მეტსახელი, როგორც კოგნიტურ-დისკურსული და სოციოლინგვისტური ფენომენი ახალციხის მუნიციპალიტეტის მაგალითზე

Abstract

This article examines the nicknames used in Akhaltsikhe Municipality from a cognitive-discursive and sociolinguistic perspective. The aim of the study is to identify the structural and semantic features of nicknames, as well as to determine the conceptual mechanisms that govern their formation.

The analysis has shown that the examination of anthroponymic systems is particularly interesting, as they constitute an important component of the so-called ”Linguistic Picture of the World “. The study emphasizes that nicknames are not merely the  means of identification; they are rich in connotations and often reflect an individual’s social status, ethnic affiliation, or personal traits. Thus, nicknames can also be regarded as extralinguistic signs that create a bridge between linguistic and social reality.

 The paper also emphasizes that nicknames are a deeply rooted and multifunctional phenomenon in Georgian reality, reflecting aspects of cultural humor, creativity, and social dynamics. Assigned names often become official names or are preserved in surnames, which increases their historical and linguistic significance.

The Akhaltsikhe Municipality is characterized by linguistic diversity (Georgian, Armenian, and partially Turkish influences), which makes the formation of nicknames particularly interesting. Observation of the target material revealed that two main cognitive mechanisms play a leading role in the formation of nicknames: metaphor and metonymy. This means that nicknames are not only linguistic but also products of cognitive processes. Despite local peculiarities (features characteristic of the Samtskhe-Javakheti region), their structure remains compatible with general Kartvelian word-formation models, indicating a unified systemic foundation.

Ultimately, the paper integrates cognitive, sociolinguistic, and cultural perspectives and clearly demonstrates that the study of nicknames provides important insights into both language and society.