The Main Principles of the Terminology Work of Old Georgian Translators in the 10th–11th Centuries

228 Lia Karosanidze The Main Principles of the Terminology Work of Old Georgian Translators in the 10th–11th Centuries doi.org/10.35321/term26-11 The Main Principles of the Terminology Work of Old Georgian Translators in the 10th–11th Centuries Lia Karosanidze Arn. Chikobava Institute of Linguistics at Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, Georgia AbsTrACT The Georgian terminology work has its own long history but it has not been yet studied thoroughly. The basic principles of the Old terminology work followed by the medieval scholars, namely: deep and thorough knowledge of the main notion denoted by a term to render it properly; avoid the norms which are not natural for the Georgian language; try to learn thoroughly the structures of both languages and make them closer, to determine the rules which those languages follow, find right correspondences and not to make mechanical calques; create the Georgian terms with Georgian roots and Georgian derivative means; give precise and trustful definitions. The theories of the old Georgian translators are actual and important up today. Keywords: terminology, old Georgian translators, old Georgian terminology, grammatical terminology, Dionysius Thrax. AnOTACijA Gruzinų terminologijos istorija yra sena, tik ji nėra išsamiai tyrinėjama. Pagrindiniai viduramžių mokslininkų taikyti senosios terminologijos principai: išsamiai nagrinėti terminu žymimos sąvokos esmę, kad būtų galima sąvoką tinkamai perteikti, vengti gruzinų kalbai neįprastų normų, stengtis kuo labiau perprasti abiejų kalbų struktūras ir jas artinti, nustatyti toms kalboms būdingas taisykles, ieškoti tinkamų atitikmenų ir nekurti vertinių, kurti gruziniškus terminus su gruziniškomis šaknimis ir vedybos priemonėmis, teikti tikslias ir patikimas apibrėžtis. Tokios senosios gruzinų kalbos vertėjų taikytos teorinės nuostatos aktualios bei svarbios ir šiandien. esminiai žodžiai: terminologija, senosios gruzinų kalbos vertėjai, senoji gruzinų terminologija, gramatikos terminija, Dionisijas Trakietis. 229Terminologija | 2019 | 26 inTrODUCTiOn The whole history of the Georgian language with its scientific and grammatical competence level proves that there have always been permanent and purposeful terminological researches provided. Alongside with the historical event when Christianity was introduced as the official religion in Georgia, scientific work on Georgian terminology became necessary simultaneously with the demand of translating the Christian literature skillfully, in proper scientific language. Development of general literacy and competence naturally conditioned the necessity of well-developed lexicography without which the translation work would have been impossible to be done. in its turn, as the translation work was developing gradually, it became necessary to solve the problems of developing the perpetual terminological researches and compiling the necessary dictionaries. The Georgian clergymen, working on translations in the monasteries got their education mainly in Greece. Their high-level knowledge in theology and translating skills provided the high-level translations and terminology work as a whole. studying the terminology work methods shows clearly that the methodology chosen by the Georgian authors and translators do not differ from the terminology work defined by the modern standards. 1. OLD GEOrGiAn EDUCATiOnAL AnD sCiEnTiFiC CEnTErs The level of the scientific work done in a country in such fields as terminology, translation and lexicography depend on political stability in the given country and on the country’s aspiration to cultural development. Through all its history of its existence education always have been the main orienting point. Georgian kings never ever had rich palaces but the fact is that there are not so many countries having so many educational centers within a country or out of its borders, as Georgia used to have in those times. As soon as Christianity was introduced, in the 5th–6th centuries, there emerged elementary schools in Georgia where first of all the Holy bible was taught and the clergymen were trained. The schools became especially popular since the time when the Georgians became familiar with the byzantine school. it is well known that Georgia had close ties with byzantium since the 10th century when a strong cultural-edu- 230 Lia Karosanidze The Main Principles of the Terminology Work of Old Georgian Translators in the 10th–11th Centuries cational movement began. That was exactly the time when the great cultural and educational renaissance began. Many Georgians, especially from noble families, went to byzantium temporarily to get good education or sometimes stayed there for all their lives. Later, in the 11th century, Constantine Monomachos founded the Academy which became a place of study for some of the world’s best scientific thinkers in this epoch. The cultural-educational movement broke through the borders of Constantinople and byzantium as a whole