Difference between revisions of "Magharich (Armenia)"

In its original meaning, magharich’ means a gift given by a person who receives good news on personal matters, to a friend, relative, neighbour, or to the person who conveys the news (Hayots Lezvi Barbarrayin Bararan Vol. 4 2007: 17)<ref>Hayot slezvi barbarayin bararan (Dictionary of Armenian Dialects). 2007. Yerevan: National Academy of Science of RA, http://www.nayiri.com/imagedDictionaryBrowser.jsp?dictionaryId=48&query=%D5%B4%D5%A1%D5%B2%D5%A1%D6%80%D5%AB%D5%B9</ref>.The first appearance of this word in Armenian dictionaries can be dated to 1944 (Malkhasyants 1944: 244)<ref>Malkaseants, S. 1944.  Hayeren Bats'atrakan Bararan (Explanatory Dictionary of Armenian). Yerevan: Haykakan SSR petakan Hartaraktchutyun, Vol 3, http://www.nayiri.com/imagedDictionaryBrowser.jsp?dictionaryId=29&query=%D5%B4%D5%A1%D5%B2%D5%A1%D6%80%D5%AB%D5%B9</ref>, where it was presented as a synonym of the word avetcheq, which means a gift given to a person who brings good news (Raffi 1970, see also Aghayan 1974: 960, Jamanakakic Hayots Lezvi Bats'atrakan Bararan 1974: 468)<ref>Raffi. 1970. Samvel. Hayastan, Yerevan</ref><ref>Aghayan, E. B. 1976. Ardi hayereni bats’atrakan bararan(Explanatory dictionary of contemporary Armenian). Yerevan: ''Hayastan'' Hratarakchutyun, http://www.nayiri.com/imagedDictionaryBrowser.jsp?dictionaryId=24&query=%D5%B4%D5%A1%D5%B2%D5%A1%D6%80%D5%AB%D5%B9</ref><ref>Jamanakakic hajoc lezvi bats'atrakan bararan (Explanatory dictionary of contemporary Armenian language). 1974. Yerevan: Hrachya Atcharyani Anvan Lezvi Institut: Hajkakan SSH  Gitutyunneri Akademiaji hratarakchutyun, Vol.3, http://www.nayiri.com/imagedDictionaryBrowser.jsp?dictionaryId=24&query=%D5%B4%D5%A1%D5%B2%D5%A1%D6%80%D5%AB%D5%B9</ref>. Essentially, the magharich’ gift is given because the recipient of the good news is so thankful that they wish to share it in some way. Indeed, the receiver of the magharich’ might not even expect anything in compensation for the service. The same meaning holds where the beneficiary offers a magharich’ to friends, neighbours or relatives, in order for them to share joy, good fortune or happy news. A typical example of this type of magharich’, especially in Soviet Armenia, was money given to midwives who brought news of a successful delivery and announced the gender of the newborn. Armenian fathers were especially generous when the newborn was a boy. Another example is giving money to a doctor following successful surgery.

In its original meaning, magharich’ means a gift given by a person who receives good news on personal matters, to a friend, relative, neighbour, or to the person who conveys the news (Hayots Lezvi Barbarrayin Bararan Vol. 4 2007: 17)<ref>Hayot slezvi barbarayin bararan (Dictionary of Armenian Dialects). 2007. Yerevan: National Academy of Science of RA, http://www.nayiri.com/imagedDictionaryBrowser.jsp?dictionaryId=48&query=%D5%B4%D5%A1%D5%B2%D5%A1%D6%80%D5%AB%D5%B9</ref>.The first appearance of this word in Armenian dictionaries can be dated to 1944 (Malkhasyants 1944: 244)<ref>Malkaseants, S. 1944.  Hayeren Bats'atrakan Bararan (Explanatory Dictionary of Armenian). Yerevan: Haykakan SSR petakan Hartaraktchutyun, Vol 3, http://www.nayiri.com/imagedDictionaryBrowser.jsp?dictionaryId=29&query=%D5%B4%D5%A1%D5%B2%D5%A1%D6%80%D5%AB%D5%B9</ref>, where it was presented as a synonym of the word avetcheq, which means a gift given to a person who brings good news (Raffi 1970, see also Aghayan 1974: 960, Jamanakakic Hayots Lezvi Bats'atrakan Bararan 1974: 468)<ref>Raffi. 1970. Samvel. Hayastan, Yerevan</ref><ref>Aghayan, E. B. 1976. Ardi hayereni bats’atrakan bararan(Explanatory dictionary of contemporary Armenian). Yerevan: ''Hayastan'' Hratarakchutyun, http://www.nayiri.com/imagedDictionaryBrowser.jsp?dictionaryId=24&query=%D5%B4%D5%A1%D5%B2%D5%A1%D6%80%D5%AB%D5%B9</ref><ref>Jamanakakic hajoc lezvi bats'atrakan bararan (Explanatory dictionary of contemporary Armenian language). 1974. Yerevan: Hrachya Atcharyani Anvan Lezvi Institut: Hajkakan SSH  Gitutyunneri Akademiaji hratarakchutyun, Vol.3, http://www.nayiri.com/imagedDictionaryBrowser.jsp?dictionaryId=24&query=%D5%B4%D5%A1%D5%B2%D5%A1%D6%80%D5%AB%D5%B9</ref>. Essentially, the magharich’ gift is given because the recipient of the good news is so thankful that they wish to share it in some way. Indeed, the receiver of the magharich’ might not even expect anything in compensation for the service. The same meaning holds where the beneficiary offers a magharich’ to friends, neighbours or relatives, in order for them to share joy, good fortune or happy news. A typical example of this type of magharich’, especially in Soviet Armenia, was money given to midwives who brought news of a successful delivery and announced the gender of the newborn. Armenian fathers were especially generous when the newborn was a boy. Another example is giving money to a doctor following successful surgery.

