Ethnolinguistic Analysis of Terminology Denoting Meteorological Phenomena in Svan

Abstract

The study, based on relevant prior research and new approaches and interpretations, presents a phonetic-phonological, semantic, and etymological analysis of numerous lexical units denoting meteorological(atmospheric and celestial) phenomena, considering the traditionally known dialects of Svan (Upper Bal, Lower Bal, Lashkhian, and Lentekhian) as well as in Cholur speech. The complex research, conducted on the basis of synchronic and diachronic analysis, is grounded in extensive empirical material from Svan. This material, reflecting meteorological phenomena, has been organised into four sections: 1. Lexical units denoting borrowed meteorological phenomena (with their sub-sections); 2. Common Kartvelian roots denoting meteorological phenomena; 3. Specifically, Svan material reflecting meteorological phenomena; 4. Hybrid lexical units denoting meteorological phenomena. The analysis of the material revealed that the majority of borrowed lexical units have undergone phonetic-semantic modifications, involving processes such as umlaut, vowel lengthening, reduction, insertion or loss of sounds, spirantisation of vowels, and etc. However, alongside these, a significant number of borrowed lexical units remain phonetic-semantically unaltered.