systematic destruction of the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire during and just after World War I...
, he came to Yerevan
Yerevan
Yerevan is the capital and largest city of Armenia and one of the world's oldest continuously-inhabited cities. Situated along the Hrazdan River, Yerevan is the administrative, cultural, and industrial center of the country...
in 1923, where he taught foreign languages, comparative grammar, and the history of the Armenian language at the Yerevan State University
Yerevan State University
Yerevan State University is a university in Yerevan, Armenia. Founded on May 16 1919, it is the largest university in the country with 110 departments. Of its 3,150 employees, 1,190 comprise the teaching staff which includes 25 academicians, 130 professors, 700 docents , and 360 assistant lecturers...
, headed a cafedra. He is an author of more than 200 scientific researches on Armenology
Armenian studies
Armenian studies, or Armenology is a field of humanities covering Armenian history, language, religion and culture.- Early scholars :*Lord Byron *Ghevond Alishan *Mikayel Chamchian...
, Armenian language
Armenian language
The Armenian language is an Indo-European language spoken by the Armenian people. It is the official language of the Republic of Armenia as well as in the region of Nagorno-Karabakh. The language is also widely spoken by Armenian communities in the Armenian diaspora...
and Oriental Languages
Languages of Asia
There is a wide variety of languages spoken throughout Asia, comprising a number of families and some unrelated isolates. Many languages have a long tradition of writing.-Central and North Asian languages:*Turkic**Azeri**Kazak**Kyrgyz**Tatar**Turkish...
.
The Armenian State Institute of Linguistics is named after him.
Biography
Acharian was born on March 8, 1876, in Samatia district of ConstantinopleConstantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
, Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
. His father was a shoemaker.
Accident
When Acharian was not yet one year, he met with an accident. In a bright sunny day, his mother took him and went with him to the park. The boy stared at the sun, and then suddenly burst into tears. The mother immediately took him home, packed, but the baby cried all night, and next morning could not open his eyes. Doctors have made great efforts, but the left eye Hrachia for life and remained blind. In his memoirs, the scientist then writes:However, this did not prevent him from becoming a renowned scholar and author of dozens of multi-volume studies.
Education
Little Hrachia was not yet seven years old when his father gave him in Aramian School, where he revealed his linguistic ability: the boy studied ArmenianArmenian language
The Armenian language is an Indo-European language spoken by the Armenian people. It is the official language of the Republic of Armenia as well as in the region of Nagorno-Karabakh. The language is also widely spoken by Armenian communities in the Armenian diaspora...
, French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
and Turkish
Turkish language
Turkish is a language spoken as a native language by over 83 million people worldwide, making it the most commonly spoken of the Turkic languages. Its speakers are located predominantly in Turkey and Northern Cyprus with smaller groups in Iraq, Greece, Bulgaria, the Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo,...
, and for two years walked the entire school course. Then, at 9 years Hrachia Acharian entered in Sahakian School and for four years with glitter graduated with honors.
After the Sahakian School Acharian started in Kedronakan School, followed by years of study in the Sorbonne
Sorbonne
The Sorbonne is an edifice of the Latin Quarter, in Paris, France, which has been the historical house of the former University of Paris...
and the University of Strasbourg
University of Strasbourg
The University of Strasbourg in Strasbourg, Alsace, France, is the largest university in France, with about 43,000 students and over 4,000 researchers....
, where he studied modern languages and also became known for his exceptional research in the field of Armenology
Armenian studies
Armenian studies, or Armenology is a field of humanities covering Armenian history, language, religion and culture.- Early scholars :*Lord Byron *Ghevond Alishan *Mikayel Chamchian...
.
Career and love
After many years of education, Hrachia Acharian worked as a teacher in Ejmiatsin, and later in Shushi, where he met his future love – the beautiful Arusyak. They loved each other sincerely. Neither the First World War, nor the Armenian GenocideArmenian Genocide
The Armenian Genocide—also known as the Armenian Holocaust, the Armenian Massacres and, by Armenians, as the Great Crime—refers to the deliberate and systematic destruction of the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire during and just after World War I...
