Legal Regulation and Practice of Using the Georgian Language as the State Language in Public Informing

Abstract

Language is the primary form of human identity and cultural belonging, and one of the funda­men­tal attributes of a state's constitutional-legal status. The state language is a socially protected good whose use and development constitutes an important state function.

This paper is dedicated to the legal regulation, practice, and recommendations concerning the use of the Georgian language, as the state language, in the sphere of public information. It analyzes trends in the narrowing of the Georgian language's functional domain and the dangers of linguistic degradation, which are particularly evident in written communication intended for public information purposes.

The study examines the legal regulations governing the use of the Georgian language in announcements, headings, posters, signs, billboards, advertisements, and other texts carrying visual information intended for public information. It analyzes the practice of violating the relevant norms of Georgian legislation.

The research findings indicate that despite existing legal and institutional mechanisms, violations of regulations regarding state language use continue to be recorded, caused by low levels of legal awareness, certain ambiguities in the normative framework, and insufficient effectiveness of sanctions. The paper develops recommendations aimed at refining legal regulations and strengthening the protection and pro­motion of the state language.