Georgian dialects
Encyclopedia
Georgian
is a South Caucasian
, or Kartvelian, language spoken by about 4.1 million people primarily in Georgia
, but also in Russia
, Turkey
, Iran
, and Azerbaijan
. It is a highly standardized language, with the first attempts to establish literary and linguistic norms dating back to the 5th century AD. Yet, at least eighteen dialect
s can be identified that fall into two major groups: Western and Eastern. Standard Georgian is largely based on Kartli
an dialect of the Eastern (Central) group, with more or less noticeable contributions from several other dialects. In its turn, Standard Georgian has significantly influenced, especially through educational system and the mass media
, all dialects except for those spoken outside Georgia. However, dialects still retain many of their unique features. In spite of considerable regional variations in certain aspects of phonology
, morphology
, syntax
, and vocabulary
, the Georgian dialects are mostly intelligible with each other. The three other South Caucasian/Kartvelian languages – Mingrelian, Laz
, and Svan
– are sisters
to Georgian, but are mutually unintelligible.
Some of the basic variations among the Georgian dialects include:
. Beyond the Western and Eastern categories, some scholars have also suggested a Southern group. These can be further subdivided into five main dialect groups (Gigineishvili, Topuria and K’avtaradze [1961]):
, and the latter by the descendants of the 17th-century Georgian deportees in Iran
.
Georgian language
Georgian is the native language of the Georgians and the official language of Georgia, a country in the Caucasus.Georgian is the primary language of about 4 million people in Georgia itself, and of another 500,000 abroad...
is a South Caucasian
South Caucasian languages
The Kartvelian languages are spoken primarily in Georgia, with a large group of ethnic Georgian speakers in Russia, the United States, the European Union, and northeastern parts of Turkey. There are approximately 5.2 million speakers of this language family worldwide.It is not known to be related...
, or Kartvelian, language spoken by about 4.1 million people primarily in Georgia
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
, but also in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
, and Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
. It is a highly standardized language, with the first attempts to establish literary and linguistic norms dating back to the 5th century AD. Yet, at least eighteen dialect
Dialect
The term dialect is used in two distinct ways, even by linguists. One usage refers to a variety of a language that is a characteristic of a particular group of the language's speakers. The term is applied most often to regional speech patterns, but a dialect may also be defined by other factors,...
s can be identified that fall into two major groups: Western and Eastern. Standard Georgian is largely based on Kartli
Kartli
Kartli is a historical region in central-to-eastern Georgia traversed by the river Mtkvari , on which Georgia's capital, Tbilisi, is situated. Known to the Classical authors as Iberia, Kartli played a crucial role in ethnic and political consolidation of the Georgians in the Middle Ages...
an dialect of the Eastern (Central) group, with more or less noticeable contributions from several other dialects. In its turn, Standard Georgian has significantly influenced, especially through educational system and the mass media
Mass media
Mass media refers collectively to all media technologies which are intended to reach a large audience via mass communication. Broadcast media transmit their information electronically and comprise of television, film and radio, movies, CDs, DVDs and some other gadgets like cameras or video consoles...
, all dialects except for those spoken outside Georgia. However, dialects still retain many of their unique features. In spite of considerable regional variations in certain aspects of phonology
Phonology
Phonology is, broadly speaking, the subdiscipline of linguistics concerned with the sounds of language. That is, it is the systematic use of sound to encode meaning in any spoken human language, or the field of linguistics studying this use...
, morphology
Morphology (linguistics)
In linguistics, morphology is the identification, analysis and description, in a language, of the structure of morphemes and other linguistic units, such as words, affixes, parts of speech, intonation/stress, or implied context...
, syntax
Syntax
In linguistics, syntax is the study of the principles and rules for constructing phrases and sentences in natural languages....
, and vocabulary
Vocabulary
A person's vocabulary is the set of words within a language that are familiar to that person. A vocabulary usually develops with age, and serves as a useful and fundamental tool for communication and acquiring knowledge...
, the Georgian dialects are mostly intelligible with each other. The three other South Caucasian/Kartvelian languages – Mingrelian, Laz
Laz language
The Laz language is a South Caucasian language spoken by the Laz people on the Southeast shore of the Black Sea...
, and Svan
Svan language
The Svan language is a Kartvelian language spoken in the Western Georgian region of Svaneti primarily by the Georgians of Svan origin...
– are sisters
Sister language
A sister language is a cognate language, that is, coming from the same once-existing language or hypothetical root language. The latter language is the so-called proto-language. There are many examples of sister languages...
to Georgian, but are mutually unintelligible.
