An Analysis of the Sound and Semantic Changes in Words of Arabic Origin Passed into Georgian

Authors : Gül Mükerrem Öztürk

Pages : 385-408

Doi:10.48147/dada.1726363

View : 34 | Download : 35

Publication Date : 2025-08-10

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :This study analyzes the phonetic and semantic aspects of Arabic-origin words in the work ქართული ლექსიკონი (Leksikoni Kartuli / Georgian Dictionary) authored by the Georgian linguist and writer Sulkhan-Saba Orbeliani (1658-1725). The techniques and languages through which Arabic words entered into Georgian will be discussed. The study examines words that the author classifies as “foreign,” including those identified as Turkish but etymologically of Arabic origin, as well as those typically considered Georgian yet clearly originating from Arabic.The research employed historical, comparative, and lexical methodo-logies to examine the phonetic structures, semantic alterations, and etymological processes of the terms. The results indicate that numerous Arabic terms assimilated into Georgian were transmitted via Turkish or Persian, undergoing certain phonetic and semantic alterations throughout this transition. For instance, it was established that the term სუფრა (food, table / supra) originates from the Arabic word sufrat, whereas the Georgian word ბარათი (berat / barati) is associated with the Ottoman Turkish term berat and was transmit-ted into Georgian through Turkish. This study serves as a significant resource for comprehending the historical contact between Georgian and Eastern languages, as well as the mechanisms of lexical borrowing. It was discovered that Arabic words incorporated into Geor-gian over time included Turkish and Persian characte-ristics, along with phonetic and semantic alterations within Georgian. Such research furnish significant data for the historical and etymological dictionaries of Georgian.
Keywords : Arapça alıntı kelimeler, Etimolojik analiz, Gürcüce, Dilsel etkileşim, Türkçe

ORIGINAL ARTICLE URL