Some Phonetic Features of the Speech of Ghorjomi Gorge

Abstract

Observing and studying active linguistic processes in dialects is always necessary and inno­vative for linguistics. Dialects often preserve elements that appear to be forgotten in literary Georgian. In this regard, local research on a dialect is of particular importance, as it provides a more complete picture of its linguistic characteristics.

This paper discusses the phonetic features of the speech of the inhabitants of Ghorjomi—one of the most interesting and characteristic gorges of the Upper Adjarian sub-dialect—focusing on its phonetic in­ventory and certain sound changes. The research subject consists of authentic oral speech samples recorded during direct fieldwork in the Ghorjomi Gorge. The features identified through observation and analysis of these samples are comparatively analyzed alongside data from other Southern dialects and Kartvelian dialect groups.

The paper investigates phonetic units such as ჲ, უ̂ [u], the neutral sound ², and the pharyngeal ყ [q] as a fricative allophone of the abruptive ყ [q]. Attention is focused on their position and patterns of usage. The research reveals that in oral speech, the full vowels ჲ and უ̂ [w]are more frequently used compared to the sounds i and u.