Adaptation of Turkish lexical copies into Georgian

Abstract

This study examines the phonotactic adaptation of Turkish-origin lexical copies in Georgian within the framework of Johanson’s (2023) Code-Copying Model. The analysis addresses the historical layering of copies originating from different Turkic languages. The article investigates how these lexical items entered Georgian through code-copying processes, whether directly or via intermediary languages, with particular emphasis on vowel and consonant changes. Based on the data provided in the Georgian–Turkish Dictionary (Arısoy, 2010), the study presents a detailed corpus consisting of Turkish–Georgian word pairs. From this material, a sample of 28 lexical items considered suitable for phonotactic analysis was selected. The aim of the study is not to list all Turkish words found in the dictionary, but rather to demonstrate the relevant patterns of change. The findings reveal various types of phonological adaptation, including vowel insertion, vowel change, diphthongization, and consonant shifts. These changes enable the copied words to conform to the phonotactic constraints of Georgian. For example, copies such as Turkish koç 'ram’ and çöğür ‘a musical instrument’ are adapted into Georgian through vowel insertion, whereas in words such as çizme ‘boot’ and çömçe ‘ladle’, vowel changes are observed, especially in the form of the backing of front vowels. Such regular changes demonstrate the dynamic interaction between Turkish and Georgian phonologies and reveal the complex phonotactic processes governing the adaptation of copied lexical items. This analysis provides a deeper understanding of how recipient languages accommodate copied lexical items and of the phonological strategies employed in integrating these items into the system of the recipient language. In addition, the study sheds light on the broader linguistic interactions between the Turkic languages and Georgian, highlighting the role of phonological constraints in situations of language contact. While Turkish-origin words largely preserve their meanings when transferred into Georgian, they are transformed at the phonological level so as to conform to Georgian syllable structure, sound inventory, and phonotactic constraints. This demonstrates that language contact is not limited to lexical transfer alone, but also involves a complex adaptation mechanism that operates to preserve the structural integrity of the recipient language.