Language Therapy with Dr. K

Speaking the Wrong Armenian: Language, Belonging, and the Freedom to Play

What happens when the language you inherit is not the language of the place you have come to think of as home? And what does it mean to be told—implicitly or explicitly—that the Armenian you speak is somehow the wrong one? Dr. K sits down with poet and creative producer Nyree Abrahamian to trace a linguistic life that moves from Western Armenian in Toronto to Eastern Armenian in Yerevan, with English, French, dialect, and plenty of mixing along the way. Their conversation explores what happens when heritage language meets homeland, why categories like "native speaker," "diasporan," and even "repatriate" can begin to break down, and how those tensions are passed on—and sometimes inverted—across generations. But what if fluency is not the only thing a language can offer? From the intimacy of audio storytelling to an unexpected turn toward writing poetry in Armenian, Nyree reflects on what becomes possible when a language long associated with correction, anxiety, and getting it right becomes a place for experimentation instead.

Armenian Orthography: History, Reform, and Evidence

Why do Armenians write the same language differently? Why do debates over spelling evoke such strong emotions? And what can linguistic scholarship reveal about one of Armenian's most enduring controversies? In this episode, Dr. K continues her conversation with historical and comparative linguist Dr. Hrach Martirosyan, one of the world's leading specialists on the history of Armenian, to explore the evolution of Armenian orthography—the shared conventions that govern how a language is written. Drawing on historical linguistics and comparative examples from languages around the world, they examine why writing systems evolve, how orthographic reforms unfold, and where the Armenian experience fits within a broader global history. From the principles underlying the fifth-century Armenian alphabet to debates that long predated the twentieth-century reforms, the conversation challenges misconceptions about Armenian orthography, distinguishes linguistic evidence from ideology, and places the Armenian example within broader historical and comparative context.

Performing Belonging: The Psychology of Heritage Language Anxiety

How can someone who speaks a dozen languages still struggle to speak the one that feels most personal? Why can a heritage language carry emotional burdens that no foreign language ever does? Dr. K is joined by literary critic, translator, poet, and curator Christopher Atamian—a Harvard graduate, Fulbright Fellow, and award-winning translator of Armenian and French literature into English—to explore the psychology of heritage language anxiety. Together they discuss multilingualism, family expectations, translation, and the pressure to be "Armenian enough," revealing why speaking a heritage language is often less about linguistic competence than about negotiating belonging. Along the way, they challenge long-held assumptions about what it means to be a "native speaker," examine how translation can make literature accessible across languages, and consider why multilingualism does not necessarily protect us from linguistic insecurity. More broadly, the conversation challenges what it means to be a heritage speaker, inviting listeners to rethink fluency, belonging, and what it truly means to claim a language as one's own.

The Armenian Alphabet: History, Myth, and Evidence

Did the invention of the alphabet mark the beginning of Armenian? Was there writing in Armenia before Mashtots? And what can the Armenian alphabet reveal about the deeper history of the Armenian language? In this episode, Dr. K continues her conversation with historical and comparative linguist Dr. Hrach Martirosyan, one of the world's leading specialists on the history of Armenian, to explore the origins and development of the Armenian alphabet. Drawing on linguistics, manuscript traditions, and the comparative study of writing systems, they examine the relationship between language and script, discuss the evidence for and against pre-Mashtotsian writing, and situate the Armenian alphabet within the broader context of early Christian literary cultures. The conversation also explores the origins of letter names, the principles behind the ordering of the alphabet, the later addition of letters such as Օ and Ֆ, and the use of Armenian letters as numerals. Along the way, they reconsider a range of enduring claims about the alphabet's origins, symbolism, and structure, illustrating how linguistic evidence can illuminate questions that have long occupied both scholars and the public imagination. Rather than treating the alphabet as the beginning of the Armenian language, this episode places it within a much longer linguistic history, reframing Mashtots' achievement not as the birth of Armenian, but as a transformative moment in its already ancient story.

Tracing Time Through Language: How Old Is Armenian?

