THE GEORGIAN LANGUAGE

A short bibliography of study material

PJ Hillery

This bibliography contains brief details of books and other materials on the Georgian language. Not all items are in print, and some may be difficult to find outside Georgia; however, a number of items have been re-issued in Georgia in recent years. Works in English have been given prominence, while notable items in the main languages of Western Europe are also listed; a few key reference items in Georgian have also been included. This overall approach inevitably excludes a significant amount of material on the subject.

Caucasian Languages

Klimov (1985) provides a good general introduction that includes maps and comparative data, and is much more comprehensive than his earlier work (Klimov 1965). Catford (1977) surveys the languages under several topic headings, and Comrie (1981) gives an overview of morphology and syntax. Comrie (1981) also covers the non-Caucasian languages of the Caucasus. The series under the general editorship of Greppin provides detailed overviews of many of the Caucasian languages.

Catford, J. C. 1977. 'Mountain of tongues: the languages of the Caucasus', in Annual Review of Anthropology, vol. 6, pp. 283-314.

Comrie, B. 1981. The Languages of the Soviet Union (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge).

Deeters, G. 1963. 'Die kaukasischen Sprachen' in Deeters, G. et al. Armenisch und kaukasische Sprachen (Brill, Leiden).

Greppin, J. A. C. (general editor). The Indigenous Languages of the Caucasus (Caravan Books, Delmar): vol. 1, ed. Harris, A. C. 1992 The Kartvelian Languages; vol. 2, ed. Hewitt, B. G. 1989 The North West Caucasian Languages; vol. 3, ed. Job, D. M. and Smeets, R. (forthcoming) The North East Caucasian Languages, part 1; vol. 4, ed. Smeets, R. (1994) The North East Caucasian Languages, part 2.

Jorbenadze, B. 1991. The Kartvelian Languages and Dialects (Metsniereba, Tbilsi).

Klimov, G. A. 1965. Кавказкие языки (Moscow), translated as Klimov, G. A. 1969. Die kaukasischen Sprachen (Helmut Buske Verlag, Hamburg).

Klimov, G. A. 1985. Введение в кавказское языковедение (Nauka, Moscow) translated as Klimov, G. A. 1994. Einführung in die kaukasische Sprachwissenschaft (Helmut Buske Verlag, Hamburg).

Phonology

Aronson (1997) provides a useful concise summary of the phonology of the language. Robins and Waterson (1952) summarizes the phonetics of Georgian based on a detailed study of the speech of one informant. The Language Laboratory of Indiana University, Bloomington, has produced sets of cassette tape recordings to accompany Aronson (1990) (5 tapes) and Tschenkéli (1958) (8 tapes). There are also cassettes to accompany Gabounia & Murphy (1995) (2 tapes) and Bakradze (1994) (1 tape). (See also ‘Georgian as a Foreign Language course material’ below.)

Aronson, H. I. 1997. Georgian Phonology, in Kaye, Alan S. (ed.), Phonologies of Asia and Africa 2 vols., (Eisenbrauns, Winona Lake, IN).

Robins, R. H. and Waterson, N. 1952. 'Notes on the Phonetics of the Georgian Word', in Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies, vol. 14 (pt 1), pp. 55-72.

Script

Jensen (1970) notes the possible links with Middle Iranian, while Gamq'relidze (1989) deals in depth with Greek influence (the book contains an extended Russian-language résumé). Holisky (1995) provides a useful bibliography. Mach'avariani (1989) (in Georgian) is a short monograph with illustrations showing how the shapes of the Georgian letters have evolved over the centuries. Basiashvili (1973) should prove useful to those who wish to practice reading khutsuri texts.

Basilashvili, E. 1973. ძველი ქართული ანბანი żveli kartuli anbani ['The Ancient Georgian Alphabet'] (Ganatleba, Tbilisi).

Gamq'relidze, T. 1989. წერის ანბანური სისტემა და ძველი ქართული დამწერილობა c'eris anbanuri sist'ema da żveli kartuli damc'eriloba [‘Alphabetic Writing and the Old Georgian Script’] (Tbilisi University Press, Tbilisi).

Holisky, D.A. 1995. The Georgian Alphabet in Daniels, P. T. & Bright, W. (eds) The World's Writing Systems (Oxford University Press, New York).

Jensen, H. 1958. Die Schrift in Vergangenheit und Gegenwart (Berlin), translated as Jensen, H. 1970. Sign, Symbol and Script (Allen & Unwin, London).

