Language Therapy with Dr. K

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.

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.

Dr. K interviews filmmaker Michael Goorjian about his film 'Américazzi', discussing its mission of inclusiveness and uniting Armenians. They explore language dynamics, emotional connections to film, tensions in Armenia, conveying emotions during lockdown, navigating absurdity in film, choosing the right title, and reflections on experiences and challenges in creating.

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.

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.

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 armenian.usc.edu

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 armenian.usc.edu.

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 armenian.usc.edu.

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 armenian.usc.edu.

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 armenian.usc.edu.