Caucasian Sign Language

{{Short description|Sign language formerly used among hearing Armenian women}}

{{Infobox language

|name=Caucasian Sign Language

|altname=Armenian Woman's Sign Language

|nativename=հարսներէն

|states=Armenia

|ethnicity=Armenians

|extinct= (defunct)

|ref={{Cite web|url=https://libguides.gallaudet.edu/c.php?g=773913&p=5553192|title=LibGuides: Sign Language: Sign Languages: A-H|first=Elizabeth|last=Henry|website=libguides.gallaudet.edu}}

|familycolor = sign language

|fam1=language isolate

|iso3=none

|glotto=none

}}

Armenian Woman's Sign Language, also known as Caucasian Sign Language or {{Transliteration|hy|Harsneren}} ({{Langx|hy|հարսներէն}}, "bride's language"), is an indigenous sign language of Armenia. It is not directly related to the sign languages of Europe, though it may have historical connections to monastic sign language. It developed under marriage speech taboos similar to those operating in Aboriginal Australia (see Australian Aboriginal sign languages), and is now defunct.{{Cite web |date=November 12, 2019 |first=Lilly |last=Torosyan |title='Harsneren: Language of the Armenian Bride' to premiere at POM 2019 |website=h-pem: Armenian Cultural Platform |url=https://www.h-pem.com/en/Stories/2019/11/12/harsneren-pom-2019/64}}

File:Armenian family Ottoman Empire late 19th century.png

Under the strict patriarchal society then existing in Armenia, a newly married woman was not allowed to speak in the presence of her husband, in-laws and certain other people. She could make simple communication using Harsneren. A study of the language took place in Tavush Province in the 1930s.{{Cite web |url=https://csw.ucla.edu/2017/03/14/harsneren-language-armenian-bride/ |title=Harsneren: Language of the Armenian Bride |first=Carla |last=Kekejian |date=March 14, 2017 |website=Center for the Study of Women}}

The deaf community now has its own sign language, known as Armenian Sign Language.