Please join us for an immersive workshop of introduction to Armenian Sign Language. How does sign language function? How is it perceived and experienced? Why does Armenian Sign Language matter for culture, education, and future generations in the Armenian Deaf Community? How does the community deal with migration, language shifts or new technologies?
You will learn about the Deaf Armenian community and its current challenges from Greg Avetisyan, Chevening Scholar studying social and public policy at The University of York. Greg will open up a window for us all towards the hidden gem that is Armenian Sign Language, an often invisible yet vital part of the Armenian cultural and linguistic heritage.
This session is not designed as a language course, and no prior knowledge of sign language is required. Through a mix of short contextual insights and hands-on, artistic exercises, participants will engage with visual communication. We will discuss Deaf social behaviour, storytelling, and the embodied nature of sign language in Armenia and the UK.
Please email erica@armenianinstitute.org.uk if you require any sign language translation of this event or have any other questions.
About the Speaker
Greg Avetisyan is a marketing and branding specialist with over 20 years of experience. Two years ago, as a son of Deaf parents, he decided to shift his career from a major branding company to freelance. This allowed him to dedicate his free time to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community of Armenia to make an impact on policymaking processes, education and culture. Greg has been granted a Chevening Scholarship in 2025 and is currently completing a Master’s degree in Social and Public Policy at the University of York.
With over two decades of leadership experience in communications and organisational development, Greg has worked extensively with international organisations, NGOs, and public institutions across Armenia and Europe. His work focuses on sign language recognition, Deaf education reform, and the ethical implications of emerging technologies such as AI in education. Fluent in Armenian Sign Language and raised by Deaf parents, he approaches Deaf culture as a linguistic and cultural identity rather than a medical condition.
