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In:Handbook of Terminology: Volume 4. Terminology planning in Europe
Edited by Rossella Resi and Frieda Steurs
[Handbook of Terminology 4] 2025
► pp. 201–217

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Learned and unlearned lessons from the history of terminology

The Georgian case

 | Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University
Published online: 26 September 2025
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https://doi.org/10.1075/hot.4.lea1
Abstract
In Georgia, care for language development has always been linked with terminology work. All of this happened in the centuries-long history of Georgian terminology: (a) managed, coordinated work; (b) terminology work terminated for several centuries (c) chaotic, uncoordinated work. Answers to questions regarding which of them yielded what outcomes, what was mended and what was not can be found in history lessons of history help us cope with present-day problems as well. A study of the history of Georgian terminology re-acknowledges the well-known truth: managed and unmanaged terminology work are two drastically distinct realities yielding in distinct outcomes: coordinated terminology work is a basis for language development, whereas uncoordinated work causes impoverishment of language.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.History
    • 2.110th-12th centuries
    • 2.2Later half of the 19th century
    • 2.31918–1921
    • 2.4Soviet period: 1921–1990
    • 2.5Collapse of terminology policy and its consequences
  • 3.Bodies responsible for terminology work
    • 3.1Arnold Chikobava Institute of Linguistics, TSU
    • 3.2State Language Department of Georgia
    • 3.3Vukol Beridze Association of Terminology of Georgia
  • 4.Terminology studies; methodology and the Georgian Term Bank (GTB)
    • 4.1Foreign and loan words
    • 4.2Neologisms
    • 4.3Georgian Term Bank: A way of solving problems of Georgian terminology
      • 4.3.1Structure and functions of the Georgian Term Bank
  • 5.Future prospects
  • 6.Conclusion
  • References
References (26)
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