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ANLHE Original Old Georgian Language Encyclopedia & 90-Lesson Guide

Old Georgian — ANLHE Original Language Encyclopedia and 90-Lesson Learning Guide

Explore a language by discovering the worlds of knowledge it preserves. Old Georgian offers a rewarding way to encounter historical communities through inscriptions, manuscripts, linguistic patterns and cultural exchange. This guide joins an original scholarly orientation to a progressive course of independent study, encouraging curiosity grounded in evidence rather than superficial promises of quick mastery.

Origins, Classification and Historical Setting

Old Georgian belongs to historical Georgian literary tradition within the Kartvelian language family. Its documented historical context includes early medieval Georgia and neighboring Christian intellectual networks, with Georgian-language manuscripts and inscriptions attested from the fifth century CE onward. Historical linguistic categories describe evidence and reconstructed relationships; they should not be used to project modern identities mechanically onto communities from past centuries.

Writing Systems and Textual Transmission

Historical witnesses involve early Georgian Asomtavruli script and later Nuskhuri manuscript traditions, before the predominance of Mkhedruli in modern usage. Students should be able to distinguish script, transliteration, transcription, editorial normalization and translation. A surviving document’s date, copy history and physical context can substantially affect the interpretation of its language.

Grammar and How Meaning Is Expressed

Key areas of study include Kartvelian verbal agreement patterns, case marking, version markers, complex prefixes and suffixes, screeves, participles and clause structure. Each grammatical concept should be examined in context through authentic text or an explicitly identified modern pedagogical exercise. Historical variation matters: forms from different textual traditions cannot always be combined into a single unrestricted paradigm.

Literature, Historical Evidence and Culture

Early Georgian inscriptions, biblical translations, hagiography including the Martyrdom of Shushanik, chronicles and hymnography illuminate the literary and religious history of the Caucasus. Literary conventions, administration, religion and the history of transmission all shape written evidence. Research into these contexts helps learners understand the importance of a document without overstating what it can tell us about daily speech or the lives of all speakers.

Why Study Old Georgian?

Reading a historical language offers access to original documents and cultivates careful reasoning about translation, grammar and historical interpretation. Students can progressively learn to recognize forms, analyze clauses and compare scholarly readings, building the tools needed to engage with history and cultural heritage in greater depth.

Scholarly Cautions

Old Georgian is not an early dialect of Armenian or Greek. Georgian scripts represent historical graphic traditions; reconstructing old speech from manuscript spelling requires care. No constructed teaching exercise is presented as an authentic historical quotation unless a specific primary textual witness or scholarly edition is cited. Pronunciation inferred from spelling must be described as reconstruction or a conventional modern reading where appropriate.

How to Follow the 90-Lesson Programme

Work through nine thematic modules of ten lessons each. Begin with historical and script literacy, learn nominal and verbal morphology, then read source-based passages and complete an annotated research portfolio. After every module, revisit vocabulary with references to the sources from which it was learned. These ninety lesson descriptions form an educational pathway and do not independently verify that all corresponding course videos or downloads have already been produced.

Full Lesson-by-Lesson Learning Pathway

Unit 1: Origins and record — Lessons 1–10

This unit develops a coherent aspect of Old Georgian through historical evidence, close linguistic observation and independent study. Maintain an annotated glossary and keep track of differences between sources and modern editorial reconstruction.

  1. Lesson 1: Kartvelian language family. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.
  2. Lesson 2: Early Georgian historical regions. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.
  3. Lesson 3: The earliest inscriptions. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.
  4. Lesson 4: The fifth-century written tradition. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.
  5. Lesson 5: Christian translation networks. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.
  6. Lesson 6: Hagiographic literature. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.
  7. Lesson 7: Early Georgian manuscripts. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.
  8. Lesson 8: Dating witnesses. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.
  9. Lesson 9: Language contact in the Caucasus. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.
  10. Lesson 10: Historical source review. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.

Unit 2: Asomtavruli literacy — Lessons 11–20

This unit develops a coherent aspect of Old Georgian through historical evidence, close linguistic observation and independent study. Maintain an annotated glossary and keep track of differences between sources and modern editorial reconstruction.

  1. Lesson 11: Asomtavruli letter sequence. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.
  2. Lesson 12: Character shapes. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.
  3. Lesson 13: Writing direction. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.
  4. Lesson 14: Vowel letters. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.
  5. Lesson 15: Consonant letters. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.
  6. Lesson 16: Palaeographic variation. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.
  7. Lesson 17: Inscriptions on stone. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.
  8. Lesson 18: Abbreviations. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.
  9. Lesson 19: Scholarly transliteration. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.
  10. Lesson 20: Reading short inscriptions. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.

Unit 3: Nuskhuri and manuscripts — Lessons 21–30

This unit develops a coherent aspect of Old Georgian through historical evidence, close linguistic observation and independent study. Maintain an annotated glossary and keep track of differences between sources and modern editorial reconstruction.

  1. Lesson 21: Nuskhuri letter forms. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.
  2. Lesson 22: Manuscript layout. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.
  3. Lesson 23: Script comparisons. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.
  4. Lesson 24: Word separation. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.
  5. Lesson 25: Punctuation. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.
  6. Lesson 26: Scribal abbreviations. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.
  7. Lesson 27: Manuscript colophons. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.
  8. Lesson 28: Textual variant notation. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.
  9. Lesson 29: Diplomatic transcription. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.
  10. Lesson 30: Reading manuscript lines. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.

