Preparation of Dialectal Terms for the Georgian TermBank

Abstract

Dialectal vocabulary is the basis of a terminological system. Terminological work implies making maximal use of linguistic devices, i.e. devices for word production or composition existing in the native language, as the main means for creating a term. The function of affixes in derivational bases (i.e., term-creation devices) is great, and their functions diverge from the meanings in literary language. This means that the affixes become terminological elements and create separate semantic groups.

Besides these linguistic devices, it is widely noted that there is great potential for using dialectal vocabulary in the process of creating terms. This is especially necessary when a term must be brought from one language into another. In this case, it is natural to refer to dialectal vocabulary to avoid deriving artificial terms.

Terminologists have always appreciated dialectal vocabulary, and so we have a plethora of dialectal terms spread over the different scientific fields.

These days, it is precisely dialectical vocabulary that must be used to confront the process of the rapid spread of foreign words (alongside other linguistic devices, of course).

The Department of Scientific Terminology, along with the Ministry of Defense of Georgia, has started a program for creating  Georgian terms that will unify all the terminological resources. There is no doubt that this dialectical system of terms will be one of the main objectives for the terminological study.

Our TermBank will contain terms from the dialectical vocabulary in the Georgian language. These materials will be placed according to dialect as fields and sub-fields. For instance, according to the dialects Kartlian, Imeretian, Gurian, Rachvelian, etc., according to the following fields: agricultural, construction, technical, medical, etc.; and according to the sub-fields stock-raising, vine-growing, fruit-growing, stockbreeding, etc. Thematic groups will also be separated: small livestock, large cattle breeds, kitchenware, furniture, buildings, etc..

This searching device will make it possible to search for a term according to all dialects; therefore, we will be able to observe their semantical meanings.