From YSU to Cadiz: Armenian–Spanish academic dialogue

In an interview with us, Hasmik Baghdasaryan, Head of the Chair of Romance Philology at the Faculty of European Languages and Communication, spoke about the objectives of her visit to Cádiz under the Erasmus+ program, the lectures she delivered, as well as the achievements and future prospects of Armenian–Spanish university cooperation. 

— Ms. Baghdasaryan, within what framework was your visit to the University of Cadiz organized? 

— The visit was organized within the framework of cooperation with the Center for Eastern European and Central Asian Studies at the University of Cadiz, coordinated by Andres Santana. The program included lectures, book discussions, various meetings, and cultural events at the university campus in Jerez de la Frontera.

In 2023, an official delegation from the University of Cadiz visited Yerevan State University, leading to the establishment of an Armenian–Spanish classroom. This initiative is part of an innovative project to build a university collaboration network by establishing relevant institutional structures at both universities. The project, with a multidimensional and interdisciplinary vision, has gained particular importance in addressing the latest challenges in education. 

In recent years, the Chair of Romance Philology has hosted a number of in-person and online lectures within the framework of cooperation with the University of Cadiz. Eight lecturers from the Spanish university have participated, addressing various issues in Spanish philology.

— What topics did you lecture on at the University of Cadiz?

— First of all, I would highlight the lectures I delivered at the Institute of Applied Linguistics at the invitation of its director, renowned linguist Professor Miguel Casas Gomez. In Spain, this institute stands out for its advanced technological capabilities and unique laboratory infrastructure, including facilities for clinical and forensic linguistics, as well as laboratories for computational, digital, and experimental linguistics, phonetics, and acoustic engineering, where innovative and highly specialized research is conducted. 

The first lecture was devoted to contemporary issues in paremiology from an interlingual perspective, based on linguistic material from Spanish, French, and Italian. The second addressed the problem of equivalence in the French translation of the proverbs and sayings in Cervantes' Don Quixote. During the lectures, discussions revolved around many related issues, information on which was published on the institute's official website (link 1, link 2, link 3). 

Another lecture, titled "Metaphor and Translation: Discursive Reconstruction of Gabriel García Márquez's Narrative Domain," was delivered at the Faculty of Philology and Philosophy as part of the Days of Philology. A doctoral student of the University of Cadiz, Anahit Margaryan, also gave a lecture on the same topic. As a result, the seminar turned into a productive platform for scholarly dialogue, focused on different approaches to the interrelations between metaphor and translation. It is available at the following link.

— What programs and initiatives are currently being implemented within the framework of cooperation with the University of Cádiz?

— In addition to organizing lectures within the framework of mutual visits and the opportunity for students of our chair to study for one semester at the University of Cadiz under the Erasmus+ program (currently, three bachelor's students from our chair are studying there), a number of other joint initiatives have also been implemented. 

In particular, two book presentations and discussions have been jointly organized, and our students have participated in the Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) program, gaining valuable experience in international cooperation.  

Anahit Margaryan, a graduate of our chair, is currently pursuing doctoral studies at the University of Cadiz and is preparing to defend her dissertation in the near future. Notably, she has also made a significant contribution to the development of cooperation between our universities. In addition, bachelor's graduates of our chair — Mary Margaryan, Kelly S. Hovhannisyan, and Shushanik Chakhoyan — are currently enrolled in various master's programs at the same university and are already working on their master's theses.

Among upcoming initiatives, a major highlight is the Days of Spanish Culture scheduled to take place at Yerevan State University on June 24–25. Within the framework of this event, lecturers from four Spanish universities, including the University of Cadiz, will visit Armenia. This initiative will also foster the development of a research cooperation network focused on Armenian–Spanish relations. 

Within this research cooperation framework, the book Armenia in the Spanish-Speaking World has already been published in Granada, standing out in Spain for its thematic scope and academic value.

— What historical and cultural commonalities and interesting connections exist between Armenia and Cadiz?

— There are notable historical and cultural ties between Armenia and Cadiz. As early as the 17th century, a small Armenian community was active in Cadiz, which is linked to the fact that during that period Cadiz and Seville were among Spain's most important ports and major commercial centers.

Clear evidence of these connections can be found in the donations made in the 1670s by Armenian merchants from New Julfa to the Saint Mary Church in Cadiz. These include a significant collection of Dutch ceramic tiles, a baptismal font with an Italian marble base, as well as a large silver processional cross decorated with red gemstones and made from tortoiseshell.

The thousands of tiles adorning the church walls, depicting saints, papal figures, and biblical scenes, contain inscriptions in Armenian, Spanish, and Latin. They are considered among the most valuable of their kind among similar Dutch collections worldwide, distinguished by their unique iconography.

Further study of archival materials will make it possible to uncover new layers of these ties, an effort that is also supported by the formation of an international research cooperation network focused on Armenian–Spanish relations. 

— What new prospects and programs do you see for future cooperation with the University of Cadiz?

— I would particularly highlight my meetings with Leonor Acosta Bustamante, General Director for Language Policy at the University of Cadiz, during which agreements were reached on the implementation of joint educational programs and various initiatives.

These will significantly enhance the programs at the YSU Chair of Romance Philology, while also promoting research activities and supporting their internationalization and modernization.

Overall, I believe there is considerable potential for cooperation between our universities, aimed at further deepening bilateral ties.