Western Armenian - Phonology - Consonants - Differences in Phonology From Eastern Armenian

Differences in Phonology From Eastern Armenian

The difference in phonology between Western Armenian and Eastern Armenian phonology also lies in the distinction of stops and affricates (as in the difference with Classical Armenian).

First, Eastern Armenian is notable for retaining plain stops and plain affricates of Classical Armenian. Therefore, while Eastern Armenian has a three-way distinction of stops and affricates: one voiced and two voiceless — a plain version and an aspirated one — Western Armenian has only a two-way distinction — one voiced and one aspirated. For example, Eastern Armenian has three bilabial stops: (<բ>), (<պ>), and (<փ>); Western Armenian, has two bilabial stops: (<պ>) and (<բ> or <փ>).

Second, Western Armenian has shifted the Classical Armenian voiced stops and voiced affricates into aspirated stops and aspirated affricates, and replaced the plain stops and plain affricates with voiced ones.

The following is a comparison of the stops and affricates in Eastern Armenian and Western Armenian:

1. Bilabial stops:
   1. Eastern Armenian: (բ), (փ), (պ)
   2. Western Armenian: (պ), (փ and բ)
2. Alveolar stops:
   1. Eastern Armenian: (դ), (թ), (տ)
   2. Western Armenian: (տ), (թ and դ)
3. Velar stops:
   1. Eastern Armenian: (գ), (ք), (կ)
   2. Western Armenian: (կ), (ք and գ)
4. Alveolar affricates:
   1. Eastern Armenian: (ձ), (ց), (ծ)
   2. Western Armenian: (ծ), (ց or ձ)
5. Post-alveolar affricates:
   1. Eastern Armenian: (ջ), (չ), (ճ)
   2. Western Armenian: (ճ), (չ or ջ)