Journal of Oriental Studies has been published since 2006. Journal is the successor of the "Problems of Oriental Studies", proceedings of the interuniversity scholarly articles and "Oriental Collection" (2004) published by the Ministry of Higher and Vocational Secondary Education of the Armenian SSR (1983-2004). JOS is an interdisciplinary and interregional academic journal edited by the Faculty of Oriental Studies of YSU.
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FROM MYTH TO SENSORIUM: RECASTING THE MARVEL IN CONTEMPORARY CHINESE NARRATIVE (MO YAN’S 70TH ANNIVERSARY)
The article examines Mo Yan’s poetics within the transnational trajectories of magical realism, marking the author’s 70th anniversary as a key context. It proposes to interpret Chinese “hallucinatory realism” as a localized form of magical realism grounded in corporeality and sensory experience. Drawing on the theoretical frameworks of Wendy B. Faris, Amaryll B. Chanady, Mikhail Bakhtin, Jacques Lacan, and Paul Ricoeur, the study develops the concept of a poetics of corporeality, where the marvelous is embedded in the material and phenomenological world. Through close analysis of Mo Yan’s major novels – “Sandalwood Death”, “Life and Death Are Wearing Me Out”, “Frog”, “Pow!”, “The Republic of Wine”, and “Red Sorghum” – the article demonstrates that bodily sensoriality functions as a mediator between memory, history, and power. The marvelous is not detached from the real but naturalized within it, manifesting through theatricality, acoustics, gastronomy, and color. This research advances the idea of corporeal realism as a universal narrative model that expands magical realism beyond its Latin American origins. The study highlights Mo Yan’s contribution to world literature and underscores the significance of Chinese narrative experience for contemporary comparative literary studies.
Copyright (c) 2025 Natalie Gonchar-Khanjyan https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
METHODOLOGICAL FEATURES OF TEACHING THE HISTORY OF THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY AT YSU
The article deals with the content and methodological features of teaching the history of the Republic of Turkey at Yerevan State University. The structure of the course is analyzed within the framework of the "Turkology" and "Azerbaijani Studies" educational programs of the YSU Faculty of Oriental Studies, where the course "History of the Republic of Turkey" is the logical continuation of the courses "History of the Seljuk and Early Ottoman Periods" and "History of the Ottoman Empire." The teaching process combines traditional methods - lectures, seminars, testing assignments - with modern, student-centered approaches - debate, simulation-based learning, demonstration methods, as well as the use of visual and cartographic materials. Combination of these methods contributes to the formation of students' critical thinking, analytical skills, and research capabilities. An important component of the educational process's effectiveness is also the availability of an Armenian-language academic textbook, which ensures the scientific validity and in-depth understanding of the material being taught.
Copyright (c) 2025 Tatevik Hakobyan https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
FAILED DIALOGUE: THE 1988 GREEK-TURKISH DAVOS PROCESS IN THE SHADOW OF HISTORICAL TRAUMAS
The meeting held in Davos in 1988 between Greek Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou and Turkish Prime Minister Turgut Özal aimed to alleviate the long-standing tensions between the two countries. Its goal was to promote dialogue and reduce the likelihood of military and diplomatic clashes. Although initial optimism was evident, it quickly dissipated due to unresolved contradictions and deeply rooted historical issues. The Cyprus issue, minority rights, and disagreements over military balance in the Aegean Sea persisted, fueled by years of accumulated mistrust. Ultimately, the Davos process did not live up to expectations and is seen as a missed opportunity to overcome the historical burden.
Copyright (c) 2025 Rafik Khachatryan, Gagik Hambaryan https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
SEMANTIC AND SYNTACTIC ANALYSIS OF THE VERB جعل (JAʿALA)
This article examines the semantic and syntactic application of the verb جعل (jaʿala) based on data from Quranic texts and classical Arabic dictionaries. The analysis suggests the existence of several meanings for the verb جعل (jaʿala), encompassing creating, making, placing, imposing, naming, and other functions, depending on the number of objects the verb requires in a sentence. Generalizing the obtained data, the study concludes that the verb جعل (jaʿala) is used with the meaning of "to create" or "to make" when it requires one object, and sometimes appears as a tool for transformation or attribution when it requires two or more objects. This analysis is an important contribution to the grammatical and syntactic study of Arabic, allowing for a deeper understanding of those verses in the Quran where the verb is used.
