LINGUISTICS / GEORGIAN LANGUAGES: CONVERGENT DEVELOPMENT OF LANGUAGES AND THE CHAN (LANGUAGE)

Abstract

The similarities observed among languages that are geographically adjacent within a compact territory and share a long-standing historical relationship are largely conditioned by their mutual contacts and interactions. These interactions often result in the acquisition of analogous structural and material features through intensive convergent development. Such influences are evident not only in lexical borrowings but also in phonological, morphological, and syntactic transformations, whereby one language may, in certain respects, resemble another. Features characteristic of a neighboring language may appear within a given language.

A prominent example of linguistic interference and historical mutual influence is the impact of Greek and Turkish on the Chan (Laz) language. The political and cultural influence of Byzantium was particularly significant for the speech of the Laz population residing in the Trabzon and Rize-Atina regions. In contrast, the Vitse-Arkhab-Khop region, due to its close contacts with the Georgian-speaking world, experienced these influences to a lesser degree.

Following the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople in 1453, the political and cultural dynamics of Asia Minor underwent a significant transformation. A portion of the Laz population migrated to continental Greece, where their language gradually became assimilated into Greek. Meanwhile, the majority who remained in their native homeland preserved both their language and cultural integrity, though communication between Laz and Mingrelian became increasingly complex. Previously, the differences between these languages had been minimal, and comprehension posed no challenge. Over time, interactions with the Georgian-speaking world diminished, and the Laz increasingly found themselves within a Turkish-speaking environment.

Keywords: Chan, Laz, Turkish, Greek, “qi”, “oti”, “eger”, “shkule/chkule”, Fereydani, Kist-Batsnuri