Can a language carry the memory of thousands of years? What does it actually mean to ask how old a language is? In this episode, Dr. K continues her conversation with historical-comparative linguist Dr. Hrach Martirosyan, whose work on the earliest stages of Armenian has helped reshape scholarly understanding of the language's development, as they explore one of the most frequently asked—and frequently misunderstood—questions about Armenian: how old it truly is. Drawing on the tools of historical and comparative linguistics, they unpack the concepts of Pre-Armenian and Proto-Armenian, explain how languages diverge, and reconsider what linguistic continuity looks like across vast stretches of time. Grounded in examples from modern Armenian, the conversation reveals the historical strata embedded within everyday speech, illuminating a language shaped not by isolation but by movement, encounter, and transformation. Armenian emerges not as a relic of the past, but as a dynamic linguistic system whose longevity lies precisely in its capacity to evolve.

Language Has its Own Memory: Vahé Berberian Live

What does it mean to live—and create—across languages? In this special live episode of Language Therapy with Dr. K, Dr. K sits down with Vahé Berberian—writer, artist, playwright, and stand-up comedian—to explore the role of language in shaping identity and artistic expression. The conversation unfolds primarily in Armenian, with English woven in throughout. Berberian reflects on a life lived across Lebanon, Europe, and North America, and how each linguistic environment has left its imprint on his voice. As he puts it, "language has its own memory, and memory has its own language." Dr. K and Vahe trace how language carries history, shapes storytelling, and at times resists being contained within a single linguistic system. From stand-up comedy to painting and literature, language emerges not simply as a medium, but as material, something that can be stretched or reshaped, and performed. Dr. K and Vahe explore code-switching as both necessity and creative choice, the tension between "pure" language and lived multilingual reality, and the role of humor as a way of making difficult truths speakable. They also reflect on writing in Armenian and English, performing for different audiences, and how the relationship between language and self continues to evolve over time.

Armenian as an Indo European Language

What does it mean to call Armenian an Indo-European language? And, what, exactly, is a "language family"? In this episode, Dr. K sits down with historical comparative linguist Dr. Hrach Martirosyan to unpack the scientific foundations behind that claim. Together, they explain how scholars reconstruct linguistic relationships across thousands of years, why Indo-European became the most studied language family, and common misperceptions about linguistic ancestry. Moving from early discoveries about deep similarities between Sanskrit and European languages to Grimm's Law and beyond, the conversation illustrates how words like mother, father, and daughter preserve echoes of a shared linguistic past across millennia, and how linguists distinguish inheritance from contact. This episode offers a clear and compelling introduction to how historical-comparative linguistics uncovers the deep history of Armenian, showing how scientific methods illuminate its place within one of the world's most widespread and extensively studied language families.

Punchlines and Power: The Language of Stand-Up Comedy with Judith Shelton

Why do we call it stand-up? What do mob violence and comedy have in common? In this episode of Language Therapy, Dr. K sits down with Judith Shelton—comedian, actor, and professor of stand-up comedy and improvisation at the USC School of Dramatic Arts—to unpack the language and culture behind making people laugh. Drawing on her decades-long career, from The Groundlings to a memorable turn as Kramer's girlfriend on Seinfeld, Judith reflects on how stand-up comedy is shaped by combative metaphors: punchlines, killing it, bombing on stage. Together, they explore whether comedy can truly be taught, and where craft ends and instinct begins. The conversation culminates in a powerful reflection on stand-up as a humanizing force—one that fosters empathy, connection, and self-knowledge, especially in the diverse classroom Judith has cultivated at USC. Join us for a sharp, thoughtful, and deeply entertaining exploration of language, laughter, and what comedy reveals about who we are.

Introduction to Armenian Language: Myths, Misconceptions, and Evidence

What are the roots of the Armenian language and what does it mean to call it a living, evolving language? In this introductory episode of a special Armenian-language season, Dr. K sits down with Dr. Hrach Martirosyan, one of the world's leading historical-comparative linguists and foremost authorities on Armenian. Together, they unpack widespread misconceptions about Armenian—from what it means to call it Indo-European, to myths about its origins and age, to debates over the "right" form, borrowings, and language purism—setting the stage for a deep exploration of Armenian as a language shaped by history, contact, and its speakers. This conversation highlights what linguistic science, in all its branches and manifestations, can reveal about the millennia-long presence of Armenian speakers in the Armenian highland and across the globe.

