The Power of the National Identity of the Georgian Language

Abstract

Georgian, as a state language, dates back to the third century BC. The Georgian language has historically been a powerful lever of national consolidation. The language and the nation were inseparable from the very beginning. In general, in the early period, the Georgian language carried a common national mission. The Georgian language is a guarantee of the national unity. The Georgian literary language played a major role in the formation of a unified national and state worldview. The concept of “the Georgian language” includes both the Georgian language itself, as well as Megrelian-Chan and Svan, for which Georgian is the proto-language. It is noteworthy that Jakob Gogebashvili Telavi State University has established intensive relations with schools in Telavi, Akhmeta, Gurjaani, Sighnaghi, Omalo, Cheremi and North Ossetia in order to strengthen the national spirit and provide educational and methodological assistance. In addition, special importance has been attached to educational and methodological assistance to schools in the Pankisi Gorge.