Copyright (c) 2025 Meri Chplakhyan https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
18TH-19TH-CENTURY ARMENO-TURKISH SELECTED MEDICAL MANUSCRIPTS AND TRANSMISSION, TRANSLATION, AND LOCALIZATION OF MEDICAL KNOWLEDGE IN THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE18TH-19TH-CENTURY ARMENO-TURKISH SELECTED MEDICAL MANUSCRIPTS AND TRANSMISSION, TRANSLATION, AND LOCALIZATION OF MEDICAL KNOWLEDGE IN THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE
This article explores the transmission and transformation of medical knowledge in the Ottoman Empire through selected Armeno-Turkish manuscripts from the 18th to the 19th centuries. It highlights the European influence on Ottoman medicine via Latin and Arabic texts, which were translated into Turkish and Armenian scripts, reflecting a dynamic process of localization and adaptation. The study focuses on four significant manuscripts housed at the Matenadaran, illustrating diverse sources—from Arabic, Latin (Italian) —to demonstrate how medical terminology, practices, and cultural exchanges shaped regional medical traditions. The involvement of religious institutions, particularly the Armenian Church and Protestant communities, played a critical role in knowledge dissemination, fostering cross-cultural interactions and linguistic enrichment. The manuscripts reveal early 19th-century efforts to incorporate modern European medical ideas into Ottoman society, emphasizing the importance of translation and contextualization in medical education. Ultimately, these handwritten texts serve as valuable cultural artifacts, highlighting the complex interplay between traditional and modern medicine, local needs, and external influences in shaping Ottoman medical history.
Copyright (c) 2025 Lusine Khachatryan https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
THE ROLE OF EGYPT IN THE CONTEXT OF SYRIA’S RETURN TO THE “ARAB FAMILY” (2013-2023)
In 2023, Syria restored its membership in the League of Arab States and returned to the Arab fold. The internal political crisis that started in 2011 and then the long-lasting conflict completely undermined Syria's place and status in the Arab World. Moreover, several Arab countries took an openly hostile stance towards Syria, supporting various extremist groups fighting against Syrian government forces. It was possible to break through the barrier of negation formed around Syria in inter-Arab relations in Egypt because of the position of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who came to power in 2013. The Egyptian president began to support not only Syrian President Bashar Al Assad on several issues but also launched active mediation in the Arab World for the restoration of official Damascus's political rehabilitation. As a positive effect of the efforts of the Egyptian president in mediating with the leaders of a number of Arab countries, in 2023, Syria was able to regain its membership in the League of Arab States. This is a big advance for the official Damascus, which aims to create a qualitatively new environment of political relations in inter-Arab relations with the full involvement of Syria.
Copyright (c) 2025 Գոռ Գևորգյան https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
ON THE HISTORY OF THE EVOLUTION OF THE MEANING AND SENSE OF THE “BANNER” IN THE EARLY MEDIEVAL ISLAMIC TRADITION
During the 20th century, against the backdrop of the rise of Islamic radicalism, several Islamist organizations began to use the flag as a symbol of their goals and ideas. This circumstance has sparked interest among both Islamic scholars and Muslims as well as Western scholars. To understand the significant symbolic importance attributed to the flag, it is necessary to determine the role the flag played in the early Islamic period. The article aims to analyze the significance, meanings, and applications of the flag symbol in the early Islamic period, and how the meanings and functions have changed over time due to historical circumstances. During the lifetime of the Prophet Muhammad, the flag in the ummah had only a military function. It was only after his death, and particularly during the last years of the Umayyad dynasty's rule, that it acquired the meaning of a religious symbol and transformed into an ideological symbol.