Mach’avariani, E. 1989. მწიგნობრობაჲ ქართული mc'ignobrobay kartuli ['Written Georgian'] (Kartuli Sabch'ota Entsik'lop'edia, Tbilisi).

Grammars and study material

Fähnrich (1987) is a concise descriptive grammar, with emphasis on word formation, irregular verbs and syntax. Vogt (1971) provides a detailed description of the language, with numerous illustrative examples. Aronson (1990) is a pedagogical grammar aimed at those wishing to acquire a reading knowledge of the language. Tschenkéli (1958) is in two parts: a detailed pedagogical grammar with numerous paradigms, and a combined set of exercises and chrestomathy. K'raveishvili and Nakhutsrishvili (1972) (in English) is a useful introductory course, as is Geguchadze (1996). Hewitt (1996a) provides much detailed information, but the book's Georgian dialogues have been widely criticized by native scholars; a revised edition of this book has been published (Hewitt 2005). Hewitt (1996b) is a comprehensive reference grammar targeted at linguists, but its value is reduced by an inadequate index.

Aronson & Kiziria 1999 is a very useful chrestomathy (dialogues, excerpts from works of Georgian prose and poetry, and a grammatical review). It is ideal for those with a basic knowledge of the grammar of the language.

Aronson, H. I. 1982 (corrected edition 1990). Georgian: a Reading Grammar, corrected edition, (Slavica Publishers, Columbus; ISBN 0-89357-207-1).

Aronson, H. I. & Kiziria, D. 1999. Georgian Language and Culture: A Continuing Course, Slavica Publishers, Bloomington).

Asatiani, R. 1996. ქართული ენის სახელმძღვანელო უცხოელებისათვის kartuli enis saxelmżġvanelo ucxoelebisatvis [Georgian Language for Foreigners] (Georgian Academy of Sciences, Tbilisi).

Babunaschwili, N. & Nadarejschwili, N. 1974. ქართული ენის თვითმასწავლებელი kartuli enis tvitmasc'avlebeli [‘Lehrbuch der Georgischen Sprache zum Selbststudium’] (Metsniereba, Tbilisi).

Deeters, G. 1930. Das khartwelische Verbum (Kommissionsverlag von Markert & Petters, Leipzig).

Fähnrich, H. 1987. Kurze Grammatik der georgischen Sprache (Verlag Enzyklopädie, Leipzig).

Geguchadze, L. 1996. The Georgian Language for Foreign Learners, I: Concise Grammar with Texts and Vocabulary (Tbilisi University Press, Tbilisi; ISBN 5-511-00661-0).

Hewitt, G. 1996a. Georgian: A Learner's Grammar First edition (Routledge, London).

Hewitt, B. G. 1996b. Georgian: A Structural Reference Grammar (John Benjamins, Amsterdam).

Hewitt, G. (prepared) 1996c. A Georgian Reader (with Texts, Translation and Vocabulary) (School of Oriental and African Studies, London).

Hewitt, G. 2005. Georgian: A Learner's Grammar Second edition (Routledge, London).

K'raveishvili, M. and Nakhutsrishvili, G. 1972. ქართული ენისა და წერა-კითხვის თვითმასწავლებელი kartuli enisa da c'era-k'itxvis tvitmasc'avlebeli [‘Teach Yourself Georgian’] (The Georgian Society for Cultural Relations with Compatriots Abroad, Tbilisi).

Quadeichvili, N. & Ghambachidze, R. 1969. ქართული ენის თვითმასწავლებელი kartuli enis tvitmasc'avlebeli [Manuel de Géorgien pour l'Étude Individuelle] (Société Géorgienne de Relations Culturelles avec les Compatriots à l'Étranger, Tbilisi).

Rudenko, B. T. 1940. Грамматика грузинского языка (Izdatel'stvo Akademii nauk SSSR, 1940).

Tschenkéli, K. 1958. Einführung in die georgische Sprache 2 vols (Amirani Verlag, Zürich).

Tsibakhashvili, G. I. 1973. Элементарный курс грузинского языка (Tbilisi University Press, Tbilisi).

Vogt, H. 1936. Esquisse d'une Grammaire du Géorgien Moderne (Norsk Tidsskrift for Sprogvidenskap, Oslo).

Vogt, H. 1971. Grammaire de la langue géorgienne (Universitetsforlaget, Oslo).

