LEXICAL UNITS PRESERVING SEMANTIC AND PHONETIC STABILITY (BASED ON THE CORPUS OF HAGIOGRAPHIC TEXTS)

Abstract

From a diachronic linguistic perspective, a discernible continuity has been maintained between Old Georgian and Modern Georgian. This continuity, however, coexists with processes of semantic transformation. It is well established in historical linguistics that different lexical strata exhibit varying degrees of susceptibility to change: certain domains demonstrate relative stability, whereas others are characterized by accelerated semantic evolution.

The semantic variability conditioned by shifts in social relations and by the impact of diverse extralinguistic factors provides a productive framework for examining the vitality of the lexicon—its persistence, obsolescence, and semantic reconfiguration. Language not only encodes empirical reality but also articulates evaluative and attitudinal orientations toward that reality. Moreover, the same historical phenomena may be subject to divergent interpretations and axiological assessments across different historical epochs.

Building upon the material of hagiographic writings, it becomes evident that certain lexical units have preserved not only their formal and grammatical characteristics over the centuries, but also their original semantic content. The present study identifies several lexemes attested in hagiographic texts that have remained semantically stable, including: qedi (ქედი), sheratskhva (შერაცხვა), khel-its’ipa (ჴელ-იწიფა), and khati (ხატი).

Keywords: vocabulary; semantics; hagiography; grammatical features; verb stem.