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saxelmwifo enis swavlebis sakiTxebi:
problemebi da gamowvevebi
Issues of State Language Teaching;
Problems and Challenges
Rusudan Zekalashvili
Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, Georgia
Classification of Georgian Verbs in German Language Textbooks
ABSTRACT
The represented article concerns the problem of the Georgian verbs classification in the german language
textbooks. Differences and similarities between these classifications are shown. In the “Introduction to
the Georgian Language” by Kita Tschenkéli and in the “Georgian Grammar” by Heinz Fähnrich, similarly
as in Akaki Shanidze’s works, the voice is taken as the basis of the verbs classification. However,
some differences are obvious. In the manual by Kita Tschenkéli and in the Dictionary as well, the system
of verb indexation is studied; it is founded on transitivity, voice and other verb categories. It is remarkable
that in Kita Tschenkéli separates indirect (inverted) verbs as the V type of conjugation. Attention is
focused on the sequence of the verb categories studying process with this author, In Fähnrich’s work, one
of the most denotable is representing of unified scheme of verb formants and reflecting different opinion
about verbs classification (recognition of inversion in the aqvs-hyavs (have) type verbs and emplacing
medio-active verbs in the category of the active verbs).
Classification of the verbs in Abuladze & Ludden’s work and the verbs tables (Chotivari-Jünger &
Melikishvili & Wittek) are studied in this paper. In the mentioned works, three types of conjugation are
considered in accordance with the theory of diathesis by Damana Melikishvili. The basis of this classification
is not only morphological structure of the verbs but their syntactic construction as well (case of the
subject and valency). Finally, the importance of verbs indexation and forming of the consequential system
for the foreign learners of the Georgian language is underlined.
It has already been long time since the Europeans became interested in the Georgian Language. However,
the students and investigators have always had certain difficulties in dealing with the morpho-syntactic and semantic
complexity of the Georgian verbs. Very often, the foreigners cannot manage to conjugate the verbs independently
or to identify the conjugated forms correctly.
At the beginning of the XX century, among the European scholars, the opinion that Georgian verb had not
completed its formation yet, dominated. The scholars thought, based on the complexity of the Georgian verb, that
it was impossible to study and understand Georgian verb forms, there was no completed conjugation system in
Georgian, and even linguists and grammar specialists had not come to any conclusions about many problems of
the Georgian verb ” (Dirr, 1904, p. 3; Tschenkéli, 1958, 1, p. XXXI). The famous German scholar Adolph Dirr
expressed his anxiety: “It is strange and very pitiable that Caucasian Languages are poorly investigated and remain
„terra incognita“ for the majority of linguists. Through studying those languages we may find a key to the
insight for many historically important but yet unknown languages” (Dirr, 1904, p. VII; Tschenkéli, 1958, 1, p.
XXIII). This was said more than a century ago but even nowadays, verb-study makes most obstacles for the authors
of the textbooks for non-Georgian learners. It is quite difficult to explain Georgian verb categories, their
derivation and functions clearly and easily. One of the most important issues is explaining correct classification
of the Georgian verbs during teaching process, as understanding this problem gives a clue for understanding
changes of the Georgian verb-forms.
We aim to review the teaching material compiled in Germany from the above-mentioned viewpoint. Many
German authors writing textbooks of the Georgian Language in German, are well-known such as K. Tschenkéli,
H. Fähnrich, L. Abuladze & A.Ludden and St.Chotivari-Jünger & D.Melikishvili & L.Wittek. In their books,
special attention is paid to the verb characteristics, conjugation and classification. The classification of each
author is different which is the result of difference between their basic principles.
It was first in 1958, that Kita Tschenkéli published the “Introduction to the Georgian Language”. It was the
attempt to introduce the grammar system of the Georgian Language to the Europeans. His following note is very
remarkable: “It is inconvenient to classify Georgian verbs solely according their inner content” (Tschenkéli,
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