Georgian as a Foreign Language course material

Nilolaishvili, M. 2000. Georgian Language (Intensive Course, 1) incl. 3 CDs (Metsniereba, Tbilisi; ISBN 99928-891-0-1).

Shavtvaladze, N. 2006. ბილიკი bilik’i [Path] (Levels 1-4) incl. CD (Lega, Tbilisi; ISBN 99940-879-8-3 (Level 1)).

Phrasebooks

The most useful phrasebook (which includes some grammatical information) is Bakradze (1994). The other titles are primarily intended for Georgian speakers.

Bakradze, L. 1994. Georgisch Wort für Wort (Verlag Peter Rump, Bielefeld).

Gamsakhurdia, L. 1989. ვისაუბროთ ინგლისურად visaubrot inglisurad [‘Conversation Book’] (Ganatleba, Tbilisi).

Goletiani, G. 1984. ქართული-რუსული სასაუბრო kartuli-rusuli sasaubro ['Georgian-Russian Phrasebook'] (Tbilisi University Press, Tbilisi).

Newman, L.W. (undated) ქართული-ინგლისური სასაუბრო kartuli-inglisuri sasaubro [Georgian English Guide to Conversation] (publisher not noted, Tbilisi).

Chubabria, S. 1987. ქართული-ფრანგული სასაუბრო kartuli-pranguli sasaubro [‘Guide de Conversation Géorgien-Français] (Tbilisi University Press, Tbilisi).

Dictionaries

Tschenkéli (1965-74) and Rayfield (2006) are both outstanding dictionaries. The former lists verbs by root and includes a wealth of grammatical information, while the latter excels in its range of vocabulary (including Old Georgian), its coverage of the colloquial language and its topicality. The only other dictionary below that lists verbs by root is Lange (1987), but its range of vocabulary is very limited, as is that of Torikashvili (1992), which should be avoided because of its poor lexicographical standards. Megrelishvili (2003) is an extremely flawed work of lexicography that is best ignored. Not all fascicles of Margitadze (1995-) have been published. Mch’edlishvili el al. (2007) is a very useful first dictionary with many illustrative phrases. Lomtatidze (1983) provides quite good coverage. There are no field labels in Gvarjaladze (1975), while Gvarjaladze (1979) has a useful selection of vocabulary. Marchev (1986) is a listing of Georgian affixes, together with details of their usage. For each affix there are cross-references to the relevant sections in Tschenkéli (1958). Marchev (1999) is to be recommended, and is designed to complement Tschenkéli (1965-74). Toradze (1994) and Maisuradze & Nonikashvili (1997) are useful pocket dictionaries. All Georgian text in Awde & Khitarishvili (1997) is rendered using a transliteration scheme based on English.

Awde, N. & Khitarishvili, T. 1997. Georgian-English English-Georgian Dictionary and Phrasebook (Curzon Press, Richmond).

Cherkesi, E. 1950. Georgian-English Dictionary (University of Oxford, Oxford).

Chanturia, S. 1996. ინგლისურ-ქართული და ქართულ-ინგლისური ლექსიკონი inglisur-kartuli da kartul-inglisuri leksik'oni [English-Georgian and Georgian-English Dictionary] (St'amba, Kutaisi).

Gvarjaladze, I. & Lebanidze, E. 1974. Dictionnaire géorgien-français (Tbilisi).

Gvarjaladze, T. & I. 1975. ინგლისურ-ქართულუი ლექსიკონი inglisur-kartuli leksik'oni [English-Georgian Dictionary] (Sabch'ota Sakartvelo, Tbilisi).

Gvarjaladze, T. & I. 1979. ქართულ-ინგლისური ლექსიკონი kartul-inglisuri leksik'oni [Georgian-English Dictionary] (Sabch'ota Sakartvelo, Tbilisi).

Jelden, M. 2001. Wörterbuch Deutsch-Georgisch / Georgisch-Deutsch (Helmut Buske Verlag, Hamburg).

Lange, W. 1987. Kleines Wörterbuch Georgisch-Deutsch, Deutsch-Georgisch (Helmut Buske Verlag, Hamburg).

Lomtatidze, K. et al. (ed.) 1983. რუსულ-ქართული ლექსიკონი rusul-kartuli leksik'oni ['Russian-Georgian Dictionary'] (Sabch'ota Sakartvelo, Tbilisi).

Maisuradze, M. & Nonikashvili, D. (1997) ინგლისურ-ქართული ლექსიკონი inglisur-kartuli leksik'oni [English-Georgian Dictionary] (ICC Publishing House, Tbilisi).

