Untitled

saxelmwifo enis swavlebis sakiTxebi:
problemebi da gamowvevebi
Issues of State Language Teaching;
Problems and Challenges
Currently Georgian verb conjugation is the subject to two rules of forming present and simple past: 1. applying
affix (namely, suffix). Present and its relevant forms are processed by means of thematic suffixes: -ი [i],
-ავ [-av], -ამ [-am], -ებ [-eb], -ობ [-ob]; 2. Functional alternation of the stem vowel – ablaut (in present
stem -ე [-e], in aorist -ი [- i]; or in present stem 0, in aorist – -ა [-a] or -ე [-e]). The first system is dominant
and covers the absolute majority of verbs. As for the second, historically expanded system, it is rarely applied
today. The modern Georgian witnesses the tendency of “disappearing ablaut vowel alternation remnants, once
widely applied in the verb conjugation system and moving to a united, affix system of themes” (Melikishvili,
1979, 84).
We can provide any thematic stem as an example of affix formation in modern Georgian, e.g.: ხატ-ავ-ს
[xat’-av-s] / დახატ-ა[daxat’-a] “draws / drew” as for ablaut formation – so called ე [e] – ი [i] alternated
verbs დრეკ-ს [drek’-s] / დრიკ-ა [drik’-a] “bends / bent” and 0 – ა [a] / ე [e] alternated verbs თლ-ი-ს [tl-is]
/ (გა)თალ-ა [(ga)tal-a] “peals / pealed”, ვ-ჭრ-ი [v-ch’r-i] / (გა)-ვ-ჭერ-ი [(ga)-v-ch’er-i] “I am cutting /
I cut” stems.
We have the same tendency in the English language as well. Namely, modern English verb is basically
represented by two grammar groups – the one formed by affixation and the second characterized by wide variety
of formation.
The first, regular verbs are historically called weak verbs. They form their past and past participle by adding
-ed suffix: e.g.: Infinitive: to paint, Past: paint-ed, Past participle: paint-ed.
Irregular verbs are historically called strong verbs. While changing their forms they do not become subject
to the above mentioned affix rules and are characterized by variety of formation. There are about two
hundreds of irregular verbs which are classified in the following way:
1. The irregular verbs that have three different varieties out of three main forms (infinitive, past and past
participle): speak – spoke – spoken.
2. The irregular verbs that have two identical varieties out of their three main forms. In this case three
subgroups are distinguished: a) Identical past and past participle forms, different infinitive: bring – brought –
brought; b) Identical infinitive and past participle forms of verb, different past form: come – came – come; c)
Identical infinitive and past forms, different past participle: beat – beat – beaten.
3. The irregular verbs the three forms of which are identical: put – put – put.
The vast majority of verbs in English follow the regular affixing rule (Goksadze, Mamatsashvili,
Gigineishvili, 1992, 89- 91).
It’s worth noting, that important part of English irregular verbs classifies infinitive, past and past participle
by means of vowel alternation: see above: speak – spoke – spoken etc.
Therefore, the first typological similarity between Georgian and English verb formation can be seen at
this level. In both cases at a certain level of language development and to certain part of verbs vowel alternation
is applied in order to distinguish verb forms. Later affixing has substituted the vowel alternation. It should
also be mentioned, that the rules of forming affixes as well as forming ablauts differ in Georgian and English
languages.
Today the ablaut processing of verb forms can be seen as a remnant in both languages. It’s noteworthy
that the similarity can be observed in processing the main forms of Georgian and English vowel alternated
verbs. Namely, the past participle of Georgian verbs with ე [e] – ი [i] alternation and 0 – ა [a] /ე [e] alternation
are based on the stem that are presented in present forms and verbal noun (infinitive) not in past forms.
a) Verbs with ე [e] – ი [i] alternation:
Present Past Verbal noun Past participle
გლეჯ-ს [glej-s]
გლიჯ-ა [glij-a] გლეჯ-ა [glej-a] და-გლეჯ-ილ-ი [da-glej-il-i]
“Lacerates”
“lacerated” “to lacerate” “lacerated”
დრეკ-ს [drek’-s]
დრიკ-ა [drik’-a] დრეკ-ა [drek’-a] გა-დრეკ-ილ-ი [ga-drek’-il-i]
“bends”
“bent”
“to bend” “bent”
კრეფ-ს [k’rep-s]
კრიფ-ა [k’rep-s] კრეფ-ა [k’rep-s] და-კრეფ-ილ-ი [da-k’rep-il-i]
“picks”
“picked” “to pick”
“picked”
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