Sergo Ericyan: TV channels must dictate taste

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 21, ARMENPRESS. TV channels must make efforts to keep the Armenian language intact. “Armenpress” reports that Head of State Language Inspectorate of Education and Science Ministry of the Republic of Armenia Sergo Ericyan said the aforementioned during the meeting with journalists on November 21.

As Ericyan said, language mistakes in news reports broadcast by TV channels have almost disappeared, however some broadcasters make certain mistakes. Unfortunately, the Armenian language is distorted in many soap operas in order to compensate lack of dramaturgy, raise interests among the audience or give interesting solutions. He added that we should not forget that language of TV is literary Armenian. However, many Armenian TV channels broadcast shows not in the Armenian language despite the fact that the Law of the Republic of Armenian on Language prohibits it; in some cases even simultaneous translation is not provided.

He noted that changes should be made in Article 67 of the Law of the Republic of Armenian on Television and Radio Broadcasting (the legislative initiative is still being discussed) so that it makes it possible to warn about the mistakes related to the mother tongue and then fine. Ericyan added that TV channels should be the ones to dictate taste.

In relation to language mistakes made in campaign videos within the framework of the Constitutional Reforms political campaign, he said he did not notice any mistakes, adding that there were some problems related to live broadcasting preconditioned by the languages typical to this or that region which according to him were not the language violations one should focus on.