Copyright (c) 2025 Դավիթ Հովհաննիսյան https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
ÉTUDES ON TALYSHI AND CAUCASIAN PERSIAN (TATI) LEXICON
The article, presented in the form of études, examines and analyzes certain lexical forms from Northern Talyshi and Caucasian Persian (Tati)—two Iranian languages spoken in the Eastern Transcaucasia. These languages have a history of continious and close contact with non-Iranian languages, including Indo-European and Caucasian languages of the region. This makes them particularly significant for the study of language contact in general and areal linguistic phenomena in particular.
Copyright (c) 2025 Վարդան Ոսկանյան, Արտյոմ Տոնոյան https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
THE REFLECTIONS OF NATIONALISM IN THE PROGRAMS OF THE ISLAMIC PARTIES IN TURKEY 1960-1980
Contemporary Turkey's foreign and domestic, educational, propaganda policy, as well as official rhetoric, prove that the synthesis of Islam and nationalism has turned into the country's state identity. In 1923-founded Turkey, the competition between secularism and religiosity has a history of decades and at some point, nationalism was more openly intertwined with Islamic ideology, and today it is essentially one whole. In turn, Islamism and nationalism in Turkey, developing in parallel from the second half of the last century, had phases of competition, but often there were obvious preconditions for their merging or at least close cooperation. Some reflections of this phenomenon can be seen in the programs of pro-Islamic parties operating since the 1970s. In this article, the programs of the "National Order", "National Salvation" and "Welfare" parties are examined, presenting certain definitions of nationalism in them, as well as depicting the political developments of the time and the relationship between religion and secularism.
Copyright (c) 2025 Ռուբեն Մելքոնյան, Գոռ Հովհաննիսյան https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
EXPLORING THE (UN)USUAL “SITES OF MEMORY”: ARMENIAN-SCRIPT TURKISH MEMOIRS
The entanglement of nations, religions, and languages, which is inevitable in any empire, leads to the minglings of cultures and worldviews, creating new, mixed, or intermediate forms. Armenian-script Turkish, which combines elements of both languages is an example of such a symbiosis. The purpose of this article is to present the memoirs written in Armenian-script Turkish by two eyewitnesses of the Armenian Genocide of 1915. The diaries under study recall the stories of two families who lived in Aintab (Antep) and Dörtyol (Arm. Chork-Marzpan) before the genocide. The tragic fate of these people, forcibly displaced during World War I, reflects the harrowing history of an entire nation that endured deportation, starvation, and massacres.
Copyright (c) 2025 Նաիրա Պողոսյան https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
STANDARD PERSIAN LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY TESTS FOR NON-NATIVE SPEAKERS
This study examines Iran's national strategy for Persian language dissemination through standardized testing, focusing on the AMFA, AZFA, and particularly the SAMFA proficiency examinations. Situated within the border frameworks of language policy, corpus-based testing, and assessment theory, the paper explores the development, administration, and theoretical underpinnings of these tests. SAMFA, the most internationally recognized and academically aligned test, is analyzed in detail with reference to task design, linguistic content, and CEFR compatibility. Drawing on corpus linguistics (e.g. Peykareh), communicative competence models, and applied linguistic theory, the study reveals tensions between cultural authenticity and standardization. It highlights the structural and sociolinguistic particularities of Persian that complicate full alignment with Western testing frameworks such as the CEFR. Despite formal resemblance to international tests like IELTS, SAMFA remains a unique case of language assessment shaped by local norms, educational policy, and ideological imperatives. The findings contribute to the growing field of non-European language proficiency assessment and the challenges of global comparability in high-stakes language testing.