Beside the Golden Door: Jazz, Homeland, and the Universal Song with Lucy Yeghiazaryan

What happens when your first American "language" isn't English, but jazz? How does a voice shaped in the uncertainty and upheaval of 1990s Armenia find its way onto New York's storied jazz stages while still carrying the timbre of folk songs and candlelit nights? In this episode, Dr. K sits down with jazz vocalist Lucy Yeghiazaryan, born in Armenia during a period of profound transition before immigrating at twelve—not to an Armenian enclave, but to rural New Jersey. Together they trace Lucy's journey as a quintessential 1.5-generation Armenian: from growing up between literary Russian, colloquial Eastern Armenian, and jazz standards learned phonetically, to navigating the complexities of singing a Black American art form as an Armenian immigrant woman. Lucy reflects on longing, guilt, and the feeling of forever standing "beside the golden door" that shaped her new album pairing Armenian folk songs with American jazz standards. The conversation explores raising a bilingual child, the tension between colloquial and literary Armenian, and why diasporans must shed the myth of being "defective Armenians" and claim their role as cultural creators. Join us for an intimate conversation about music as firelight, the universality of human feeling, and how a mountain-top voice can carry Armenia far beyond the narratives of war and loss.

Writing the Speeches that Shaped History with Ken Khachigian

What does it mean to write the words that shape history? How does language become a tool of power, persuasion, and memory? In this live episode, Dr. K sits down with Ken Khachigian—author of Behind Closed Doors: In the Room with Reagan and Nixon and one of America's most influential presidential speechwriters—to trace his journey from a farm boy in California's San Joaquin Valley to the heart of political power. An Armenian-American whose heritage shaped his sense of resourcefulness and agility, Khachigian reflects on the art and psychology of speechwriting, the intimacy and trust it demands, and the nicknames that capture its many dimensions—the Word Donkey, the Fireman, the Lion of the Speechwriters. Together, he and Dr. K explore how finding a president's voice means balancing message, emotion, and history. This is a conversation about ambition, integrity, and the enduring power of words to define both personal and collective experience.

Armenian in the Indo-European Family — with Dr. Hrach Martirosyan

What does it mean to call Armenian an Indo-European language? And how do linguists actually prove such family ties? In this episode, Dr. K and historical-comparative linguist Dr. Hrach Martirosyan trace Armenian's journey from its Indo-European roots to modern dialects, weighing evidence from cognates, systematic sound changes, and centuries of contact. They focus on the label "Indo-European," unpacking it as a scholarly convention that has often led to confusion about geography and identity. Together, they revisit the origins of the field, from Sir William Jones to Heinrich Hübschmann, and clarify why Armenian is recognized as an independent branch. Beyond the technical, they reflect on why this history matters—not only for Armenian speakers, but also for the field of Indo-European linguistics—showing how language embodies continuity, identity, and memory, and why both students and scholars should embrace the unanswered questions that keep the field alive.

From Komitas to Capital Cities: Sebu Simonian Between Languages

What does it mean to live and create between languages? How can code-switching become a form of artistry? In this episode of Language Therapy with Dr. K, Armenian American singer, songwriter, and one-half of the chart-topping duo Capital Cities, Sebu Simonian, takes listeners behind the scenes of his creative process and reveals the central role of language. From growing up a heritage speaker of Western Armenian to performing in Eastern Armenian, from writing global pop hits in English to reimagining Komitas in bilingual form, Sebu moves fluidly not only between languages but also across genres — making hybridity itself a hallmark of his work. The conversation highlights his deep connection to Armenian music, particularly Komitas, and the wide-ranging collaborations through which he continually reimagines how language, culture, and sound converge. Listen for a thoughtful reflection on the power of words and melodies to shape both personal expression and collective experience.

• Transcript

From Komitas to Capital Cities: Sebu Simonian Between Languages

What does it mean to live and create between languages? How can code-switching become a form of artistry? In this episode of Language Therapy with Dr. K, Armenian American singer, songwriter, and one-half of the chart-topping duo Capital Cities, Sebu Simonian, takes listeners behind the scenes of his creative process and reveals the central role of language. From growing up a heritage speaker of Western Armenian to performing in Eastern Armenian, from writing global pop hits in English to reimagining Komitas in bilingual form, Sebu moves fluidly not only between languages but also across genres — making hybridity itself a hallmark of his work. The conversation highlights his deep connection to Armenian music, particularly Komitas, and the wide-ranging collaborations through which he continually reimagines how language, culture, and sound converge. Listen for a thoughtful reflection on the power of words and melodies to shape both personal expression and collective experience.

