about
Dr. Hrayr Varaz Khanjian is a queer Western Armenian-ist, Yelamu-based (S.F.) poet, translator, teacher, linguist, flower photographer, dancer, sensory intensity flow-er. He’s a white non-disabled gay cis-male who writes with spelling freedoms and welcomes odar-words (non-Armenian words) putting aside amot (shame). Hrayr’s first self-published bilingual poem pair collection #jivjiv is now in its second printing, with a second #jivjiv volume focusing on language released summer ‘24. Both books are illustrated by Amy Kazandjian and printed by Abril Books. He’s also translated and collaborated on language projects with the Armenian Creatives. Hrayr reads his jivjivs frequently in SF, LA and NY.
Թոգդ. Հրայր Վարազ Խանճեանը տարօր արեւմտահայերէնիչ, Ելամու (Սան Ֆրանսիսքօ) ապրող քերթող, թարգմանիչ, ուղեկից, լեզուաբան, ծաղիկ նկարող, պարող, խոր զգայարանք հոսեցնող։ Ան ճերմակ, ոչ-անկարող, միասեռական, արու, ուղղագրական ազատութիւններով գրող, եւ ողջունող օտար բառեր (ոչ-հայերէն բառեր) մէկ կողմ դնելով ամօթը։ Հրայրին առաջին ինքնահրատարակուած երկլեզու ճիվճիվի հատորը երկրորդ անգամ տպուեցաւ եւ երկրորդ հատորը այս ամառ տպուեցաւ։ Երկու հատորները Էյմի Գազանճեանը գծագրեց եւ Ապրիլ գրատունը տպեց։ Հրայրը նաեւ կը թարգմանէ եւ կ՚աշխատակցի Հայ Ստեղծագործներ խումբին հետ։ Ան յաճախ կը կարդայ գրած ճիվճիվները ԷսԷֆ, Լոս ու Նիւ Եօրք։
Why care?
Western Armenian, along with 99% of the world's languages are constantly being replaced by the dominant internet/business languages (English, Mandarin, Spanish, Arabic, Hindustani)
Western Armenian lacks a nation and suffers massively from the fear of being used incorrectly.
Thousands of kids every day are shamed into silence by our instincts of preservation and perfection. Our efforts for preservation are a driving force of exclusion.
What if we encouraged Western Armenian speakers to release the shackles of shame of incorrect use of the language, and instead encouraged everyone to use the language in whatever capacity they can. Or better yet, what if we created the conditions for the language not just to survive, but to thrive?
This is my contribution to this effort. A 4 book series of powerful, playful bilingual poems, called jivjivs, which proudly dances with the Western Armenian language and does not shy away from bending and breaking rules and taboos with every line.
Full of humor, humanity, emotion, Easter eggs, quirky illustrations and play!
Why poetry?
Short, bite sized, social media friendly, playful format with a rich history of centuries of Armenian poetry.
First run of 500 print sold out. On its second run of 500. Second book recently released!
Who am I?
Southern California Armenian community raised. Attended Chamlian Ferrahian UCLA MIT. Have a PhD in linguistics looking at sentence structure in Spoken Western Armenian.
Instagram following of 2735 (as of aug 2023) with 3415 posts
Instagram following of 3204 (as of aug 2024) with 3474 posts
Publications
Armenian Creatives - Armenian Erotic Glossary (with Levon Kafafian)
Armenian Creatives - Translation of poem by Nancy Agabian
Copyedit Armenian Creatives volume on translation
PhD dissertation on Spoken Western Armenian optionality
Recent appearances/events
Navasard celebration - Bridging the Borders in Aug/24
Google Venice - Armenian cultural day in Aug/24
Queernissage Aug/24
...
All for Armenia fundraiser night in Oakland Nov/23
Armenian Oasis - at drag venue Oasis with VERA! Mary B & Vartoush Oct/23
Mentor for an Armenian poet through the IALA mentorship program Summer/23
Highland park, North Fig Bookshop - Armenian poetry night Aug/23
Queernissage Aug/23
Digital Armenian Workshop at UC Irvine June/23
Zohrab center NY April/23
2220 Beverly Book launch Jan/23
Queer bedtime stories and Vocal AF monthly in SF
Mentee for an Armenian poet through the IALA mentorship program Summer/22
If we care about “this small group of unimportant people,” we have to act now. Every year is a generation lost.
Amot no more.
Release the language from the shackles of shame.
Western Armenian has been declared an endangered language by the UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger. Thousands of native speakers experience shame of incorrect use of the language every day. My mission is to encourage everyone to use the language in whatever capacity they can and create conditions for the language to not just survive, but thrive.
This is my contribution to this effort. A 4 book series of powerful, playful bilingual poems, called jivjivs, which proudly dances with the Western Armenian language and does not shy away from bending and breaking rules and taboos with every line.
Join me along this journey by reading jivjivs, purchasing a book or donating to preserving our historic language.