Standard Persian Language Proficency Test
Copyright (c) 2025 Noonik Darbinian https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
NEO-SUFI REFLECTIONS IN SOHRAB SEPEHRI’S POETRY
This article examines the poetic development of modern Persian poet Sohrab Sepehri as a manifestation of neo-mystical thought. It analyzes the religious and philosophical traditions that influenced his work, including Sufism, pantheism, Buddhism, and elements of Western mysticism. The author demonstrates how Sepehri, drawing on classical models of spiritual transformation, created a distinctive poetic language rich in symbolism. The analysis reveals how Sepehri’s personal spiritual experience evolves into a universal mystical system, reflecting his effort to synthesize Eastern and Western philosophical traditions.
Copyright (c) 2025 Anna Stepanyan https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
ON THE TEACHING AND METHODOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF THE SPECIALIZED COURSE "PERSIAN LANGUAGE 5, 6"
The article discusses several teaching and methodological features of the "Persian 5, 6" professional course. This course covers the Persian language levels B3 (Intermediate) and C1 (Advanced), designed for students of the Department of Iranian Studies at Yerevan State University, as well as those interested in these language levels. The thematic content and methodological approach of this professional course were developed by the Department of Iranian Studies for an Armenian-speaking audience, drawing from years of continuous teaching and conducted studies. Today, the growing necessity and widespread application of Persian present a challenge for language teachers, as this issue must be approached in new ways, with fresh perspectives, approaches, and proposals for innovative solutions to the challenges posed. The article aims to present the specific features of teaching the "Persian-5, 6" subject in the Armenian-language classroom, to improve the quality of learning the subject, and to develop and enhance the application of teaching methods and skills.
Copyright (c) 2025 բ․գ․թ․, ասիստենտ Զարուհի Հ․ Խաչատրյան https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
APOCALYPTIC LANDSCAPES: A COMPARISON OF ESCHATOLOGICAL CONCEPTS IN DANTE’S «DIVINE COMEDY» AND «THE BOOK OF ARDA VIRAF»
Posthumous experiences, retribution for sins, and their atonement have captivated human thought since ancient times, sparking the imagination and finding expression in sacred texts that, despite temporal and socio-cultural differences, exhibit striking similarities and semantic correspondences. This observation invites a comparative analysis of texts from different religious traditions that convey similar moral messages, suggesting the possibility of a unified religious code. This article examines a comparative study of two significant works: the Zoroastrian travelogue «Arda-Viraz-namak» and Dante Alighieri's Christian epic poem «The Divine Comedy». The aim is to explore the parallels between these texts, both of which are not only of immense artistic and literary value but also hold substantial socio-cultural influence. The relevance of this topic is particularly pronounced in the Armenian ethnocultural context, considering the proximity of Christian Armenia to Iran, the birthplace of Zoroastrianism and a major political player in the Middle East.
Copyright (c) 2025 Natalie Gonchar-Khanjyan, Jivan Gasparyan https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
ON AN EARLY IRANIAN LOANWORD IN THE ARTSAKH DIALECT
The article is devoted to the examination of a plant name, kndəmnešak, attested in the Armenian dialect of Artsakh and used with the meaning "violet" (Lat. Narcissus). According to the etymology proposed in the article, this word is a loanword in the Artsakh dialect, borrowed during the Middle or Early New Iranian period from Middle Persian or Early New Persian. The article also delves into the phonological changes, (g > k, mmn > mn) and semantic shifts that occurred during its adaptation into the Artsakh dialect.
Copyright (c) 2025 Գուրգեն Մելիքյան https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Key moments of Prof. M. B. Piotrovsky's biography
Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
SYMBOL OF ARMENIAN -RUSSIAN INTELLECTUAL AND SCIENTIFIC RELATIONS: MIKHAIL PIOTROVSKY
Congratulatory message from the Dean of the Faculty of Oriental Studies of Yerevan State University, Dr. Prof. Ruben Melkonyan on the 80th anniversary of Mikhail Piotrovsky.
Copyright (c) 2025 Ռուբեն Մելքոնյան https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
ON THE EGYPTIAN-JUDEAN CONFLICT OF 410 B.C.
