The Georgian Language in Historic Tao (Yusufeli, Turkey) According to Toponymic Material

Abstract

The article discusses the microtoponymy of one of the oldest regions of Georgia – Tao. Tao is now part of the country of Turkish. The Georgian language gradually weakens as a result of assimilation; today, in the conditions of integration and globalization, it is important to maintain and develop the linguistic-cultural heritage of autochthonous ethnic minorities living in different countries. In this respect, Taoan dialect, as the language  spoken by autochthonous Georgians living in the Republic of Turkey, is of particular interest. Currently, part of Tao is Turkish-speaking, the rest is bilingual: Georgians living here speak in two languages: Georgian (in the native dialect) and Turkish. The Georgian language is a local speech code for autochthonous Georgians, but Turkish - is a language of state, official relations.

Georgia-Turkey's centuries-long intensive relations contributed to the linguistic and cultural integration of Georgian and Turkish people and, thus, strengthening the interference of Georgian and Turkish languages. The process of approximation and mixing of languages/peoples is more or less confirmed in all areas (traditions, beliefs, speech ...). Linguistic contacts are relatively weak, but still existent in toponyms.

For research, we studied the following Artvin villages of Yusufeli region: Khevay, Kobay and Balkhi, that are compactly populated by ethnic Georgians. In 2006-2017, we studied the linguistic situation directly on the site.

The majority of the microtoponyms of the studied Georgian villages are Georgian (both root materials and affixes). Georgian toponyms live side by side with foreign (Turkish) or mixed (Georgian-Turkish) type names which are of superstratic nature and indicate the results of bilingualism in Tao. Toponymic material is an important source to represent the linguistic situation in Tao.