by avetik » 16 Aug 2009, 20:12
Grish jan, Armenian sub-ethnic groups, such as Hamshentsi, are studied today by sociologists, historians, linguists. What makes Hamshentsi's somewhat different from other Armenian sub-ethnic groups is the fact that majority of us (according to Hagop about 5/8) are descendants of those people who were converted from Christianity to Islam. This process was not quick and it began about 3-4 centuries ago. Today a part of muslim Hamshetsi sub-ethnic group which is called Hopa Hemshinli still speaks a dialect of Armenian. They do not call themselves Armenians, but they do not call themselves Turk either, but they use "Hamshetsi" name. Their dialect is quite different from traditional modern day Armenian, but is similar to a dialect that Armenians in Abkhazia and South Russia are using. Hamshetsi Armenians in Abkhazia and South Russia are not Muslim, but they are Christian with clear national identity as Armenians. Hemshinli in Turkey struggle with identity issues even today. Yet not just the dialect, but music, food, many other cultural aspects of both Chrisian and Muslim Hamshetsi are unique to the Black Sea area. I would say, there is more similarity with Pontian Greeks than with Armenians from other areas, but this is my personal opinion.
astegh badmutine hin
xarnevadza nerin hed,
kidista miy baberun azbarininq himi menq,
azbarininq menq... (c) Hamsheni Azbar