Adjectives of Foreign Origin in the Georgian Language and Scientific Terminology

Abstract

It is common knowledge that a term carries a specific meaning; therefore, various parts of speech, such as nouns, adjectives, and verbal nouns, are used to convey it.

In scientific terminology, the role of adjectives is particularly significant. It is impossible to conduct terminological work without them. In dictionaries, they are found not only within terminological expressions but also appear as independent terminological units.

The number of adjectives of foreign origin in terminology and, consequently, in literary language is permanently increasing. This progression is a natural and inevitable phenomenon akin to the general trend of borrowing foreign words, from which there is no escape. Adjectives of foreign origin in various languages, including Georgian, typically enter the language either directly with the adjectival stem from the source language or through association with a noun. This process is known as morphological assimilation, whereby adjectives of foreign origin are formed in the borrowing language (such as Georgian) by incorporating a Georgian affix, the process termed adaptation.

The formation of adjectives of foreign origin has been thoroughly studied in Georgian linguistics. Primarily, it is crucial to specify the origin of the term. While the formation of borrowed nouns is easier in Georgian, the morphological assimilation of adjectives involves a complex mechanism. The morphological segmentation of the source language cannot be ignored in this case. It is imperative to specify the structure of adjectives of foreign origin, i.e., how they are broken down and which affixes are singled out.

Among the derivational affixes involved in forming adjectives of foreign origin in Georgian, the suffix -ur (-ul) has a significant load. The crucial consideration lies in determining the type of stem that serves as the origin for adjectives with the suffix -ur(-ul): a) a substantive of foreign origin, or b) an adjectival stem lacking a corresponding noun in the borrowing language.

The borrowing language does not simply mechanically adopt the borrowed word, but rather focuses on a structural-semantic analysis of adjectives.

Despite the firmly established norms within the language, violations in the formation of adjectives of foreign origin are frequently observed today in terminology, scientific language, or colloquial speech. Hence, we deemed it necessary to address this issue publicly. Once more, it is imperative to clarify which form is correct: hipoteturi or hipotezuri; pnevmaturi or pnevmatikuri; sinteturi or sintetikuri; avtenturi or avtentikuri; vegetatiuri or vegetaciuri.