[[File:Pictorial representation of Magharich.jpg|300px|thumb|left|Image depicting the informal practice of Magharich.Author: Sveta Ghazaryan]]

[[File:Pictorial representation of Magharich.jpg|300px|thumb|left|Image depicting the informal practice of Magharich.Author: Sveta Ghazaryan]]

In Armenia it is widely believed that the term magharich’ (in the original sense of gift-giving) is an Armenian word that has migrated to wherever Armenians went in the former Soviet Union and beyond. However, both the word and the same definition of the practice are found in other languages too. The etymological roots of the word magharich’ might come from an Arabic word خارج‎‎ (maḫāriǧ) which literally means costs and expenses (Wikipedia.ru). The use of the word in Russian (in modern Russian: магарыч; in old Russian: могорьць, могорецъ, магарецъ) dates back to the beginning of the sixteenth century (Slovar ruskogo yazika XI–XVIIvv 1982: 230)<ref>Slovar’ russkogo yazika XI–XVII vv. 1982. AN SSSR.M. Nauka (Dictionary of Russian Language XI-XVII)</ref>. The word can also be found in Dal’s esteemed Explanatory Dictionary of the Living Great Russian Language (Dal’ 1863-1866)<ref>Dal', V. I. 1863-1866. Tol'kovij slovar' jivogo velikorusskogo yazika (Explanatory Dictionary of the Living Great Russian Language). St Petersburg: M. O. Wol’f, http://slovardalja.net/word.php?wordid=15305</ref>, where it is described in both contexts: firstly as a gift, mostly in the form of alcohol, given after a good deal has been concluded; and secondly as a bribe.

In Armenia it is widely believed that the term magharich’ (in the original sense of gift-giving) is an Armenian word that has migrated to wherever Armenians went in the former Soviet Union and beyond. However, both the word and the same definition of the practice are found in other languages too. The etymological roots of the word magharich’ might come from an Arabic word خارج‎‎ (maḫāriǧ) which literally means costs and expenses (Wikipedia.ru). The use of the word in Russian (in modern Russian: магарыч; in old Russian: могорьць, могорецъ, магарецъ) dates back to the beginning of the sixteenth century (Slovar ruskogo yazika XI–XVIIvv 1982: 230)<ref>Slovar’ russkogo yazika XI–XVII vv. 1982. AN SSSR.M. Nauka (Dictionary of Russian Language XI-XVII)</ref>. The word can also be found in Dal’s esteemed Explanatory Dictionary of the Living Great Russian Language (Dal’ 1863-1866)<ref>Dal', V. I. 1863-1866. Tol'kovij slovar' jivogo velikorusskogo yazika (Explanatory Dictionary of the Living Great Russian Language). St Petersburg: M. O. Wol’f, http://slovardalja.net/word.php?wordid=15305</ref>, where it is described in both contexts: firstly as a gift, mostly in the form of alcohol, given after a good deal has been concluded; and secondly as a bribe.

The traditional unsolicited gift-giving as a token of gratitude has turned into all kinds of informal add-ons to underpaid professionals in Soviet Armenia. The practice of compensating doctors and teachers for their inadequate pay and giving magharich’ for good service was widely perceived as appreciation, and to some extent the state connived in the practice. Although morally dubious and illegal, informal payments were often perceived by both donors and recipients as fair and necessary under the constraints of the Soviet regime. However, following the collapse of the Soviet Union, such practices have become regarded as a form of corruption. In 2013, according to Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index, Armenia was ranked 94–101 out of 177 countries on the basis of payments for services in the public sector (Transparency International, 2014)<ref>Transparency International. 2014. Corruption Perception Index 2014, http://www.transparency.org/cpi2014</ref>. No study to date has examined the ambivalence of informal payments – associated with blurred boundaries between traditional gifts and monetary payments – in the context of the Armenian tradition of magharich’. It is a cultural tradition that conflicts with international measurement of corruption, and the reinvention of such ‘traditions’ can lead to dangerous territory that ‘camouflages’ pragmatic needs, greed, and extortion. Further research on magharich’ is needed in order to better understand the boundaries between traditional gift-giving practices and corruption in Armenia.

The traditional unsolicited gift-giving as a token of gratitude has turned into all kinds of informal add-ons to underpaid professionals in Soviet Armenia. The practice of compensating doctors and teachers for their inadequate pay and giving magharich’ for good service was widely perceived as appreciation, and to some extent the state connived in the practice. Although morally dubious and illegal, informal payments were often perceived by both donors and recipients as fair and necessary under the constraints of the Soviet regime. However, following the collapse of the Soviet Union, such practices have become regarded as a form of corruption. In 2013, according to Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index, Armenia was ranked 94–101 out of 177 countries on the basis of payments for services in the public sector (Transparency International, 2014)<ref>Transparency International. 2014. Corruption Perception Index 2014, http://www.transparency.org/cpi2014</ref>. No study to date has examined the ambivalence of informal payments – associated with blurred boundaries between traditional gifts and monetary payments – in the context of the Armenian tradition of magharich’. It is a cultural tradition that conflicts with international measurement of corruption, and the reinvention of such ‘traditions’ can lead to dangerous territory that ‘camouflages’ pragmatic needs, greed, and extortion. Further research on magharich’ is needed in order to better understand the boundaries between traditional gift-giving practices and corruption in Armenia.