, nor the years of wandering, were able to separate Hrachia and Arusyak. Together with 600 Armenians, they miraculously survived the Massacre of Shemakha
Samaxi
Şamaxı is a city in and the capital of the Shamakhi Rayon of Azerbaijan. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence. The city's estimated population as of 2010 was 31,704...
, with Arusyak moving to Tabriz
Tabriz
Tabriz is the fourth largest city and one of the historical capitals of Iran and the capital of East Azerbaijan Province. Situated at an altitude of 1,350 meters at the junction of the Quri River and Aji River, it was the second largest city in Iran until the late 1960s, one of its former...
. Also in 1923 have already outstanding educator and scientist, received an invitation from the authorities Soviet Armenia and his wife reside in Yerevan
Yerevan
Yerevan is the capital and largest city of Armenia and one of the world's oldest continuously-inhabited cities. Situated along the Hrazdan River, Yerevan is the administrative, cultural, and industrial center of the country...
, where he was to teach at the Yerevan State University
Yerevan State University
Yerevan State University is a university in Yerevan, Armenia. Founded on May 16 1919, it is the largest university in the country with 110 departments. Of its 3,150 employees, 1,190 comprise the teaching staff which includes 25 academicians, 130 professors, 700 docents , and 360 assistant lecturers...
. In the next 30 years Yerevan State University
Yerevan State University
Yerevan State University is a university in Yerevan, Armenia. Founded on May 16 1919, it is the largest university in the country with 110 departments. Of its 3,150 employees, 1,190 comprise the teaching staff which includes 25 academicians, 130 professors, 700 docents , and 360 assistant lecturers...
was for a great scientist, as his home.
Survived one of his letters, written in 1924 from one of the Persian relatives of his wife, in which Acharian wrote that happy with his life. And in 1925, in a letter to the same person, Hrachia Acharian reports the death of his wife, his Arusyak.
After the death of his wife Acharian has changed dramatically, and this is worrying his friends. They advised him to marry, but the 60-year-old Acharian at first did not want to even hear about it. However, after some time he married one of her students – Sophiko which played an important role in the fate Acharian together enduring the blows of fate.
Arrest
In 1937, during the Great PurgeGreat Purge
The Great Purge was a series of campaigns of political repression and persecution in the Soviet Union orchestrated by Joseph Stalin from 1936 to 1938...
, many prominent intellectuals across the country who were declared as "nationalists", "enemies of the nation", "spies" were arrested, shot and exiled. Hrachia Acharian also was not missed. The decision to arrest Hrachia Acharian was made a junior lieutenant in KGB
KGB
The KGB was the commonly used acronym for the . It was the national security agency of the Soviet Union from 1954 until 1991, and was the premier internal security, intelligence, and secret police organization during that time.The State Security Agency of the Republic of Belarus currently uses the...
in 18 September 1937 as well. In 29 September 1937 he was arrested. Professor accused of that he is English resident in Soviet Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan SSR
The Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic , also known as the Azerbaijan SSR for short, was one of the republics that made up the former Soviet Union....
, and besides, if a member was operating at the University of counter-revolutionary group of professors. Academic three times were taken for interrogation and beaten, while assuring him that if he admitted his "guilt" and sign a trumped-up case, then a few days has been released. Driven to despair, broken by torture, a scientist under the dictation of the investigator wrote a statement addressed to the head of NKVD
NKVD
The People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs was the public and secret police organization of the Soviet Union that directly executed the rule of power of the Soviets, including political repression, during the era of Joseph Stalin....
, which recognizes all of what he was accused. His typewriter and manuscripts were confiscated, and the doors of rooms in the apartment sealed. Hrachia Acharian, Sophiko and housekeeper Palina was allowed to remain in the kitchen. Subject to seizure Acharian manuscript remained in the living room. Mrs. Sophiko and Pauline thought about how to save these priceless works of Acharian. They decided to take a tiny window of the kitchen to the living room. Wife Acharian, Sophiko somehow squeezed into it and made a part of the materials. However, they had to be safely hidden, and this helped her brother, her mother - he folded his precious manuscripts in an iron box and buried under a tree in the garden Nor Butaniya
Nor Butaniya
Nor Butaniya is a town in the Yerevan Province of Armenia....