Some of the basic variations among the Georgian dialects include:
- The presence of y and w (ჳ) before certain vowelVowelIn phonetics, a vowel is a sound in spoken language, such as English ah! or oh! , pronounced with an open vocal tract so that there is no build-up of air pressure at any point above the glottis. This contrasts with consonants, such as English sh! , where there is a constriction or closure at some...
s; - The presence of q (ჴ) and q (ყ) sounds;
- Distinction between long and short vowels;
- Extra vowel sounds not found in Standard Georgian;
- The usage of n (ნ) plural form;
- Plural adjectivalAdjectiveIn grammar, an adjective is a 'describing' word; the main syntactic role of which is to qualify a noun or noun phrase, giving more information about the object signified....
forms; - Non-standard verbVerbA verb, from the Latin verbum meaning word, is a word that in syntax conveys an action , or a state of being . In the usual description of English, the basic form, with or without the particle to, is the infinitive...
forms; - ArchaismArchaismIn language, an archaism is the use of a form of speech or writing that is no longer current. This can either be done deliberately or as part of a specific jargon or formula...
s and borrowings from neighboring languages not found in Standard Georgian.
Classification
The Georgian dialects are classified according to their geographic distribution, reflecting a traditional ethnographic subdivision of the Georgian peopleGeorgian people
The Georgians are an ethnic group that have originated in Georgia, where they constitute a majority of the population. Large Georgian communities are also present throughout Russia, European Union, United States, and South America....
. Beyond the Western and Eastern categories, some scholars have also suggested a Southern group. These can be further subdivided into five main dialect groups (Gigineishvili, Topuria and K’avtaradze [1961]):
Northeast dialects
This group is spoken by the mountaineers in northeast Georgia.- Mokhevian (Moxevuri, მოხევური), spoken in KheviKheviKhevi is a small historical-geographic area in northeastern Georgia. It is included in the modern-day Kazbegi district, Mtskheta-Mtianeti region...
- Mtiuletian-Gudamaq’rian (Mtiulur-Gudamaqʼruli, მთიულურ-გუდამაყრული) in MtiuletiMtiuletiMtiuleti is a historical province in eastern Georgia, on the southern slopes of the Greater Caucasus Mountains. It primarily comprises the White Aragvi Valley, and is bordered by Gudamakari on the east, Khando on the south, Tskhrazma on the west, and Khevi on the north. Mtiuleti occupies parts of...
and GudamaqariGudamaqariGudamaq'ari is a small historical geographic area in northeast Georgia on the southern slopes of the Greater Caucasus Mountains. Located along the river valley of Aragvi, it is bordered by Mtiuleti on the west, Khevi on the north, Khevsureti and Pshavi on the east, and Khando and Ch'artali... - Khevsurian (Xevsuruli, ხევსურული) in KhevsuretiKhevsuretiKhevsureti/Khevsuria is a historical-ethnographic region in eastern Georgia. They are the branch of Kartvelian people located along both the northern and southern slopes of the Great Caucasus...
- Pshavian (Pšavuri, ფშავური) in PshaviPshaviPshavi is a small historic-geographic area in Georgia, included in today’s Mtskheta-Mtianeti region and laying chiefly on the southern foothills of the Greater Caucasus mountains along Aragvi River and the lower Iori River. The Pshavs, who are locally called the Pshaveli, speak a Georgian dialect...
- Tushetian (Tušuri, თუშური) in TushetiTushetiTusheti is a historic region in northeast Georgia.-Geography:Located on the northern slopes of the Greater Caucasus Mountains, Tusheti is bordered by the Russian republics of Chechnya and Dagestan to the north and east, respectively; and by the Georgian historic provinces Kakheti and...
Eastern dialects
Two of these dialects, Ingiloan and Fereidanian, are spoken outside Georgia, the former by the indigenous Georgians in northwest AzerbaijanAzerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
, and the latter by the descendants of the 17th-century Georgian deportees in Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
.
- Kakhetian (Kʼaxuri, კახური) in KakhetiKakhetiKakheti is a historical province in Eastern Georgia inhabited by Kakhetians who speak a local dialect of Georgian. It is bordered by the small mountainous province of Tusheti and the Greater Caucasus mountain range to the north, Russian Federation to the Northeast, Azerbaijan to the Southeast, and...
- Ingiloan (Ingilouri, ინგილოური) in SaingiloSaingiloSaingilo is a 19th-century term that is used to indicate parts of the districts of Balakan, Zaqatala and Qakh—territory of 4,780 km2—currently parts of Azerbaijan, populated by the ethnic Georgians—Ingiloi.-History:...
