Georgian language

AmCyc Georgia (Russian Transcaucasia) - Georgian language alphabet

Road Sign in Latin and Georgian

Mshrali khidi signboard

AmCyc Georgia (Russian Transcaucasia) - Georgian language - Tariel (last verse)

[[File:Ka-UDHR-Nicodene-dad.ogg|Ka-UDHR-Nicodene-dad.ogg Georgian language is the official language of Georgia, a country located at the crossroads of Eastern Europe and Western Asia. It is the primary language of the Georgian people and belongs to the Kartvelian language family, which also includes Svan, Megrelian, and Laz languages, spoken in various regions of Georgia and northeastern Turkey.

History

The Georgian language has a rich history that dates back to the first millennium BC. It has evolved through several stages, from Old Georgian, which is known from inscriptions and literary works such as the 5th-century martyrdom of Saint Shushanik, to Middle Georgian, and then to Modern Georgian, which has been in use since the 11th century. The Georgian script, an integral part of its linguistic heritage, has undergone significant changes over the centuries, transitioning from the ancient Asomtavruli to the Nuskhuri script, and finally to the Mkhedruli script, which is used today.

Alphabet and Script

The Georgian alphabet is unique and has no parallels with other alphabets. It currently consists of 33 letters, representing all the sounds of the Georgian language. The alphabet is phonemic, meaning each phoneme (a unit of sound) in the language is represented by a single grapheme (a unit of writing).

Phonology

Georgian phonology is characterized by its complex consonant clusters and the presence of ejective consonants, which are sounds produced with a simultaneous closure of the glottis. The language has a total of 28 consonant sounds and 5 vowel sounds, which can form syllables that are quite challenging for learners not accustomed to such phonetic structures.

Grammar

The grammar of the Georgian language is notably synthetic, meaning it tends to use inflections (changes in the form of words) to express grammatical relationships, rather than relying on word order or prepositions. Georgian verbs are highly inflected for tense, mood, person, and number. The language also features several cases for nouns, pronouns, and adjectives, including nominative, ergative, dative, and genitive, among others.

Literature and Usage

Georgian literature has a long and illustrious history, with medieval works such as "The Knight in the Panther's Skin" by Shota Rustaveli, standing as a pinnacle of Georgian literary achievement. Today, Georgian is used in all spheres of life in Georgia, including education, government, media, and literature. It is also taught as a second language in some schools in the country and abroad.

Dialects

There are several dialects of the Georgian language, which can be broadly categorized into East and West Georgian dialects. These dialects vary in pronunciation, vocabulary, and some grammatical aspects, but are generally mutually intelligible.

Status and Preservation

As the national language of Georgia, Georgian plays a crucial role in the country's cultural identity and heritage. The Georgian government and various cultural organizations are actively involved in the preservation and promotion of the language, including its teaching in schools and universities, both within Georgia and in the Georgian diaspora.