Margalitadze, T. (publisher) 1995- . English-Georgian Dictionary (Tbilisi Ivane Javakhishvili State University, Tbilisi).

Marchev, Y. 1986. Die Morpheme der georgischen Sprache (Amirani Verlag, Zürich).

Marchev, Y. 1999. Deutsch-Georgisches Wörterbuch (Kaukasus-Verlag, Freudenstadt).

Mch'edlishvili, J., Mch'edlishvili, D. & Gotsiridze, I. 2007. ინგლისურ-ქართული ლექსიკონი inglisur-kartuli leksik'oni [English-Georgian Dictionary] 7th ed. (publisher not noted, Tbilisi).

Megrelishvili, M. (ed.) 2003. ქართულ-ინგლისური ლექსიკონი kartuli-inglisuri leksik’oni [Georgian-English Dictionary] (Kutaisi State University Press, Kutaisi).

Qaukhchishvili, S. (ed.). 1969. მოკლე რუსულ-ქართული ლექსიკონი mok'le rusul-kartuli leksik'oni ['Short Russian-Georgian Dictionary'] (Sabch'ota Sakartvelo, Tbilisi).

Rayfield D. (ed.-in-chief). 2006. A Comprehensive Georgian-English Dictionary. 2 vols. (Garnett Press, London; ISBN 0-9535878-3-5).

Toradze, T. 1994. ქართულ-ინგლისური ლექსიკონი kartul-inglisuri leksik'oni [Georgian-English Dictionary] (Mnatobi Press, Tbilisi).

Torikashvili, J. 1992. Georgian-English, English-Georgian Dictionary (Hippocrene Books, New York).

Tschenkéli, K. 1965-74. Georgisch-Deutsches Wörterbuch, 3 vols (Amirani Verlag, Zürich).

Old Georgian

Schanidse (1982) and Fähnrich (1994) are both detailed descriptive grammars of the Old Georgian language. Sardschweladse and Fähnrich (1999) is the first dictionary of Old Georgian in a widely accessible western language, and comprises more than 20,000 entries.

Fähnrich, H. 1994. Grammatik der altgeorgischen Sprache (Helmut Buske, Hamburg).

Marr, N. & Brière, M. 1931. La Langue Géorgienne (Firmin-Didot, Paris).

Sardschweladse, S. & Fähnrich, H. 1999. Altgeorgisch-deutsches Wörterbuch (Helmut Buske, Hamburg).

Sarjveladze, Z. 2001. ძველი ქართული ენის სიტყვის კონა żveli kartuli enis sit'q'vis k'ona ['Lexicon of Old Georgian']. (Tbilisis Sakhelmts'ipo P'edagogiuri Universit'rt'is Gamomtsemloba, Tbilisi).

Shanidze, A. 1976. ძველი ქართული ენის გრამათიკა żveli kartuli enis gramat'ik'a ['Grammar of the Old Georgian language'] (Tbilisis Universit'et'is Gamomtsemloba, Tbilisi), translated as Schanidse, A. 1982 Grammatik der altgeorgischen Sprache (Universitätsverlag Tbilisi, Tbilisi).

Zorell, F. 1930. Grammatik zur altgeorgischen Bibelübersetzung, reprinted 1978 (Päpstliches Bibelinstitut, Rome).

Miscellaneous

Monographs, reference material in Georgian, and other items of interest.

Abuladze, I. 1973. ძველი ქართული ენის ლექსიკონი żveli kartuli enis leksik'oni ['Dictionary of Old Georgian'] (Metsniereba, Tbilisi).

Assatiani, I. & Malherbe, M. 1997. Parlons Géorgien: Langue et culture (Editions L'Harmattan, Paris).

Bregadze, L. 2005. ქართული ჟარგონის ლექსიკონი kartuli žargonis leksik’oni [Dictionary of Georgian Slang] second ed. (Bak’ur Sulak’uri, Tbilisi; ISBN 99940-30-44-2).

Brosset, M. 1974. Eléments de la langue géorgienne (Biblio Verlag, Osnabrück) (reprint of 1937 edition).

Chikobava, A. (ed.) 1950-64. ქართული ენის განმარტებითი ლექსიკონი kartuli enis ganmart'ebiti leksik'oni ['Explanatory dictionary of the Georgian Language'] (Academy of Sciences, Tbilisi) (8 volume dictionary with citations; in Georgian). Volume 1 contains a detailed description of the language.

