A Brief Introduction to Harsnerēn

Abstract

Harsnerēn, meaning ‘Language of the Bride’ in Armenian, was a gesture-based form of communication used by married women. Harsnerēn was used when communication was absolutely necessary, as restrictions were typically placed on the speech of married women. The fieldwork for this study was conducted in six villages in Armenia where the author of this article filmed and documented first-hand accounts of uses of Harsnerēn. Harsnerēn, while observed as a tradition of the past, allows for an examination of the relationship between language and power dynamics in intimate, familial, and social relationships in modern society.