Under the influence of the priests of Egyptian god Khnum’s temple the Egyptians destroyed the temple of Yaho which was located in Elephantine. In this clash Antisemitism had been seen for decades in professional literature. But the attack of Egyptians against Judeans was a political action and coincided with anti-Persian wave. There were different motives in the destruction of the temple in Elephantine. The spiritual élite of Jerusalem was for the destruction of the temple so they incited the Egyptians to take action. That clash was convenient also for the Egyptians cause besides religious and economic intolerance the anti-Persian revolt was increasing. The Persian satrapic regime didn’t suppress the Egyptians’ actions cause they didn’t have enough forces for that but tried to satisfy the complaints of Judeans in future allowing them to rebuild the temple. Thus, there was no reason to connect the destruction of the temple in Elephantine with the antisemitism.
Copyright (c) 2023 Author(s) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
THE SYMBOLS AND MOTIFS USED IN TRADITIONAL IRANIAN EMBROIDERY
The recognition of the culture, identity, art, and especially handicrafts of every society is of special importance, therefore, the recognition of Iran's modern history and unique culture and Iranian society is also related to the recognition of its art and artistic works, and they are expressed in the best and most beautiful way by Iranian women. The History of Iranian Embroidery shows that Iranian art and culture, including handmade arts and crafts, have undergone many changes for thousands of years, but they have never lost their Iranian identity and roots. In this article, the meanings of symbols and patterns used in Iranian embroidery have been presented and their Iranian origin has been discussed.
ON THE METHODOLOGICAL FEATURES OF TEACHING TURKISH LITERATURE IN ARMENIA
The article discusses issues related to the methodology of teaching Turkish literature of different periods in Armenian universities, in particular the necessity of revealing ideological imperatives, the historical environment of production, cultural and linguistic nuances of works by the Turkish authors of different eras. The article emphasizes the importance of overcoming the “cliches” of the Soviet period in the analysis of Turkic-language Sufi literature, as well as, presents a brief outline of scientific and methodological publications of Armenian Turkologists and literary critics over the past thirty years: a remarkable achievement is the creation by Prof. R. Melkonyan of the “Textbook of Turkish Literature (the 20s of the XX century - the beginning of the XXI century)”. In addition, this article presents the problems of using classical samples of poetry and prose in the process of teaching the Turkish language and the history of the Turkic languages.
STEREOTYPICAL IMAGES AND ENEMY PERCEPTIONS IN THE TURKISH NATIONALIST MAGAZINES (1960-1970S)
The article examines the theoretical formation of the image of the "enemy", the toolkit necessary for spreading and rooting among social groups. Anti-propaganda tricks and methods to prevent the spread of communism during the "red terror" in Turkey in the 1960-1970s are presented. The most effective means of spreading hatred towards "internal" and "external" enemies and justifying the fight against them, namely the dehumanized depictions and caricatures of the "enemy" character, are being examined in detail.
THE ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE "MAVİ VATAN" DOCTRINE IN TURKEY. A BRIEF OVERVIEW
The "Mavi Vatan" doctrine, which originated back in 2006 in the Naval Forces Command of the Republic of Turkey, represents the ambitions of the Republic of Turkey in the four surrounding seas: the Black, Marmara, Aegean, and Mediterranean Seas. The doctrine is not only widely spread in political and social circles, but also in scientific and analytical circles, and the fact that the doctrine has gained widespread not only in Turkish but also in international scientific and analytical circles is also very important. Studying the origin and development of the doctrine, it can be seen that quite serious and consistent work has been carried out at the state level to implement this concept and to spread and strengthen it in the broad circles of society. This article also allows getting acquainted with some features of the state policy of the Republic of Turkey, from which it is necessary to highlight the fact that neither internal nor foreign policy is determined by individuals in Turkey. And finally, even though the term "Blue Homeland" appeared in 2006 and later received the status of a doctrine, it should be emphasized that Turkish naval ambitions are long-standing, and Mavi Vatan is another material manifestation of these ambitions.