and involved those who were called at those times “Christian barbarians”, absorbing their vivid creative forces. Many creative people from the East or West were making their way to Constantinople. There they absorbed their culture and made their own contribution to its growth and development. Georgia could not be and really was not an exception from this process; in the 9th–10th centuries Georgia often intersected with Greek culture on the peripheries, and in the 10th–11th centuries, it suddenly rushed right to the center of byzantine culture through iviron, Petritsoni and other monasteries. Georgia could now directly see the processes which interested all the Christian nations (Kekelidze 1960: 61–66). The scholars who became leaders of the cultural-educational processes in that period, all had got an education in that Academy. The 10th–11th Centuries have marked a very important historical achievement with the foundation and establishment of the educational and scientific centers at the Gelati and ikalto Academies. both centers were strong hubs higher learning focusing on subjects including science as philosophy, history, rhetoric, and grammar were taught and researched alongside geometry, arithmetic, astronomy, music, and medicine. such trade crafts as forging, ceramics, wine farming and vinting (Tevzishvili 1938: 45). Academician s. Kaukhchishvili argued that Art of Grammar by Dionysius Thrax was known among the grammatical schools functioning in Georgia. Kaukhchishvili founded his opinion on the fact that the Shatberdi Codex was written in the 10th century and this book included some theses written by Diomedes, a grammar scholar of the Art of Gramma by Dionysius Thrax, and the chapter concerning the Greek alphabet was written in accordance with them (Kaukhchishvili 1923: 178–184). There are many texts of different types compiled together in the Shatberdi Collection: theological, historical, grammatical and others. The pur- 231Terminologija | 2019 | 26 pose of this manifold manual is only one: its compiler wanted to gather such scientific works which in his opinion had certain comprehensive educational significance. The Shatberdi Collection contains the tutorial texts in such branches as chronology, grammar, natural science, theology, and others. This collection is the most characteristic among other manuscripts of such type. it shows the level of knowledge and interests of the epoch and of the social layer where it was created and for which it was designed (shatberdi 1979: 9). A special position named as “teacher of teachers” [modzghvart-modzghvari] existing in the 11th c. in Georgia also reflects the special attitude to education as something important in Georgia. According to the Georgian State Court jurisdiction in that time, this position was more honorable than the religious position of Catholicos. The person in this position lived in Gelati and governed all the issues and processes related to education. in the modern sense of the term, this person was in position of the modern times’ minister of education. such respect shows how much attention was paid to educational processes in Georgia in those times. 2. THE OLD GEOrGiAn TErMinOLOGY sCHOOL in the 10th–12th centuries when Georgia was politically united and strong the national self-awareness rose up. national awareness usually is revealed in the process of translating and in its characteristic features. When translating the ecclesiastic books, the Georgian translators used to supply the books with their comments; they did not translate literally word by word but their translation was creative. They related the translated material to their church and its traditions or added some material which they had got as a heritage from the previous centuries‘ traditions. Sometimes the texts were abridged, or just the opposite – widened with the material which they had got as a heritage from the earlier experiences and traditions, so texts underwent a sort of editorial work. This is the reason that some writings translated from Greek, being clerical or other, were recognized as Georgian writings, and not translated ones. it also should be noted that the Georgian-byzantine relationships were not unilateral. Georgian literature in its turn somehow influenced and enriched the byzantine literature: 1. There are some writings, some byzantine texts preserved only in Georgian as the original Greek texts are lost; so they 232 Lia Karosanidze The Main Principles of the Terminology Work of Old Georgian Translators in the 10th–11th Centuries could be read-only as translated into Georgian; 2. There is such information about some Old byzantine writers kept in the Old Georgian writings which add new information or show new point of view concerning their life and their creative work; 3. Old Georgian translated literature keeps the information even about the writers who are not well known in the history of the byzantine literature; 4. The works translated by Old Georgian translators enriched byzantine literature with the writings translated from Old Georgian; 5. Georgian writers