Georgian–Turkish Linguistic Contacts and Lexical Interference in Adjarian Incantations (Analysis of Fieldwork Materials)

Abstract

The present study examines Georgian–Turkish linguistic contacts and lexical interference in Adjarian incantations, which represent one of the oldest layers of Georgian folk medicine. As a form of verbal magic, incantations combine naturopathic and magico-religious elements, while their linguistic structure represents an important source for the study of Georgian dialectology and ethnolinguistics. The texts preserved in Adjara reflect centuries of cultural and linguistic interaction between Georgians and Turks, manifested at the linguistic level through lexical borrowing, phonological adaptation, and semantic assimilation.
The empirical basis of the study consists of incantations recorded during a field ethnographic expedition conducted in 2023 in the Chvana Valley. These materials were analyzed through phonological, etymological, and semantic-comparative methods. This methodological framework made it possible to identify the origin, functional role, and integration patterns of Turkish lexemes in the incantations. The analysis revealed that words of Turkish origin occur both in the titles of incantations (Baskhuni, Dartsnili, Gvejo) and within textual constructions, where they contribute to magical symbolism and emotional intensity.
The analyzed texts exhibit clear examples of phonological adaptation (asker → esk’eri, baskın → baskhuni), as well as instances of syntactic calquing (rica etmek → rija uk’ot gvejos). Despite the presence of such interference elements, the deeper structure of the incantations— their rhythmic organization and religious-magical layers—remains firmly embedded within the Georgian cultural system.
The findings of the study demonstrate that linguistic contacts in Adjarian incantations do not undermine Georgian tradition; on the contrary, they facilitate its enrichment and transformation. Thus, linguistic and cultural integration in this context may be interpreted as a process of synthesis that confirms the vitality of Georgian folk culture, its capacity for adaptation, and its multilayered ethnolinguistic foundation.