THE NEW STAGE OF MILITARY-POLITICAL COOPERATION OF TURKEY-AZERBAIJAN. “SHUSHI DECLARATION” 2021
In the early 1990s, in order to strengthen its position in the South Caucasus, Turkey established good relations with Azerbaijan, which was Turkey’s most suitable ally. In 2002, relations entered a new phase by coming to the power of the JDP (The Justice and Development Party), and some active cooperations were established in the sphere of transport, energetics, politics and military operation. In 2010 a military-political agreement of two countries was entered into a contract of mutual aid, which points contradicted the interests of the Republic of Armenia and they were threatening for Armenia and the safety of Artsakh. For years Turkey armed and prepared Azerbaijan for wide-ranging war of 2020. After the victory of the war, Turkish-Azerbaijani tandem signed the declaration of Shushi, which brought a new period for bilateral relations. So, brotherly relations turn into military-political alliance.
ARMENIAN HISTORIC-ARTISTIC REACTIONS TO NIZAMI GANJAVI'S ROMANCE NOVELS
It is not a secret that Armenian-Iranian literary relations have a history for long ages. In the Armenian epic folklore, the relations are expressed with the artistic representations of public figures who had a significant role in the political and historical life of Iran. In the Armenian literature with the mentions of Iranian legends and epic talks, as well in medieval Armenian poetry with the application of separate forms, figures and expressions which are peculiar to Persian poetry. The latter statements are love legends by Nizami Ganjavi ‟Khosrow and Shirin”, “Leyli and Majnun” the feedback in Armenian literature. Although the romance novels of the Persian poet were not translated into Armenian in the Middle Ages, but in the literature of the new period they found a place in the form of translations and different artistic works (legend, poem, prose poem, ballad, poetry). It should be noted that the testimonies found in the bibliography have a significance of provenance. In Armenian literature, references and literary elaborations on the motifs and heroes of Nizami's romances speak of the close contacts, cultural and worldview commonalities of the two peoples. The aim of this article is the revealing of the genre peculiarities, their forms of displaying in Nizami’s love legends which have been reflected in Armenian culture. The problem is to present it with the whole possible, complete tend and we have observed it with big time inclusion. However, each phase could be separate observing material.
ADNAN MENDERES - RECEP TAYYİP ERDOĞAN: "THE POLITICAL HEIR" OF THE "POLITICAL MARTYR"
This article examines the indirect political relationship between Adnan Menderes and Recep Tayyip Erdogan, two major political personalities in Turkish republican history. Due to his reforms that were meant to change the Kemalist political course in Turkey in the 1950s and his execution following the 1960 military coup, Menderes, who served as Prime Minister during that time, is sometimes regarded as a "political martyr" by a broad community of right-wing voters. Erdogan, the current president, is positioned as Menderes' "political heir '' by drawing on historical background and ideological parallels. Erdogan routinely makes reference to Menderes' legacy in his political discourse while promoting similar populist ideas and supporting religious conservatism in opposition to secularist movements. Parallels also exist with regard to criticisms of both leadersi dictatorial inclinations and polarizing political discourse. By analysing this relationship, the topic provides a lens into understanding how narratives of past political figures can be repurposed in contemporary politics, thus enriching the discourse on political continuity and change in Turkey.