even wrote some works originally in Greek (Kekelidze 1960: 55–56). The development of literacy itself determined the necessity of lexicographic work. it was necessary to lead translational activities. in its turn, translational activities strongly required explanatory, bilingual and encyclopedic dictionaries to be compiled; it was a desperate need. Each translator and even scribes should have known Georgian language lexis and the rules of word derivation fundamentally, to the same extent as it was necessary for the authors of the original texts. Thus we shall look for the roots of the Georgian lexicography in the writings of the old times Georgian translators. Undoubtedly, the first Georgian lexicographer, in the just specific meaning of the word, must have been the first author-translator. The scholium and marginal comments added to the old translation works provide us with the precious lexicographic notes. Historically, the cultural and educational development of Georgia was tied to the great successes of the country’s historical persons working in the scientific and cultural fields. One such group are the founders of the Athonite Monastery of iviron: ioane Mtatsmindeli (920–1005) and Eqvtime Mtatsmindeli (955–1028) along with Giorgi Mtatsmindeli (1009– 1065) which were instrumental in setting up established scientific standards and practices for that time. Also, it is important to note the work of Ephrem Mtsire, a Georgian philologist and philosopher of the second part of the 11th century, who developed theories of translation; ioane Petritsi (11th–12th centuries), who founded the Petritsoni school; and Arsen ikaltoeli, the first rector of the ikalto Academy. Observing the oldest documents and creative works of the mentioned scientists, we will become sure that they were well educated in lexicography. The works by Ephrem Mtsire and ioane Petritsi show us the highest level of education and scientific skills of their authors. Their original 233Terminologija | 2019 | 26 works and translations represent the models of proper work on the Georgian lexis, its study, and development. These works are a kind of lexicographic handbook, full of new terminology. The existing level of terminology work is a direct indicator of the development level of any given branch of science. Developed terminology is a precondition for a branch of science to develop and reach perfection. Terminology needs systematic work on its enrichment and improvement which allows having scientifically rich and valid original or translated scientific works. The scientific-philosophical terminology was going on its way of development during centuries. The terms denoting the notions belonging to different branches of philosophy, theology or natural sciences are often used in the writings of several genres but those terms were created in different times by different authors and it was necessary to establish consistent terminology systems for different branches. The rules developed and used by Greek scholars presented a model for the Georgian translators though they did not ever blindly follow them. The first name which we met when looking through the long way of Georgian terminology creation and development is Giorgi Mtatsmindeli, one of the Georgian religious persons and translators. When comparing his translation works with all others it becomes clear how large and serious his contribution is in the development of Georgian philosophical and natural sciences terminology. Unlike the instants where the notions are rendered by phraseology, Giorgi Mtatsmindeli provides one-word terms. He often uses the Greek language term construction but he uses Georgian rules of word formation and renders the notion content of the Greek term in Georgian. Ephrem Mtsire gave special importance to the exact translation of a term. This can be seen from the fact that he considered it necessary to show the explanation of the words on the margins of the manuscripts in order to facilitate finding of the needed term-word for the reader. The Old Georgian scholars approached the problem with great responsibility taking into consideration etymology of the Greek lexemes studied their meaning thoroughly and gave the exact basic or contextual correspondences in Georgian. The special role in creation Georgian philosophical terminology belongs to ioane Petritsi the scholar who determined his methods of the terminological work: he created scientific terminology based on the popular language 234 Lia Karosanidze The Main Principles of the Terminology Work of Old Georgian Translators in the 10th–11th Centuries material although considering that those terms should have been different from colloquial lexis by their forms and derivative means. ioane Petritsi absolutely excluded mixed types – integration of the Greek derivatives and Georgian roots. This requested scientific bravery – quite rich and multifunctional tools of derivation in Georgian should have been given large opportunities; their abilities would become clear and well known for the users; the mighty of the Georgian language