Unit 4: Nouns and cases — Lessons 31–40

This unit develops a coherent aspect of Old Georgian through historical evidence, close linguistic observation and independent study. Maintain an annotated glossary and keep track of differences between sources and modern editorial reconstruction.

  1. Lesson 31: Noun stems. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.
  2. Lesson 32: Number. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.
  3. Lesson 33: Nominative case. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.
  4. Lesson 34: Ergative case. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.
  5. Lesson 35: Dative case. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.
  6. Lesson 36: Genitive case. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.
  7. Lesson 37: Instrumental case. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.
  8. Lesson 38: Adverbial case. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.
  9. Lesson 39: Postpositional structures. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.
  10. Lesson 40: Nominal analysis. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.

Unit 5: Pronouns and agreement — Lessons 41–50

This unit develops a coherent aspect of Old Georgian through historical evidence, close linguistic observation and independent study. Maintain an annotated glossary and keep track of differences between sources and modern editorial reconstruction.

  1. Lesson 41: Personal pronouns. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.
  2. Lesson 42: Demonstratives. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.
  3. Lesson 43: Possessive relations. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.
  4. Lesson 44: Subject agreement. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.
  5. Lesson 45: Object agreement. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.
  6. Lesson 46: Person markers. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.
  7. Lesson 47: Preverbs. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.
  8. Lesson 48: Version vowels. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.
  9. Lesson 49: Reference and anaphora. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.
  10. Lesson 50: Agreement chart. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.

Unit 6: Verbal morphology — Lessons 51–60

This unit develops a coherent aspect of Old Georgian through historical evidence, close linguistic observation and independent study. Maintain an annotated glossary and keep track of differences between sources and modern editorial reconstruction.

  1. Lesson 51: Verb stem identification. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.
  2. Lesson 52: Screeve systems. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.
  3. Lesson 53: Present series. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.
  4. Lesson 54: Aorist series. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.
  5. Lesson 55: Perfect series. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.
  6. Lesson 56: Transitivity and alignment. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.
  7. Lesson 57: Valency change. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.
  8. Lesson 58: Imperative constructions. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.
  9. Lesson 59: Nonfinite forms. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.
  10. Lesson 60: Verbal parsing. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.

Unit 7: Syntax and meaning — Lessons 61–70

This unit develops a coherent aspect of Old Georgian through historical evidence, close linguistic observation and independent study. Maintain an annotated glossary and keep track of differences between sources and modern editorial reconstruction.

  1. Lesson 61: Clause order. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.
  2. Lesson 62: Case alignment in context. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.
  3. Lesson 63: Negation. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.
  4. Lesson 64: Questions. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.
  5. Lesson 65: Relative clauses. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.
  6. Lesson 66: Participial modifications. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.
  7. Lesson 67: Coordination. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.
  8. Lesson 68: Subordination. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.
  9. Lesson 69: Quotative expressions. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.
  10. Lesson 70: Connected passage analysis. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.

Unit 8: Textual heritage — Lessons 71–80

This unit develops a coherent aspect of Old Georgian through historical evidence, close linguistic observation and independent study. Maintain an annotated glossary and keep track of differences between sources and modern editorial reconstruction.

  1. Lesson 71: Shushanik’s Martyrdom. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.
  2. Lesson 72: Biblical translation tradition. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.
  3. Lesson 73: Hagiographic conventions. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.
  4. Lesson 74: Liturgical hymnody. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.
  5. Lesson 75: Royal inscriptions. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.
  6. Lesson 76: Narrative voice. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.
  7. Lesson 77: Religious vocabulary. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.
  8. Lesson 78: Greek and Armenian contact. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.
  9. Lesson 79: Critical editions. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.
  10. Lesson 80: Genre comparison. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.

Unit 9: Independent source portfolio — Lessons 81–90

This unit develops a coherent aspect of Old Georgian through historical evidence, close linguistic observation and independent study. Maintain an annotated glossary and keep track of differences between sources and modern editorial reconstruction.

  1. Lesson 81: Choose a dated witness. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.
  2. Lesson 82: Identify script. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.
  3. Lesson 83: Record manuscript or inscription. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.
  4. Lesson 84: Transcribe carefully. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.
  5. Lesson 85: Compile vocabulary notes. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.
  6. Lesson 86: Annotate cases. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.
  7. Lesson 87: Parse verb agreement. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.
  8. Lesson 88: Analyze syntax. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.
  9. Lesson 89: Compare translations. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.
  10. Lesson 90: Submit contextual commentary. Examine this distinct subject using a reliable published witness or specialist scholarly discussion, identify what the evidence supports and complete a brief analytical reading or comparative exercise.

Academic Research Practice

Relevant sources include critical Georgian manuscript editions, Georgian palaeography studies, historical Georgian grammars and recognized Kartvelian linguistic references. Record edition details, manuscript or inscription identifiers, date, provenance and uncertainty. Compare alternative reconstructions when supported by scholarship, and never confuse an editorial restoration with an observed written form.

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