THE PREVALENCE OF IRANIAN CULTURE AND THE PERSIAN LANGUAGE IN SHUSHI ACCORDING TO TRAVELLING NOTES OF ARCHPRIEST YEGHISHE (HOVAKIM) GEGHAMIANTS
19th-century author, Archpriest Yeghishe (Hovakim) Geghamiants, who is also known to the Armenian reader as Haykuni, in 1885 traveled to Artsakh and published his work “Travelling Notes”. There are noteworthy mentions of the prevalence of Iranian culture and the Persian language in Shushi City in Geghamiants’s work. Thanks to the information given by Geghamiants about the Persian people living in Shushi at that time, we get an idea of what they were involved in and what role the Persians had in the life of the city, what relations they had with the neighboring Armenians. When speaking about the daily life of the local Armenian population, Geghamiants noted that Armenians also used to sing Persian songs during their happy events, Armenians used to participate in the wedding ceremonies of neighboring Persians, and vice versa. When speaking about some Armenian schools, the author mentioned that the Persian language was also taught in those schools. In his work, Geghamiants mentioned translating masterpieces of Persian literature into Armenian and publishing them in Shushi. Geghamiants referred to the Persian sanctuaries in Shushi and around the city, he refers to the pilgrimage sites visited by the Persians. The information presented by Geghamiants is often found in other sources too, but the work of Geghamiants stands out for its free and natural simplicity. In that sense, it is instructive and highly relevant to value and research the information provided by this source.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES AS A FACTOR OF KURDISH IDENTITY-BUILDING AND NATION-BUILDING AND THE KURDISH DIASPORA AS THE PRIMARY OPERATOR OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THIS PROCESS
The role of information technology in the creation and dissemination of ideas in the public domain has increased significantly, and stateless peoples benefit the most from this. Unlike traditional forms of media (press, radio, television), these information flows are extremely difficult to control by state institutions and power structures, which further increases their effectiveness and applicability. This fact is well understood by the Kurdish diaspora as a user of information technology as a identity-building and nation-building tool.
METHODOLOGICAL ISSUES IN TEACHING TURKISH TO ARMENIAN-SPEAKING STUDENTS
This article discusses the challenges of teaching Turkish in an Armenian classroom using two approaches: the grammar-translation method and the thematic learning method (Case Study). The goal is to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of each method and determine which is most suitable for teaching Turkish to Armenian-speaking students. The conventional approach to mastering the grammatical rules of a foreign language is based on the same laws and structures found in one's language. The use of this method for learning Turkish can pose challenges in language acquisition due to the significant syntactical differences present in Turkic languages compared to Armenian. Subordinate clauses are more noticeable within complex sentence structures. Therefore, the article's discussion about the suitability of methods is based on a concise explanation of subordinate clause composition and structure. The conventional approach to grammar holds significant value in establishing fundamental knowledge. To acquire practical skills, it is essential to adopt functional approaches and methods like the Case Study method. This technique entails gathering and analyzing data related to the research topic, which includes examining the target language and its respective culture as a complete system. After considering the arguments presented in the article, we have determined that for teaching Turkish as a foreign language, The Case Study method is more convenient. However, due to the audience's professional philological specialization, it is also recommended to incorporate some aspects of the grammar method.
METHODOLOGICAL FEATURES OF TEACHING "INTRODUCTION TO ISLAMIC STUDIES" USING ARMENIAN BIBLIOGRAPHIC SOURCES
Armenia's historical connection with the Islamic world, having been part of its empires for an extended period, significantly influences the teaching methodology of the course "Introduction to Islamic Studies." This article explores how the thirteen-century history of coexistence with the Islamic world shapes the teaching approach for "Introduction to Islamic Studies" in the Armenian classroom, particularly emphasising incorporating the works of Armenian medieval historians into the curriculum. By adopting this approach, the course bridges the gap between Islamic and Armenian history, providing students with a strong sense of identity and relevance. Incorporating Armenian bibliographic sources into the curriculum enriches the course material and encourages students to engage in a deeper analysis of evidence, facts, and arguments. This practice cultivates critical thinking skills and empowers students to draw well-informed conclusions about historical events and figures.
IBN TAYMIYYAH'S RCITICISM OF SUFISM ACCORDING TO THE WORK “KITĀB AL-JAWĀB”
Ibn Taymiyyah (1263-1328) was a notable medieval jurist, theologian and prominent representative of the Hanbali religious and legal school. His criticism of Sufism is part of his relentless struggle against innovations in Islam. The main purpose of this article is to present Ibn Taymiyyah's anti-Sufi criticism using the example of one of his most notable works, the "Kitāb al-Jawāb" (the full title is " The Correct Response to Those Who Altered the Religion of Christ"). The problem of absence of researchers’ unanimity over Ibn Taymiyyah's attitude towards Sufism is also studied.
Copyright (c) 2024 Seda Tigranyan https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0