. For two years (1937–1939) is not watered this tree - to suddenly spoiled papers
About how the investigator Kirakosov managed to "snatch" from Acharian this testimony, later told cellmates Rooks. When one of the interrogator said, Acharian that he is German, French, English, Japanese and Turkish spy, then he replied:
For these words struck an investigator of the weak and the helpless old man in the face. Acharian back him in the face and disdainfully added:
During the subsequent interrogation, the investigator, having failed to wrest from Acharian confession, put out a burning cigarette on his forehead professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
as well. Then, brutally beat an old man so that he could not walk up to the camera, and had to pull guards. It was after this totally exhausted and had lost hope scientist incriminated himself, "confessing" that in August and September, 1915 served as a revolutionary power Baku
Baku
Baku , sometimes spelled as Baki or Bakou, is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and of the Caucasus region. It is located on the southern shore of the Absheron Peninsula, which projects into the Caspian Sea. The city consists of two principal...
as an agent of the Intelligence Service, as well as the fact that during the interviews at the university allowed himself nationalist and Anglophile expression. However, despite the promises,even after the "voluntary recognition"case Acharyan has not been looked after a few days and a half years. The court sentenced him to six years imprisonment. Deceived by Acharyan and could only say:
-and wept.
Because of some combination of circumstances, Hrachya Acharyan held in prison for the whole 2 year, and 19 December 1939 and he was released "for lack of corpus delicti". He regained the position and rights. He returned to the university.
According to the stories daughter Acharyan, Knarik, her father was a deeply religious man. It is known that he prayed four times a day, and not to forget that this is a prayer in a row, after each knot is one of the corners of a handkerchief.
Death
In 1950s was the most calm surviving suffering scientist. Until his death (16 April 1953) Acharyan taught at the university. 16 April, as usual, Acharyan came to the lecture, held a training session for the Persian language, went home, shaved, ate dinner with gusto and satisfaction, told his wife:These were the last moments of life of the great scientist. That day he bought his wife and daughter tickets to the opera Almast. Seeing them in the theater, kissed them and pressed to his chest. Returning home, they found him sprawled in his chair: his eyes were closed, his left hand under his head, and the right - a handkerchief tied with three knots. He finished reading the last prayer ...
Works
- Homshetsi dialect, 1907
- Classification des dialects arméniens (Classification of Armenian dialects). 1909, H. Champion, Paris
- Հայոց անձնանունների բառարան (Hayots andznanunneri baṛaran / Dictionary of the Armenian First Names), Yerevan, Vol. 1-5, 1942-1962.
- Armenian Root Dictionary, Vol. 1-7, 1926-1935 (the one and only Armenian etymological dictionary to this date)
- Common Gramatics of Armenian Language in Comparison of 562 languages. Vol. 1-6, 1952-1971.
- The Provincial dictionary, 1913
- Տաճկահայոց հարցի պատմությունը, The History of Turkish Armenians (from the starting to 1915), 1915, Nor Nakhichevan
- Nor-NakhijevanNor NakhichevanNakhichevan-on-Don , also known as Nor Nakhichevan is an Armenian-populated region in the city of Rostov-on-Don, Russia. In 1778, Catherine the Great invited Armenian merchants from the Crimea to Russia...
dialect, 1925 - MaraghaMaraghehMaragheh also Romanized as Marāgheh and Marāghen) is a city in and the capital of Maragheh County, East Azerbaijan Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 146,405, in 38,891 families....
dialect, 1926 - Agulis dialect, 1936
- Dialect of ConstantinopleConstantinopleConstantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
, 1940 - Armenian lexicology, 1941
Sources
- Concise Armenian Encyclopedia, Ed. by acad. K. Khudaverdyan, YerevanYerevanYerevan is the capital and largest city of Armenia and one of the world's oldest continuously-inhabited cities. Situated along the Hrazdan River, Yerevan is the administrative, cultural, and industrial center of the country...
, 1990, Vol. 1, p. 145-146.