Turkish Sports Vocabulary in Modern Georgian Language

Abstract

The Georgian language, as a bearer of a rich system of cultural and historical contacts, has borrowed and adapted lexical units from various languages ​​for centuries. One of the prominent areas in which the process of linguistic borrowing is distinctly attested is the sports-related lexicon. Of particular interest is the study of the sports terms of Turkic origin that entered Georgian language in past centuries and became integrated into the Georgian cultural and linguistic system.

The present article aims to analyze the historical mechanisms by which these words became integrated into the lexical system of the Georgian language. The study of Turkish sports vocabulary makes it possible to assess its influence on the Georgian language both historically and in modern usage. The spread of this vocabulary simultaneously reflects regional connections and linguistic dynamics, making the topic a relevant subject of linguistic inquiry. Particular attention is given to terms such as game, exercise, tulukhchi (water carrier), field, and chokha (outer tunic, traditional Caucasian coat), and others, which have long been in active use in the speech of athletes, coaches, fans, sports journalists, and commentators.

The importance of this study stems from the fact that sport represents one of the most dynamic domains of linguistic innovation. Methodologically, the study relies on comparative analysis and draws upon historical sources and lexicographic materials

As a result of the study, it was revealed that most of these terms have already been lexicalized in Georgian, often in a phonetically adapted form. Grammatically, they conform to the rules of the Georgian language and take the appropriate case markers. Overall, these findings clearly demonstrate both the flexibility of adaptation mechanisms in Georgian and its marked receptivity to lexical borrowings originating from culturally and socially adjacent communities.