Georgian Translation Services
History
Georgian:
Georgian is a Kartvelian or South Caucasian language spoken by about 4.1 million people.
Georgian alphabets:
Asomtavruli and Nuskha-khucuri:
The Georgian language first appeared in writing in about 430 AD in an inscription in a church in Palestine. At that time it was written with an alphabet known as Asomtavruli (capital letter) or Mrglovani (rounded), which was used until the 9th century. Asomtavruli was probably modelled on the Greek alphabet, though nobody knows who was responsible for this. Armenian scholars believe that Mesrop Mashtots', an Armenian missionary, created Asomtavruli, while Georgian scholars believe that King Farnavaz of Georgia did so.
During the 9th century, Asomtavruli was gradually replaced by a more angular alphabet known as Nuskha-khucuri, which was used until the 11th century. By about the 13th century Nuskha-khucuri had developed into the Mkhedruli alphabet, which has been used ever since.
Mkhedruli:
The Mkhedruli alphabet developed from an older Georgian alphabet known as Nuskha-khucuri between the 11th and 13th centuries. The name Mkhedruli comes from the word mkhedari which means 'of horseman'. The Nuskha-khucuri alphabet developed from the Asomtavruli alphabet.
At first Mkhedruli was used only for secular writing, while for religious writings a mixture of the two older alphabets was used. Eventually Nuskha-khucuri became the main alphabet for religious texts and Asomtavruli was used only for titles and for the first letters of sentences. This system of mixing the two alphabets was known as khucesi (priest) writing.
Eventually the two older alphabets fell out of use and Mkhedruli became the sole alphabet used to write Georgian. However, in the writings of a linguist called Akaki Shanidze (1887-1987) and in works written in his honour, letters from the Asomtavruli alphabet are used to mark proper names and the beginning of sentences. Shanidze's attempt to popularise such usage met with little success.
The first printed material in the Georgian language, in the Mkhedruli alphabet, was published in 1669. Since then the alphabet has changed very little, though a few letters were added by Anton I in the 18th century, and 5 letters were dropped in the 1860s when Ilia Chavchavadze introduced a number of reforms.
Georgian -Speaking Countries
Georgia
South Ossetia
For additional information regarding our translation services, please click here.
Information provided by http://omniglot.com
Apex is your single source for your Georgian to English or English to Georgian translation needs.
Contact us today for a free quote, or simply call us at 1-800-634-4880.