• Transcript

Echoes, Dialects, Selves: Performing Belonging with Arman Nshanian

What happens when language is more than a tool—when it becomes a performance, a personality, a portal to the past? In this richly layered conversation, artist and filmmaker Arman Nshanian joins Dr. K to trace the story of his life through the languages and dialects he's spoken, sung, embodied, and directed—from Egyptian-Armenian roots to Vienna opera halls, Yerevan film sets, and now to the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles with his latest project, Echoes of Our Ancestors. Together, they explore multilingualism, method acting, dialectal code-switching, diasporic identity, and the cost—and power—of artistic vulnerability.

Echoes, Dialects, Selves: Performing Belonging with Arman Nshanian

What happens when language is more than a tool—when it becomes a performance, a personality, a portal to the past? In this richly layered conversation, artist and filmmaker Arman Nshanian joins Dr. K to trace the story of his life through the languages and dialects he's spoken, sung, embodied, and directed—from Egyptian-Armenian roots to Vienna opera halls, Yerevan film sets, and now to the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles with his latest project, Echoes of Our Ancestors. Together, they explore multilingualism, method acting, dialectal code-switching, diasporic identity, and the cost—and power—of artistic vulnerability.

The Architecture of Belonging: Education and the Armenian Linguistic Landscape

What happens when the language you speak has been disconnected from its homeland for over a century? How does dialect shape identity, belonging, and memory? In this episode, Dr. K sits down with David Ghoogasian—educator and head of AGBU Manoogian-Demirdjian School—who grew up speaking the now-rare Armenian dialect of Artvin, passed down to him by his grandparents. Together, they explore the emotional and cultural power of dialect, the experience of linguistic shame, and the formative role of literacy in diasporic life. Drawing on his background in neuroscience and education, David reflects on how language lives in the body, in the brain, and across generations. This is a conversation about inclusion, transmission, and the future of Armenian in all its forms.

The Language of Luck: Cultivating Serendipity with Christian Busch

How do we talk about luck? Can a shift in language alter our experience of chance and unpredictability? What happens when we stop waiting for fortune to strike and begin cultivating the conditions for serendipity? In this episode, Dr. K is joined by Dr. Christian Busch—author of The Serendipity Mindset and professor at USC's Marshall School of Business—for a wide-ranging conversation on the intersection of language, luck, and meaning-making. Together, they explore how the stories we tell about fortune shape our ability to perceive and act on unexpected opportunities. From folk etymologies of fate in Armenian to the role of inner narrative in shaping agency, Dr. K and Dr. Busch reflect on cultural attitudes toward chance, leadership under uncertainty, and the joy that can emerge from embracing the unplanned. Listen to gain insights into how linguistic framing influences self-perception, the difference between passive luck and active serendipity, and why ambiguity in language can be a powerful generator of connection and creativity.

The Language of Luck: Cultivating Serendipity with Christian Busch

How do we talk about luck? Can a shift in language alter our experience of chance and unpredictability? What happens when we stop waiting for fortune to strike and begin cultivating the conditions for serendipity? In this episode, Dr. K is joined by Dr. Christian Busch—author of The Serendipity Mindset and professor at USC's Marshall School of Business—for a wide-ranging conversation on the intersection of language, luck, and meaning-making. Together, they explore how the stories we tell about fortune shape our ability to perceive and act on unexpected opportunities. From folk etymologies of fate in Armenian to the role of inner narrative in shaping agency, Dr. K and Dr. Busch reflect on cultural attitudes toward chance, leadership under uncertainty, and the joy that can emerge from embracing the unplanned. Listen to gain insights into how linguistic framing influences self-perception, the difference between passive luck and active serendipity, and why ambiguity in language can be a powerful generator of connection and creativity.

Mapping Language and Identity: Dr. Hratch Tchilingirian and the Armenian Diaspora Survey

What does it mean to live a multilingual life shaped by displacement, theology, and research? How can language serve both as a utilitarian tool and a site of philosophical reflection? And what can large-scale data reveal about Armenian identity across continents? Join Dr. K and Dr. Hratch Tchilingirian—sociologist, scholar of religion, and director of the Armenian Diaspora Survey—as they trace his personal and intellectual journey across Beirut, Jerusalem, New York, and Oxford, using language as the thread. In this expansive conversation, they discuss the boundaries imposed and chosen in diasporic life, the shifting relationship between Armenian identity and language, and the surprising findings of one of the most ambitious studies of the global Armenian diaspora to date. From dialects and hyphenated identities to the politics of survey design, this episode explores how diasporic communities imagine and articulate Armenianness across generations and geographies.