not only as the language of poetry but as multifunctional language good for scientific work would be shown; besides, many archaic forms would reinforce and at the same time vivid and perspective word forms would also find their way in terminology. The most important fact is that Georgian translators of those times had excellent knowledge of Georgian grammatical structure, lexis and the system of word-formation; they tried to enrich the Georgian language with new words and expressions. The Old Georgian translators demonstrated broad knowledge in lexicography, its traditions and in large material accumulated in the works of the Greek and byzantine lexicography. The well-known Georgian lexicographer of the 20th century, Alexandre Glonti named the scientific works by Georgian lexicographer Ephrem Mtsire alongside with such great Georgian scholars as ioane Petritsi, Ekvtime Mtatsmindeli and Giorgi Mtatsmindeli and others, as the source of the Georgian lexicography. The first known Georgian Explanatory Dictionary is compiled by Ephrem Mtsire. it is enclosed into the Georgian translation of psalms as an introduction. “The middle part of the introduction to the psalms collection translated into Georgian can be considered the first dictionary compiled in Georgia” (Glonti 1955: 35–37). From the terminology work viewpoint, the role of Gelati monastery school is special among others in the history of the Georgian literaturescientific language development. The Antic and Christian cultural traditions happened to merge together in Gelati. The well-arranged system of the Georgian philosophic-theological terminology was developed there. Gelati Academy was a typical educational center of the medieval centuries where the byzantine intellectual thinking of the renaissance epoch continued its development based on the Georgian traditions. This school stood on the mainline which a little later was followed by the whole European world (Melikishvili 1999). Gelati school writers gave way to the changes taking place in the vivid speech to flow into their translation theory and practice making the lan- 235Terminologija | 2019 | 26 guage more easy and understandable for common people. Gradually, the language style of Gelati, so-called Gelaturi, have been clearly developed, its theoretical linguistic base created by ioane Petritsi. in this style of writings, we see and feel creative boldness and wide scope of knowledge, creative language skills, esthetical thinking, knowledge in philosophy and theology – all in harmony. We should feel gratitude to ioane Petritsi and his school for philosophy terminology existing in Georgian, based mainly on the word stems and roots of the Georgian origin while in European languages those terms mainly have Greek or Latin roots. From the philosophical viewpoint the Hellenic language was rich and ioane Petritsi tried to equalize Georgian language lexical-grammatical possibilities to it while not mechanically translating the terms but creating and founding Georgian terminology to deliver the essence of the philosophical terms (Glonti 1983: 75). Terminological accuracy always was especially important when translating theological works. surely, the Georgian translators knew about the accusations brought to ioane italos by the court. One of those accusations concerned his inaccuracy towards the terminology determined by the Church. He was accused of using not exactly the word-phrases which were determined by the clericals to be used in the field of orthodox religious writings (Melikishvili 1999: 23). There were two main problems standing in front of the Georgian translators: from one side it was clear that deviation from the Greek language rules, from the terminology which they had determined, could have been regarded as heresy and from the other side making the just word-by-word translation would have protected the translator from accusation but could damage the Georgian language peculiar character imposing the forms unnatural for its grammar. One of the problems which the Georgian translators faced was about the articles. There is no article in Georgian. Using the word “God” without article caused a negative attitude among the Greek clericals and specialists and they accused Georgian translators of heresy. so, it was the difficult road that the Georgian ancient translators overcame successfully. The Georgian translators of the Christian literature followed the religious dogmas and at the same time, they principally stood against the grammatical influences of the other language (Karosanidze 2017: 104). 