Chikobava, A. (ed.) 1986. ქართული ენის განმარტებითი ლექსიკონი kartuli enis ganmart'ebiti leksik'oni ['Explanatory dictionary of the Georgian Language'] (Kartuli Sabch'ota Entsik'lop'edia, Tbilisi) (single volume abridged and updated edition of Chikobava 1950-64; also published in two volume edition; in Georgian).

Chikobava, A. 1979. იბერულ-კავკასიური ენათმეცნიერების შესავალი iberul-k'avk'asiuri enatmecnierebis šesavali [Introduction to Ibero-Caucasian Linguistics] (Tbilisi University Press, Tbilisi).

Chikobava, A. & Vateishvili, J. 1983. პირველი ქართული ნაბეჭდი გამოცემები p'irveli kartuli nabeč'di gamocemebi [First Printed Books in Georgian] (Khelovneba, Tbilisi) (contains facsimiles of Paolini & Irbach's Georgian-Italian Dictionary of 1629, and of Maggio's Grammar of the Georgian Language, 1670).

Dirr, A. (undated) Grammatik der modernen (georgischen) grusinischen Sprache (Hartleben, Vienna).

Gabounia, K. & Murphy, J. 1995. Georgian Newspaper Reader [სტატიები ქართული პრესიდან] (Dunwoody Press, Kensington, MA).

Gachechiladze, O. 1992. ქართული ენა kartuli ena [The Georgian Language] (Tbilisi University Press, Tbilisi).

Gochit’ashvili, K. & Danelia, N. (2005). სავარჯიშო რვეული ქართულ მართლწერაში saverjišo rveuli kartul martlc’eraši [Georgian orthography exercise book] (Universali, Tbilisi).

Gogolashvili, G. 1988. ქართული ზმნის უღვლილების სისტემა kartuli zmnis uġvlilebis sist'ema [The Conjugation System of Georgian] (Metsniereba, Tbilisi).

Gologashvili, G., K'vant'aliani, T. & Shengelia, D. 1989. ქართული ენის ზმნური ფუძეების ლექსიკონი kartuli enis zmnuri pużeebis leksik'oni [Dictionary of Georgian Verbal Roots] (Metsniereba, Tbilisi).

Harris, A. C. 1981. Georgian Syntax: A study in relational grammar (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge).

Harris, A. C. 1985. Diachronic Syntax: The Kartvelian Case (Academic Press, Orlando).

Holisky, D. A. 1981. Aspect and Georgian Medial Verbs (Caravan Books, Delmar).

Jorbenadze, B. 1989. ქართული დიალექტოლოგია kartuli dialekt'ologia [Georgian Dialectology] (Metsniereba, Tbilisi).

Jorbenadze, B. 1995. ქართული ენის მორფოლოგია kartuli enis morpologia [Georgian Morphology] (Besarion Jorbenadze Society, Tbilisi).

Jorbenadze., B., K'obaidze, M. & Beridze, M. 1988. ქართული ენის მორფემებისა და მოდალური ელემენტების ლექსიკონი kartuli enis morpemebisa da modaluri element'ebis leksik'oni (Dictionary of Georgian Morphemes and Modal Elements] (Metsniereba, Tbilisi).

Jorjaneli, K’. 2003. ქართულ სინონიმთა ვრცელი ლექსიკონი kartul sinonimta vrceli leksik’oni [Extensive Dictionary of Georgian Synonyms] (Merani, Tbilisi; ISBN 99928-948-0-6).

K'vach'adze, L. 1988. თანამედროვე ქართული ენის სინტაქსი tanamedrove kartuli enis sint'aksi [The Syntax of Contemporary Georgian] (Ganatleba, Tbilisi).

K'vach'adze, L. 1993. ქართული ენა kartuli ena [The Georgian Language] (Rubikoni, Tbilisi).

Penrikhi [Fähnrich], H. & Sarjveladze, Z. 1990. ქართველურ ენათა ეტიმოლოგიური ლექსიკონი kartvelur enata et'imologiuri leksik'oni [Etymological Dictionary of the Kartvelian Languages] (Tbilisi University Press, Tbilisi).

Shanidze, A. 1973. ქართული გრამათიკის საფუძვლები kartuli gramatik'is sapużvlebi ['Fundamentals of Georgian Grammar'] (Academy of Sciences, Tbilisi).

Topuria, V. & Gigineishvili, I. 1998. ქართული ენის ორთოგრაფიული ლექსიკონი