Ethno-Linguistic Analysis of Lexical Units Denoting Divine Service/Prayers in Svan

Abstract

The Svan dialectological material reflecting divine service, which we divided into two parts: 1 lexical units denoting the liturgy and 2. lexical units denoting prayer-proved to be highly interesting from both ethnographic and linguistic perspectives. As a result of the study, we collected all sacred terms denoting liturgy and prayer scattered, like pearls, across Svan dialects and subdialects, and, on the basis of comparison and contrast with corresponding Kartvelian linguistic data, determined the origin of each lexical unit. The study showed that the lexical units denoting the liturgy (e.g., wირ/wirw, saxräb/saxreb/saxareba, tnobelob) were borrowed into Svan from Georgian through the operation of various phonetic processes (e.g., sound loss, sound insertion, umlaut, and sound alternation...).

1. Within the lexical units denoting prayer (loc, limzər), we grouped together lexemes referring to rituals of prayer, supplication, and offering performed in the name of the Lord or a particular saint, such as lidbäši, liywläj, lilgeni, lixline, liṭbəli, etc. As already noted, their differentiation was determined by the character of the prayer or offering. Despite Georgian roots identifiable in these sacred terms, we consider them to have been formed within Svan linguistic environment. Importantly, these religious lexical units have preserved a number of archaic Kartvelian words and roots.