236 Lia Karosanidze The Main Principles of the Terminology Work of Old Georgian Translators in the 10th–11th Centuries 3. THE GEOrGiAn GrAMMATiCAL TErMs in THE 11TH CEnTUrY The education obtained in Greece naturally included grammatical knowledge as well. And it is precisely the thorough study of Greek grammatical thought and examination of Georgian grammar through this perspective which underlies and is characteristic for the works of Georgian scientists in the 10th–11th centuries. it is clear that the 10th–12th centuries are currently considered to mark the beginning of the history of Georgian grammatical thinking only since the work dated earlier has yet to be found. The Georgian literary heritage, translated and original works, clearly indicate the existence of great experience and knowledge, and Georgian grammatical thought as a branch of science is naturally supposed to be part of this heritage. Today we can surely say that the Art of Grammar by Dionysius Thrax which is supposed to be the foundation of all-European grammatical thought, must have been well known as an original or through some commentaries, in the Old Georgian literature. Though we do not have the full translation of the text, it can be confirmed by several facts that Greek grammatical theories were not unfamiliar to Georgian scholars, and their philological practice involved the necessary knowledge which was meant by the byzantine educational system of those times (Karosanidze 1998: 15). Despite the fact that some information of grammatical character still need to be found and evidenced in Georgian literature, the material which is already obtained allows to imagine the level of grammar knowledge among the Georgian translators of the Old times. Georgian linguist Mzekala shanidze relates the oldest original Georgian grammar treatise (with the manuscripts dated back to 12th–13th and 14th centuries th-6, sh-312), named About Articles to the literary school of Ephrem Mtsire. it is one of the most important written monuments according to which the beginning of the Georgian grammatical thinking goes back to the 6th–7th centuries and decisively proved that the linguistic researches of the 17th–18th centuries on the linguistic traditions existing in Georgia in the 10th–11th centuries which in their turn relate to the Greek linguistic traditions. Though the reason for this treatise to be written as a practical type issue which emerged when translating a religious text, About Articles itself represents a separate scientific work. it is an original religious treatise 243Terminologija | 2019 | 26 Karosanidze L., Khurtsilava A. 2015: For International loanwords in Technical Terminology Dictionary, Arn. Chikobava Readings XXVi, Materials, Tbilisi: TsU Publishing House. Karosanidze L., Khurtsilava A. 2017: The Problems of Georgian Terminology (History and Modernity), Tbilisi: TsU Publishing House. Kaukhichishvili s. 1923: Manual of Shatberdi Texts Collection, Moambe III, Tbilisi. Kekelidze K. 1960: History of the Georgian Literature, vol. 1, Tbilisi: sabchota sakartevlo. Melikishvili D. 1986: Gelati School and the Issues of Development of Georgian Scientific Language, Proceedings of iv. javakhishvili Tbilisi state University. – Linguistics 10, Tbilisi. Melikishvili D. 1988: Literature School of Gelati and the Ways of Development of Georgian Philosophical Language, Tbilisi. Melikishvili D. 1999: From the History of Old Georgian Philosophical-Theological Terminology, Tbilisi. Melikishvili D. (ed.) 2009–2010: Old Georgian-Old Greek Philosophical-Theological Documented Dictionary i, ii. Compiled by A. Kharanauli, D. Melikishvili, M. rapava, V. jugheli, L.Gigineishvili, n. Chikvatia, n. Mrevlishvili, Tbilisi. shanidze M. 1968: introduction to the Translation of Psalms by Ephrem Mtsire (texts and remarks). – TSU, Works of the Old Georgian Academic Department 11, 72–122. shanidze M. 1990: “About Article” – the Old Georgian Grammar Treatise, Tbilisi. shatberdi 1979: Shatberdi Collection of 10th century. b. Gigineishvili, E. Giunashvili (eds.), Tbilisi. Tevzishvili G. 1938: About the Higher Education in Georgia, Tbilisi: sabchota sakartvelo. Uhlig G. 1883: Dionysii Thracis, Ars Grammatica, Lipsiae. senosios gruzinų Kalbos vertėjų X–Xi a. taiKyti terminologijos prinCipai santrauka Kaip kūrėsi moksliniais metodais grindžiama gruzinų terminologija, matyti iš pirmųjų gruzinų kalbos vertėjų darbų. Tų Gruzijos terminologijos pradininkų darbuose išryškėja du pagrindiniai principai: 1) išsamiai nagrinėti sąvokas, aiškintis jų esmę ir atsiradimo istoriją; 2) turėti daug žinių, atsižvelgti į kalbos ypatumus ir jos teikiamas galimybes pasidaryti naujų vedinių. Tik taip galima svetimas, kitoje aplinkoje sukurtas sąvokas patikimai perteikti atitinkamų žodžių darybos galimybių turinčia gimtąja kalba. Gruzinų terminologijos ar kalbos istorijos sričių tyrėjai sutaria, kad X–XII a. naujų terminų daryba buvo produktyvus ir pažengęs procesas ir mes iš tų laikų patirties galime daug ko pasimokyti. Minimasis laikotarpis išsiskiria tuo, kad Bizantijos kultūra, laikoma visų Europos šalių kultūros, mokslo ir terminologijos pagrindu, į gruzinų kalbą buvo perkeliama vertėjams nepamirštant pagrindinių savos kalbos ypatybių. Derinti graikų ir gruzinų kalbų ypatybes – toks buvo mokslinis gruzinų vertėjų ir filologų dirbto darbo principas. Tas požiūris lėmė, kad Bizantijos kultūrą Gruzija skleidė išsaugodama savąją. Senosios gruzinų kalbos vertėjų taikytos teorijos aktualios bei svarbios ir šiandien. Gauta 2019-08-10 Lia Karosanidze Mitskevichi str.18, fl. 10, Tbilisi, Georgia E-mail [email protected]