(Azerbaijan) - Fereidanian (Pereidnuli, ფერეიდნული) in Fereydoon ShahrFereydoon ShahrFereydunshahr is a city in and the capital of Fereydunshahr County, Isfahan Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 13,475, in 3,622 families....
(Iran) - Tianetian (Tianeturi, თიანეთური) in TianetiTianetiTianeti is a town in east-central Georgia, in the Caucasus Mountains. It is located at around .Tianeti is situated in the North-Eastern part of Georgia . According to the 2002 State Census, its population was 3598 people...
Central dialects
The Central dialects, sometimes considered part of the Eastern group, are spoken in central and southern Georgia, and provide the basis for Standard Georgian language.- Kartlian (Kartluri, ქართლური) in KartliKartliKartli is a historical region in central-to-eastern Georgia traversed by the river Mtkvari , on which Georgia's capital, Tbilisi, is situated. Known to the Classical authors as Iberia, Kartli played a crucial role in ethnic and political consolidation of the Georgians in the Middle Ages...
- Javakhian (Javaxuri, ჯავახური) in JavakhetiJavakhetiJavakheti is a historical region of the nation of Georgia, in the southeastern part of the country's Samtskhe-Javakheti province. Today it comprises the Akhalkalaki and Ninotsminda municipal territories. It was historically bordered in the west with both sides of the Mtkvari river, in the north,...
- Meskhian (Mesxuri, მესხური) in MeskhetiMeskhetiMeskheti is in a mountainous area of Moschia and is a former province in southwestern Georgia. The ancient Georgian tribes of Meskhi and Mosiniks were the indigenous population of this region. A majority of the modern Georgian population of Meskheti are descendants of these ancient tribes...
Southwest dialects
- Gurian (Guruli, გურული) in GuriaGuriaGuria is a region in Georgia, in the western part of the country, bordered by the eastern end of the Black Sea. The region has a population of 143,357 and Ozurgeti is a regional capital.-Geography:...
- Adjarian (Ačʼaruli, აჭარული) in AdjaraAdjaraAdjara , officially the Autonomous Republic of Adjara , is an autonomous republic of Georgia.Adjara is located in the southwestern corner of Georgia, bordered by Turkey to the south and the eastern end of the Black Sea...
- Imerkhevian (Imerxevuli, იმერხევული) in ImerkheviImerkheviImerkhevi is a valley in the north of Şavşat district in Artvin Province of Turkey along the border with Georgia. There are 14 villages in this area....
(Turkey)
Northwest dialects
- Imeretian (Imeruli, იმერული) in ImeretiImeretiImereti is a province in Georgia situated along the middle and upper reaches of the Rioni river. It consists of the following Georgian administrative-territorial units:#Kutaisi #Baghdati region#Vani region#Zestafoni region...
- Lechkhumian (Lečxumuri, ლეჩხუმური) in LechkhumiLechkhumiLechkhumi is a historic province in northwestern Georgia which comprises the area along the middle basin of the Rioni and Tskhenistskali and also the Lajanuri river valley. Now part of the Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti region, it corresponds roughly to the present day Tsageri district as well...
- Rachan (Račʼuli, რაჭული) in RachaRachaRacha is a highland area in western Georgia, located in the upper Rioni river valley and hemmed in by the Greater Caucasus mountains...
Other dialects
- The obsolescent Kizlar-Mozdokian dialect, was spoken in the north central CaucasianNorth CaucasusThe North Caucasus is the northern part of the Caucasus region between the Black and Caspian Seas and within European Russia. The term is also used as a synonym for the North Caucasus economic region of Russia....
areas of KizlyarKizlyarKizlyar is a town in the Republic of Dagestan, Russia, located in the delta of the Terek River northwest of Makhachkala. Population: 30,000 ....
and MozdokMozdokMozdok is a town and the administrative center of Mozdoksky District of the Republic of North Ossetia–Alania in southern Russia, located on the left shore of the Terek River, north of Vladikavkaz, the republic's capital. The name of the town literally means "dense forest" in the Kabardian language...
by descendants of those Georgians who fled the OttomanOttoman EmpireThe Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
occupation of Georgia in the early 18th century. It was technically a mixture of various Georgian dialects laden with RussianRussian languageRussian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
loanwords. Subsequently, the group was largely RussifiedRussificationRussification is an adoption of the Russian language or some other Russian attributes by non-Russian communities...
and the dialect went extinct. - Judæo-Georgian is a language spoken by the Georgian JewsGeorgian JewsThe Georgian Jews are from the nation of Georgia, in the Caucasus...
. Largely Georgian phonetically, morphologically, and syntactically, and mixed Georgian-HebrewHebrew languageHebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
lexically, it is considered by some not to be a distinct language but rather a dialect of Georgian.